iHOSTAGE

Netherlands, 2025, 100 minutes, Colour.

Soufiane Moussouli, Admir Sehovic, Emmanuel Ohene Boafo, Loes Haverkort.

Directed by Bobby Boermans.

This film is based on actual events in Amsterdam, 2022.

A lone man, with Syrian background, resentment about the way he had been treated (the film not really exploring any further his background and motivations just focusing on the action of the siege) comes into a busy Apple Store in Amsterdam, a gun, firing it, warning people, explosives strapped to him.

Most people flee into the streets. Quite a number go to an upper floor for refuge. A salesman takes his customer and a mother and daughter and hide in the storeroom. A Bulgarian traveller, with whom the film begins with his arrival in Amsterdam for work, contact with his wife at home, goes to the store and becomes the main hostage.

Part of the drama is the interaction between the hostage and his captor, limited conversation, some kindness of the captor giving him his pills for his heart. There is also the drama of the four trapped in the storeroom, phone calls, supply of information, especially to help the rescue of those in the upper floor.

The main part of the film focuses on those responsible, the initial young police at the beginning of the siege, there are the various authorities of the Amsterdam police and security, their personalities, their roles, the masked men ready to go into action who rescue the people from the upper floor. And, especially, the demand for a negotiator, a woman with some charm, skill in keeping the captor talking, then his not wanting a woman, her helping coaching the man who responds with the negotiations.

There is quite a team, getting information, a huge range of surveillance cameras. The rescue of those in the upper floor is handled well and briskly. The communications between the four in the storeroom is also very effective. And, finally, with a request for water, the hostage makes a run for it dragging his captor behind him who is then hit by a vehicle.

Those interested in the workings of the police and negotiators, there is continued interest. And, at the end, some limited explanations of the character and his hostage.

1. Based on actual events, Amsterdam and the police response, the hostage taker and his origins, motivations? Hostages? Negotiations?
2. The atmosphere of the city, buildings, canals, streets? The Apple Store, the interiors, the police precincts, surveillance screens? The squads in the street? The musical score?
3. The introduction to Illian Petrov, in the train, sleep, Bulgarian, arrival at the hotel, in Holland for work, call with his wife, her support, finance, hopes? His going to the store, wanting the imbalance? The salesman? The other customers, Mingus and the man with his phone? Ordinary daily atmosphere?
4. The arrival of Ammar, his appearance, hood, jacket, the gun, calling out, firing, the explosives? The reaction, everybody fleeing the building and hiding, Mingus and the three in the store room? The Syrian background, his talking of injustice to himself, not being able to take anymore, the siege reaction? The audience not learning any more about him or his motivation?
5. The drama of the siege, those fleeing in the streets, those in the upstairs floor, the four in the store room? Illian, his being taken by Ammar, hands bound, the experience of the day, sitting, kneeling, his being given his tablets, some discussion and revelation?
6. The young police in the street, running to the store, hiding, the shots? Headquarters, the range of authorities, responsibilities, personalities, Winston with his family, the members of the squad masked for action, the surveillance cameras?
7. The demand for a negotiator, Lynne, her abilities, pleasant, keeping him talking, interest? His reaction, not wanting a woman? The man taking over, Lynne giving him advice?
8. The various authorities, the central command, decision-making, the contacts on the street? The contact with those in the top floor, the posting on the Internet and the heavy demands for its removal, the squad going in, Mingus supplying the backdoor information, the efficiency of the entry, the quick removal of the hostages, success?
9. Mingus, the young man and his moment of resentment, apology, the mother and daughter, the mother and her panic attack? The daughter with a phone, Mingus and communications, advice, the doctor online to check on the panic attack? The rescue?
10. The hostage, the day passing, hands tied, kneeling, sitting, some information, the revelation of names? The pills? The soft drink? Time passing?
11. Ammar, as the day went on, the demand for bitcoin, the limousine, the reactions with Lynne, cutting off, resumption? With the man? His resentments?
12. The issue of the water, the machine bringing the water to the door, the two going to the door, opening, Illian running, are in pursuit, the vehicle and the crash, intentional, motivation, criminal or justified?
13. The aftermath, Illian going back to his hotel, Mingus in the car, weeping, Winston reunited with the family? The authorities, quiet, Lynne, the planning for the debriefing the next day?
14. The final information during the final credits? True story, the Bulgarian man remaining anonymous, the different information about Ammar and his mental state, weapons, motivations?