Discoveries from Netherlands World Cinema

The full title of this Dutch film is Pervola: Tracks in the Snow. A stockbroker moves away from his home village of Pervola and puts his two sons in charge of his business. Older brother Hein (Bram van der Vlugt) cheats younger brother Simon (Gerard Thoolen) out of his share, claiming that Simon was disinherited because he is homosexual. Hein grows powerful, while Simon seems to weaken with each passing day. Flash-forward several years: the dying stockbroker calls his sons to his side. Faithful Simon agrees to dad's wishes that he be buried in Pervola, but Hein doesn't want to go to the trouble of transporting the body; he finally agrees to help Simon, out of fear that his brother will learn of his long-ago treachery. While arduously journeying to Pervola with the father's body strapped to a sled, Hein inadvertently confesses; Simon, however, is of strong enough moral fibre to forgive his brother.

It takes courage to be a queer teenager at an LGBTQIA+ youth summer camp. Along with 65 other queer youngsters, Faas, Fano, Jeroen, and Finley are on their first summer camp, spending five intensive days of workshops that teach them how they can love themselves more. For the first time in their lives, the youths are surrounded by peers, all struggling with the same problems and feelings. As different as they are, they all share one thing: the need for contact and understanding. Mutual recognition of each other’s childhood or coming-out stories stirs up more emotions than they may have thought. Will this help them get closer to each other and eventually themselves?

In the early eighties, the tough trucker Harm married the shy, country girl Siepie. Thirty years later Harm tells her that he wants to become a woman. That is difficult to hear for Siepie. Not only because she will lose her husband, but also because she is afraid of gossip in their small, Frisian village. Yet she gives Harm the space to openly live as Harriette.

A spoof of two scenes from American Psycho. Jean-Paul mistakes Biteman for Halbestrøm, who is a dick-head. When comparing jeans with several others, it turns out that Jean-Paul's jeans are Otaku, the holy grail of Japanese denim. This is too much for Biteman. The next day, Jean-Paul is at Biteman's apartment to have some Indonesian Kopi Luwak coffee. Jean-Paul makes fun of Biteman's apron, still thinking that he is Halbestrøm. Big mistake.

Highlights from the "Snip & Snap" revues by René Sleeswijk, with the comedy duo Willy Walden and Piet Muyselaar. Featuring show ballet The Carden Singers & Dancers.

In this show the Dutch comedian Fuad Hassen talks about prejudices, in all shapes and sizes.

This show is a TV adaptation of Jasperina de Jongs second theater show. The show contains songs about abortion, about revolving flowers, about a man born with inexplicable suicidal tendencies, about the objectification of women and many more.

A young girl called Annetje Lie is staying with her grandmother for an undisclosed period after her father unceremoniously dropped her off and left. At night, Annetje disappears into a dream world in which her friend the Moon transports her back to her elderly home. There she gets into all sorts of nightmarish adventures with the King of Mice and the mysterious Heintje Vaar. Meanwhile, her grandmother is beginning to suspect Annetje might be seriously ill.

Stella, a 10-year old girl, stumbles on her mother’s intimate relationship with the mysterious Patty. While punishing her mother, she gets confronted with the complexity of adult relationships.

What if you could not touch each other anymore? What if you became touch-phobic? What if we became an organised, impersonal, faceless, untouchable society set up to avoid all physical contact as a rule of proper behaviour to the point of making physical interaction illegal? Zoë lives in such society and she is committed to finding what’s missing in her life by adhering to the Skinhearts. The ones who have to hide and traffic to put back in touch human skin. But will the most radical act there is in those times, make up for her need of human touch?

This documentary follows an ambitious project that uses cutting-edge DNA analysis to accurately recreate the face of Britain's oldest complete skeleton, Cheddar Man

Documentary about the last four seasons on the farm run by the director's parents. The film starts on 1 January 1992, at 6 am and ends in a misty landscape at the end of that year. Het is een schone dag geweest (It's been a beautiful day) shows the end of a farm venture for which no successor has been found, but also the disappearance of a traditional way of life. Modern agriculture is ruled by new regulations, largely made in Brussels. Lonely work on a noisy machine replaces hard but communal work on the land. In a disciplined style, the film shows the disappearance of a traditional lifestyle in part of Holland. Het is een schone dag geweest was ïn 2007 admitted to the "Canon van de Nederlandse Film", a list of the most important Dutch films. (filmcommission.nl)

A science fiction documentary about a psychiatric institution for traumatized chimpanzees.

The story of the turbulent youth of Roma, a 13-year-old street boy neglected by his family and the state, who becomes a poster boy for the Ukrainian Revolution in 2014.

In Fur Girl, Famke Louise and animal activists Jenny and Thomas go to the interior of China where fur is "bred" and "harvested". It is not a harmless journey. They go undercover and visit indigenous fur breeders to see with their own eyes how the fur industry works.

An unknown man asks Bassie & Adriaan if they want to track down packages in the Netherlands and France. To find the packages, they first have to solve strange riddles. On their quest to find the packages, they travel throughout the Netherlands and France and discover beautiful and interesting places. But they don't notice that the Baron, Handy Harry, and B100 are trying to lure them into an ambush. And so begins an exciting adventure!

Following the restoration of the forgotten Surinamese documentary Oema foe Sranan (1978) this film exposes stories of activism and struggle that enabled the production and distribution of this militant documentary.

A short comedy about a nurse who loves her job a little bit too much. Based on the comic strip of the same name by Thé Tjong-Khing

In her first show Jasperina de Jong sings songs about Sibylle, the last striptease dancer, about a Bach concert with a Woodstock vibe, about a nunnery where everyone gets addicted to mind-altering substances, about a provincial girl who travels to Amsterdam, and many more.

A tragicomedy about the end of the world on the Dutch countryside. Véras Fawaz' feature film debut.

In 1990s Amsterdam, Loe and Bob are in a relationship, but wanting different things. Loe is a singer who likes to party and who is also engaged in migrant support. Bob is a lawyer focused on his career. As the film progresses, the tensions in the relationship become exposed.

A woman is looking for a new man and settles for a bastard available for half the price.

Application of double frame technics with two synchronized 16mm projectors. Each frame functions alternately as the [abstract] painter's canvas and as a 'concrete' filmscreen itself.

Gonzalo and Gina live in a world of their own, a magnificent villa on an immense estate, near Mexico City. Walls with barbed wire keep the outside world far away. Their son, filmmaker Diego Gutierrez, tells their story. Parts of a Family is a portrait of how a relationship between two people can change after many years from great love to a strangling imprisonment. It is a bittersweet and universal love story.

Jitze, a young professional video game player who travels the world competing in tournaments, unexpectedly witnesses an accident in Taipei.

Six friends. One last day together. Because there is no later.

An odd female mammal called Meatstew has a phantom pregnancy. Fishstew, her male human companion, is extremely mean to her. The pregnancy, maybe through a nightmare or through the TV, becomes contagious and defies gender or inter-species boundaries... Who will give birth?

Documentary on bullfighting by Spanish director Sonia Herman Dolz.

Short romantic film made for the 48 Hours Project Rotterdam 2014

De Dijk has toured the Netherlands for almost 30 years. From Nijeveen to Bergen op Zoom, from Weert to Broek op Langedijk. In almost unchanged composition, this band has been able to bind an ever-wider audience. They grew up together and made each other better by working together in a unique way. While for the outside world Huub van der Lubbe is the face of the band, the band is mainly a collective inside: everything is jointly decided. The documentary shows the year in which they release their first international album Hold on Tight and which would be crowned with a performance with Solomon Burke in Paradiso. It is different - the morning of his arrival in Amsterdam, Solomon Burke dies at Schiphol. De Dijk is devastated: they lose a friend, but also a possible international dream is shattered.

"The river Lek reminded me of the river Xiang in my hometown Changsha. I had not been home for 3 years and one of the connections with home was the poems my dad wrote me every day via WeChat. The rivers seemed equally significant for the people in the Netherlands and in Changsha. They are both a romantic connection and an important symbol of daily trade and industry. In a Wechat session my father and I simultaneously read three pairs of poems we wrote for this occasion, he by the Xiang and I by the Lek. Giving the words to the waters that ultimately will meet somewhere in the ocean. The video shows fragments of the performance which took place at the same time in Changsha and Culemborg in June. The full-length documentation is presented as a dual-screen video installation. The three poems written by me can be found on the page "Writing"."

Five people talk about how easy it is to build up and how difficult it is to get out of it again. They fall ten prey to the powerful industry. Fines and extra costs make them so aware that they can no longer be solved on their own.

Suzan (10) spends the summer vacation with her grandmother, because her mother – Connie – is a war correspondent in Syria. Suzan visits the recently built refugee camp near grandmothers house. One girl (Rana, also 10) stands out. She is wearing brightly colored clothes. Suzan is fascinated by her, to the displeasure of her friends. Suzan does not care about them and she befriends Rana. The Syrian girl loves to talk about her life in Syria, but when Suzan asks Rana to tell her something about her parents, Rana quickly changes the subject. One night, Grandma gets a phone call. Connie has disappeared. Suzan is distraught, but keeps strong in front of others. When Suzan is on the beach with Rana, she eventually breaks down in tears.

One of the most popular live acts in the world, the King of the Waltz André Rieu has announced that his 2018 Maastricht concerts will be screened in over 2000 cinemas worldwide across the weekend of 28th – 29th July, as he performs his hometown shows this year with a celebration of love. ‘Amore, My Tribute to Love’, is the renowned violinists tribute to his love for music, and his love for both of his families; his wife and children, and of course for his Johann Strauss Orchestra, who he has performed with for over 30 years.

In his first show, Henry was only concerned with entertaining his audience and no more than that. In Electropis he talks about essential things: about his generation Y, materialism, fear, love and nice women. Is this performance intense? Yes. Funny? That's for sure. And is it really about the aforementioned themes? Probably not.

In 'Behind the Reflection', various people look at themselves in silence for half an hour. They share their experiences in front of the mirror regarding discomfort, sadness, confrontation, and happiness. We look through the mirror with them to see how they view themselves.

Piet, an elderly man in a nursing home, finds himself limited in his actions when he suddenly begins to transform into a bird. Although he is still accepted within the group, he feels that it's time to join a new flock.

Writer Anil Ramdas left the Netherlands in bewilderment with his self-chosen death in 2012. Even his closest friends didn't see his abrupt end coming. How did it come to this? This documentary explores his life, work and ideas.

The new Christmas show of Samson & Marie promises an unforgettable spectacle where young and old will not be bored for a moment. Together with their loyal friends, Samson & Marie go on an adventure in the circus. Of course, Mr. Mayor, Fireman Bill and Baker Florentine from the Ketnet program Ice Cream Time are also there. But that's not all! On stage there is also a whole children's choir and ballet ready to shine. Now is the time to sing and dance along to the greatest hits with the whole family! Gather all your friends and family and have an unforgettable time in the circus.

In "Reflections on Dutch Capitalism: Zero Sugar Version," Lakaaysha van Ewijk delves into how capitalism molds identity and desire, using an Italian expat's journey in the Netherlands as a lens. The film critiques the deep entanglement of consumer habits with our sense of self, showcasing the absurdities of a system where products shape identities. Through a narrative rich in symbolism, it probes the paradoxes of consumer culture versus the quest for authenticity, compelling viewers to question the impact of capitalist values on human nature and societal bonds.

Collage-like depiction of the life of a man, in which the protagonist prefers intimate childhood memories over earthly gain. About the sound of new shoes, walks with dad and the smell of elm wood.

In his hilarious show "Wortels" (Roots), Klaas van der Eerden takes the audience back to his roots. Raised in the 1970s in a small farming village above Amsterdam in a hippie family, Klaas lets loose with his funny stories, characters, and improvisations. "Wortels is brimming with original ideas and a high density of jokes," wrote the AD newspaper. De Volkskrant enjoyed the "tasty stories" and called Wortel "an entertaining and meaningful program." And we haven't even mentioned the highly comical musical highlights with which Klaas constantly surprises his audience. Conclusion: an energetic, full-blooded entertainer who gives 100% every night and gets every audience going wild!

Registration of the first theatre program by the Dutch comedy duo Droog Brood (Bas Hoeflaak and Peter van de Witte). A show about loneliness and longing for friendship.

A roaming cowboy becomes the mark of a white bird. A film referring to the books by Karl May.

In a concentration camp, music saves the boy. Inspired by true events.

The “Kindertelefoon” (Child Helpline) in the Netherlands provides a listening ear. One girl talks about being home alone virtually all week; another’s sad because her parents are getting divorced. A boy in an asylum seekers’ center is worried about the future, while another boy doesn’t want to be gay and hopes these feelings will pass. Every day, the Kindertelefoon takes calls like these from children who want someone to talk to. But children also call to talk about their pets, to practice their audition for The Voice Kids or to make pranks. The recordings of these phone conversations are accompanied by images that quite literally give color to the conversations, and that beautifully reflect their tone—sometimes hilarious or naughty, but more often sad or heartrending.

Young Keetje wants to surprise her father with a wonderful father's day breakfast. Wearing a red checked apron and with her tongue out, she finishes her drawing and puts a thick layer of marmalade and chocolate confetti on a slice of bread. Meanwhile, the inevitable egg is boiling on the cooker. When the cooking of the egg turns into a dangerous situation, Keetje is painfully confronted with herself.

Registration of the theatreprogram by the Dutch singer and cabaret artist Jenny Arean. In this program from 2000 she looks back on her 40-year career. She sings songs by lyricist such as Jan Boerstoel, Jurrian van Dongen, George Groot, Robert Long, Ischa Meijer, Annie M.G. Schmidt, Willem Wilmink and Ivo de Wijs.

Residents of the same street in Haarlem, and acquaintances and relatives of Kees Hin, together tell the story of Little Red Riding Hood, each in fifteen words.

Usually, Dik Trom thinks of only two things: food and mischief. He is always pulling pranks with his friends, driving local police officer Flipse to despair. But now Dik and his friends have decided to better their lives in an effort to get blind Nelly eye surgery. 'New Adventures of Dik Trom' made the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running Dutch film; it played in multiple theatres for over 28 years.

A young man in a tram is asking a bit too much from a stranger.