Tag Archives: surinam

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Wan Pipel (1976)

Recensie Wan Pipel (1976)

Although I watch a lot of movies every year, there are not many which are set in Surinam. The country has a strong connection with the Netherlands as it is a former colony, where slavery was used in the past. When slavery was abolished a lot of people from other countries (China, India, Indonesia) moved to Surinam to build a future there. It means that the country has a very mixed population. Wan Pipel, directed by Pim de la Parra is the first Surinamese movie made after Surinam gained its indepence in 1975. Continue reading →

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Sonny Boy (2011)

Sonny Boy is a movie that is an adaptation of a book with the same title, written by Annejet van der Zijl. It tells the true story of Waldemar Nods (played by Sergio Hasselbaink) who left Surinam in the twenties last century to study in the Netherlands. It’s a big change in environment and people look at him differently because of his color. He meets Rika (Ricky Koole), a mother who has left her husband together with her children. As she struggles with her ex she also has issues being able to earn enough money to keep a roof above her head. Although the two of them initially don’t have a lot of contact, but their feelings for each other grow and together they try to build a life together. Turns out that this not very easy because of their different color of skin, preconceptions and a world war. Continue reading →

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Beautiful Life (2011)

The Dutch film industry has produced quite a lot of fun kids movies. Films like “Het Geheim”, “Kikkerdril” and “Het Paard van Sinterklaas” are all entertaining movies for the smaller movie audience.

Beautiful Life (the Dutch title would translate to My Grandfather the Bank Robber) is another one that can be added to the list. It tells the story of a father/grandfather (Michiel Romeyn) who after the death of his wife is seen as someone with dementia. His granddaughter Grace (Zoë van der Kust) doesn’t really believe it as she sees how he is struggling with his loss. She tries to help him as much as she can. She doesn’t know her own father as she never met him. She only knows his name and that he was from Surinam (one of the former Dutch colonies). Her mother doesn’t want to tell her why he wasn’t around for her. When her grandfather shows her his picture it ignites the flame for her to begin her search for some answers to her questions. Continue reading →

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The Town (2010)

After the fantastic Gone Baby Gone (which I gave an 8 ) Ben Affleck is back with his second movie in the director’s chair. Just like that movie, this movie is also set in Boston, where Affleck grew up. During this movie a lot of bank heists take place in the city and Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck), James Coughlin (Jeremy Renner), Albert ‘Gloansy’ Magloan (Slaine) and Desmond Elden (Owen Burke) are one of the gangs responsible for them. These bank robberies are meticulously planned and the gang is very precise and professional in their execution. They wear latex gloves, are unrecognisable because of their masks and destroy any evidence that could be used against them (like putting the harddisks that are used for the surveillance cameras in the microwave) Continue reading →