The sculler’s mind opened in documentary

By Melissa Bray

Co Rentmeester’s documentary De Perfect Haal, looking inside the mind of single scullers, is soon to be The Perfect Stroke. By the end of the year a full English translation will be available from the Dutch original.

The documentary is a work of love by Rentmeester who uses his photography skills and filmmaking ability to follow prominent contemporary Dutch single scullers as well as those of the recent past. Rentmeester uses the context of Amsterdam’s 120-year-old Holland Beker Trophy to frame the scullers.

Rentmeester’s documentary opens with six of the best single scullers in the world lining up at the start of the Holland Beker. The silence of the starting blocks and the three-minute count, with barely more than the sound of water lapping, allows the scullers’ quiet thoughts to resonate loudly.

The focus on Dutch single sculling does not limit its international appeal as many of those shown and interviewed are well-known through their international success both at the World Championships and Olympics. The Netherlands' current top single sculler, Sjoerd Hamburger features prominently speaking candidly about his experiences.

Just over a year ago when De Perfect Haal was first released it stimulated interest from throughout Europe with requests for an international edition. This English version is aimed to serve the demand.

Already the DVD has been well received in the Netherlands and Rentmeester, along with executive producer Jan-Maurits de Jonge, are confident of its success.

“The documentary was done entirely by volunteers with the exception of the technical team,” says de Jonge. “We chased old photos, we got pieces of film, we did it all on our own rowing knowledge.”

For more information contact Jan-Maurits de Jonge: jm.dejonge@hollandbeker.nl
Purchase from JL Racing: http://www.jlrowing.com/pestdvd.html
also at NLROEIhttp://www.nlroei.nl/pncommerce-itemview-ItemID-6-language-eng.html

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