12/03/2008

Excellent first weekend for Dutch film Winter in Wartime

The film Winter in Wartime of director Martin Koolhoven had a very strong releaseweekend. The film is based on the best seller and much awarded novel Winter in Wartime (Oorlogswinter), by former politician Jan Terlouw. He film had a Box Office of more than € 332.000,- in the first weekend. Nearly 50.000 visitors of all generations, have seen Winter in Wartime in the Dutch cinema’s. Winter in Wartime is a 12+ movie.
 
Winter in Wartime is the epic tale of a fourteen year old boy Michiel in the last winter in wartime in Holland. As he really wants take part in this war he suddenly becomes responsible for the care of an English pilot. This responsibility turns out to be more dangerous than he could ever imagine..
 
In 1972 War in Wartime was published by publisher Lemniscaat (Crusade in Jeans) and turned out to be a best seller with over 250.000 copies sold and translated in many languages. The script is written by Mieke de Jong (Bonkers, Lepel), Paul Jan Nelissen (Godforsaken!) and Martin Koolhoven.
 
Young Dutch actor Martijn Lakemeier makes his screen debut as Michiel. Sweeney Todd’s actor Jamie Campbell Bower stars as a wounded RAF-pilot. Dutch actor Yorick van Wageningen is co-starring in his first Dutch spoken part since his departure to Hollywood, five years ago. He was seen next to Colin Farrell in The New World, next to Angelina Jolie in Beyond Borders and starred with Vin Diesel in The Chronicles of Riddick. Dan Van Husen (Band of Brothers, Enemy at the Gates) plays the role of a German officer. The other roles are played by national famous actors Melody, Raymond Thiry, Anneke Blok, Mees Peijnenburg and Tygo Gernandt.
 
The soundtrack is composed by Pino Donaggio, who was also responsible for the music of Blow Out, Carrie, Body Double and Dressed to Kill of directors like Brian De Palma, Nicolas Roeg, Roberto Benigni, George A. Romero, Joe Dante, Dario Argento and Quentin Tarantino. The score is recorded with the Bulgarian Symphonic Orchestra.
 
The Euro 5m budgeted project is produced by Els Vandevorst (Sea of Silences; The South) and San Fu Maltha (BlackBook) in association with the Netherlands Film Fund, Inspire Pictures, CoBo Fund, VTM, VAF, Eurimages in co-production with Prime Time (Antonino Lombardo) and Broadcast Company MAX.
 
The shooting is done Lithuana and The Netherlands. The film will be released with over a 100 copies by Benelux Film Distributors for Inspire Pictures.
 
In Dutch cinema’s: 27th November 2008.