Description
Winter in Wartime 2008
Oorlogswinter (original title)
R | 1h 43min | Drama, History, War | 27 November 2008 (Netherlands)
Storyline:
Near the end of World War II, 14-year-old Michiel becomes involved with the Resistance after coming to the aid of a wounded British soldier. With the conflict coming to an end, Michiel comes of age and learns of the stark difference between adventure fantasy and the ugly realities of war.
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated R for some language
User review:
14 year-old Michiel lives in the Netherlands during the Nazi occupation in the latter part of WWII. Although he’s still only a kid, he happens upon a downed British flier and bravely decides to help him–even though the expedient thing would have been to stay out of this. To complicate things, Michiel’s father is the local mayor–and a man who has long tried to appease his Nazi overlords. What is the boy to do?
The film is excellent in every way. Martijn Lakemeier did a great job in the leading role and the film was a quality production throughout. I also appreciated it because the film was very difficult to predict. Sure, you know the Nazis would lose and the war would be over in only a few months–but there were so many twists and turns in the film that it kept me guessing. It helped that this was not a ‘happily ever after’ sort of family film but a gritty one that was about a boy who needed to grow up very, very fast and make some very adult things. Well worth seeing and a decent film for the family despite its R-rating.
Director: Martin Koolhoven
Writers: Mieke de Jong (screenplay), Martin Koolhoven (screenplay)
Stars: Martijn Lakemeier, Jamie Campbell Bower, Yorick van Wageningen
John (verified owner) –
There are conflicting reviews of this film among professional critics some of whom argued it should be more gripping while others praised it for its account of resistance during war through a child’s eyes. Well worth the time spent.