The Screen Addict | Cliff & Rutger

During one of my business trips to L.A. several years ago, my filmmaker-friend Miriam Kruishoop introduced me to two of my favorite actors – Cliff Curtis and Rutger Hauer. The two of them being there at the same time was pure coincidence, they both just happened to know Miriam and were joining me for a screening of her latest film. It was more than a chance encounter for me though, it was a happy accident that I will treasure forever.

The name Cliff Curtis might not immediately ring a bell even with film buffs – and the heavy beard he sports in the picture probably doesn’t help – but I am quite sure you know who he is. With over 60 acting credits to his name, he’s been in everything from The Insider (1999) to the upcoming Avatar sequels. Ironically though, Curtis – who is actually from New Zealand – throughout his career somehow became the go-to guy for the part of South-American drug lord, Middle-Eastern terrorist, or inner-city gangbanger.

Curtis makes every film better no matter what character he plays. As a part of the extraordinarily strong wave of New Zealand filmmakers – see also Niki Caro, Peter Jackson, Taika Waititi and Temuera Morrison amongst many, many others – he continues to enrich the landscape of World Cinema.

The late, great Rutger Hauer had 175 acting credits to his name when he passed away on July 19th 2019. He unfortunately never worked with Curtis, but the actors are spiritually connected nonetheless. Hauer filmed what was to be his final performance for the much-delayed production of Emperor, directed by Kiwi filmmaker Lee Tamahori. In the early Nineties, Tamahori launched his career with the beautiful but brutal slice of Maori life Once Were Warriors (1994), co-starring a young Cliff Curtis. The Beginning is The End is The Beginning.

Like his fellow thesp Curtis, Hauer had the rare ability to improve any production merely by showing up. This is not to diminish his acting abilities – quite the contrary – but I saw some pretty mediocre films just because Hauer was in them…

What struck me when I met Hauer that faithful day, was that he looked so strong and full of life. When he shook my hand and looked straight at me with those piercing blue eyes, it felt genuine. He made me feel like he was truly pleased to meet me.

Back then I could have never imagined Hauer ever not being here. He simply looked indestructible. Now, I just re-watch Blade Runner (1982) or The Hitcher (1986) when I miss him, and I feel privileged to have briefly been around him in person.

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Twitter (X): Robin Logjes | The Screen Addict