Secrets of War (film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 2014 |
Key people | Dennis Bots (director), Jacques Vriens (author of original novel) |
| Products | Drama film |
Secrets of War () is a Dutch drama movie released in 2014, directed by Dennis Bots and adapted from the 2007 novel Oorlogsgeheimen authored by Jacques Vriens. Featuring performances by Pippa Allen, Maas Bronkhuyzen, and Joes Brauers, the story unfolds during the era of World War II. The film was honored with the Rembrandt award for best Dutch youth film in 2015 and also won the best feature film prize at Norway's Tromsø Children's Film Festival that same year. Moreover, it received the "Best Picture" audience accolade at New York’s Stony Brook Film Festival.
Plot
Set in 1943 in Nazi-occupied Holland, the narrative follows twelve-year-olds Lambert and Tuur living in a village split by allegiances—Lambert’s father aligns with the Germans, whereas Tuur’s family is involved with the resistance. The boys uncover a concealed Allied pilot within underground tunnels but initially choose to keep this discovery secret. After witnessing neighbors being deported, Tuur becomes more radicalized as he realizes his family actively participates in resistance efforts. Growing wary of Lambert—whose father has become a German-appointed mayor—Tuur distances himself. When Lambert inadvertently reveals that Maartje’s host family is hiding a pig from the occupiers, he unknowingly puts Maartje, a Jewish girl, in jeopardy.
Following Maartje’s arrest and Tuur’s imprisonment, Lambert vows to join the Nazi youth organization to help secure Tuur’s freedom. After Maartje’s host father succumbs to torture and betrays members of the resistance, German soldiers surround the village. With Lambert’s assistance, Tuur’s family escapes through tunnels to Belgium, while Maartje’s ultimate fate remains uncertain.
Cast
| Actor | Character | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maas Bronkhuyzen | Tuur | Lead role |
| Joes Brauers | Lambert | Lead role |
| Loek Peters | Mr. Ramakers | Father of Tuur |
| Nils Verkooijen | Leo | Tuur's sibling |
| Eva Duijvestein | Mrs. Ramakers | Mother of Tuur |
| Stefan de Walle | Mr. Nijskens | Father of Lambert |
| Pippa Allen | Maartje | Lead role |
| Beau Schneider | Roeland | Lambert's brother |
Awards
The production received numerous honors including the Audience Award at the 2015 Berkshire International Film Festival, the Golden Castle for Best Film at the 2014 Castellinaria International Festival of Young Cinema, the Adult Jury Award for live-action feature at the 2014 Chicago International Children's Film Festival, and also secured the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature at the 2015 Stony Brook Film Festival.