With the 4.4 million dollar haul Black Book (Zwartboek) made back in 2006, Sony Pictures Classics are hoping that lightning strikes twice grabbing one more Dutch pic set during the war in Martin Koolhoven’s Winter in Wartime. I’m sensing Empire of the Sun-like similarities with The Netherland’s entry for Best Foreign Language — Oorlogswinter hasn’t been on my radar but this was an entry in film festivals in Pusan and Rome. No date has been set.
Based on a popular young adult novel by Jan Terlouw, near the end of World War II, WINTER IN WARTIME shows how 13-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.
