The Limburger Jos (Fedja van Huêt), a small-time provincial criminal from a family of born losers, finds himself completely sidelined — much to his frustration. His daughter no longer respects him, his wife doesn't trust him, and his friends don’t take him seriously. When his somewhat dim-witted son-in-law Özgür presents an opportunity to regain the respect of those around him — in the form of a lucrative drug deal — Jos grabs it eagerly. But when the deal spirals completely out of control, Jos must find a way to make things right. Together with Özgür and his father, he roams the rolling hills of Limburg in a desperate search for an answer to the question that haunts him: “Who or what is punishing me?”
Fabula is the new film by director Michiel ten Horn (Hotel Sinestra, Aanmodderfakker), who brings Limburg’s fabled history to life in this absurdist crime drama through elements of folklore and fantasy. Fedja van Huêt (The Judgement, Speak No Evil, Soof) shines in the lead role as Jos — and four other characters. Additional roles are played by comedian Sezgin Güleç, Anniek Pheifer, Georg Friedrich, and David Kross. Fabula was the opening film of the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2025.