On the run from murderous pursuers, Borgman, the leader of a spiritual cult looks for refuge among the houses in an upscale residential neighborhood. He tells the owner of the house that he is a good friend of his wife Marina, but the possessive husband beats him up and kicks him out. Taking pity on the bedraggled but charismatic man, Marina secretly lets him stay. Borgman and his minions wreak havoc in this upper-middle-class household. Borgman was the first Dutch film entered into competition at the Cannes Film Festival in 38 years. The destruction of the middle-class is produced with Alex van Warmerdam’s unique sense of humor. The film takes on the old story of bad guys destroying a peaceful family and creates a spooky black comedy. The outstanding performances by the actors are also compelling, and the break from the convention of time and space creates a surreal atmosphere. This masterpiece is powerful in developping the narrative without much explanation. (RHEE Soue-won)