Miss Minoes (2001) Minoes (original title)

Director:

Vincent Bal

Writers:

Annie M.G. Schmidt (novel)
Tamara Bos (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

6 December 2001 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

always listen to your felines

Plot:

A cat who turns into a young woman helps a journalist protect their town from a factory boss with an evil plan.

Plot Keywords:

Cat | One Word Title | Talking Animal | Anthropomorphic Animal | Anthropomorphism

Awards:

8 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Carice van Houten	...	Minoes
Theo Maassen	...	Tibbe
Sarah Bannier	...	Bibi
Pierre Bokma	...	Meneer Ellemeet
Hans Kesting	...	Harrie de Haringman
Kees Hulst	...	Meneer van Dam
Olga Zuiderhoek	...	Mevrouw van Dam, Tibbe's hospita
Lineke Rijxman	...	Newspaper Editor
Jack Wouterse	...	Burgermeester van Weezel
Paul Haenen	...	Mevrouw Pastoor (voice)
Wim T. Schippers	...	Schele Simon / Simon de Schoolkat (voice)
Loes Luca	...	Tante Moortje (voice)
Hans Teeuwen	...	Tinus (voice)
Katja Schuurman	...	Minoes' zus (voice)
Frits Lambrechts	...	Joop (voice)
Annet Malherbe	...	Jakkepoes (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Maile Butteling	...	Girl in gym
Kim van Kooten	...	Leentje (voice)
Bianca Krijgsman	...	Roddeltante
Joep Onderdelinden	...	Leraar
Plien van Bennekom	...	Roddeltante
Wim Van den Heuvel	...	Meneer Pastoor
Joey van der Velden	...	Boy with blue cap
Marisa Van Eyle	...	Mevrouw Ellemeet
Nina Van Hattum	...	Jong katje (voice)

Directed by
Vincent Bal

Writing credits
Annie M.G. Schmidt		(novel)
Tamara Bos		(screenplay) &
Burny Bos		(screenplay) &
Vincent Bal		(screenplay)

Produced by
Burny Bos	....	producer
Karen Jong	....	assistant line producer
Jan Roelfs	....	co-producer
Michiel de Rooij	....	executive producer
Sabine Veenendaal	....	line producer

Original Music by
Peter Vermeersch

Cinematography by
Walther van den Ende		(as Walther Vanden Ende)

Film Editing by
Peter Alderliesten

Casting by
Barbara Boomsma
Job Gosschalk
Martha Mojet
Saida van der Reijd

Production Design by
Vincent de Pater

Costume Design by
Bernadette Corstens

Makeup Department
Mariël Hoevenaars	....	makeup designer

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michiel Collenteur	....	first assistant director
Eddy Stevesyns	....	assistant director: pre-production (uncredited)

Art Department
Marc Hammel	....	assistant to production designer
Albert Kuipers	....	construction manager
Valesca Meist	....	set dresser
Elsa Oskam	....	painter
Edouard Pallardy	....	painter
Edouard Pallardy	....	scenic painter
Wilma Schuemie	....	production art department
Dione van der Hoeven	....	painter

Sound Department
Thomas Gauder	....	sound mixer
Mark Glynne	....	sound recordist
Mark Glynne	....	supervising sound editor
Luuk Poels	....	foley editor
Luuk Poels	....	foley supervisor
Luuk Poels	....	sound effects editor
Philippe van Leer	....	foley artist

Special Effects by
Roland Goddijn	....	special effects technician
Rob Hillenbrink	....	animatronics

Visual Effects by
Paul Boots	....	visual effects coordinator
Rene Brouwer	....	visual effects supervisor
Carlos dalla-Fiore	....	3D animator
Danny den Hartog	....	3D animator
Joël Einhorn	....	matchmove artist
Ivor Goldberg	....	3D animator
Martijn Grootendorst	....	rotoscoping
Bas Uterwijk	....	technical director
Winet van den Akker	....	3D animator
Job van Nuenen	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Willem de Beukelaer	....	stunt coordinator
Marco Maas	....	stunts
Ronald Schuurbiers	....	stunt rigging
Michel Struik	....	utility stunts
Skadi van Paasschen	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
Luc Brefeld	....	first assistant camera
Bas Buisman	....	truss rigger
Ruben Impens	....	clapper loader
Antoine Petiet	....	grip assistant
Pierre Rezus	....	video operator
Marc Roodhart	....	best boy
Michel Struik	....	camera car operator
Stef Tijdink	....	camera operator: second unit
Franc van Zutphen	....	gaffer
Herman Verschuur	....	assistant camera: second unit
Jasper Wolf	....	clapper loader

Animation Department
Arjan Wilschut	....	animator

Editorial Department
Synco Schölvinck	....	assistant editor
Sonja ten Boom	....	assistant editor
John Thorborg	....	colorist
Petro van Leeuwen	....	color timer

Other crew
Nienke Stuiver	....	children caretaker
Cathrien Tromp	....	legal advisor
Trix van Alphen	....	publicist
Jeroen van Oostrom	....	security coordinator
Tjarco van Wijck	....	location scout
Elly Verduyckt	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Bos Bros. Film & TV Productions
• AVRO Television

Distributors

• Warner Bros. (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Delphis Films (2009) (worldwide) (all media)
• Warner Bros. (2001) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Music Box Films (2011) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Neaniko Plano (2009) (Greece) (theatrical)
• DPI (2010) (Russia) (all media)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Brouwer Image Works (visual effects supervisor)
• Amsterdam Video Postproductions
• Lukkien Digital Studios
• Rob's Prop Shop (animatronics)

Other Companies

• Kemna Casting  casting

Also Known As:

"Minoes" - Netherlands (original title)
"Undercover Kitty" - USA (video title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for brief language, smoking and rude behavior

Runtime:

Germany:86 min | Japan:83 min | Argentina:86 min

Country:

Netherlands

Language:

Dutch

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Germany:o.Al. | Netherlands:AL | Sweden:7 | Norway:A | Argentina:Atp | USA:PG (certificate #46781)

Filming Locations:

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Bos Bros. Film & TV Productions

Trivia:

Carice van Houten is allergic to cat hair.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "De wereld draait door: Episode #2.4" (2006)

Terrific Dutch film for all ages

I love this Dutch film in any way possible. It has charm, it is funny and sweet and most of all it is heartwarming. It starts with a simple premise. A cat changes into a young woman because she eats from some chemical stuff in a barrel. She, Minoes (Carice van Houten), is allowed to stay with Tibbe (Theo Maassen). He is a reporter who is about to get fired but since Minoes can help him with some news which she hears from other cats, she saves his job. They make a deal. She can stay, but she must provide Tibbe with some news.

Mr. Ellemeet (Pierre Bokma) is the hero of the town. He seems to be a very good man but Minoes and the other cats slowly discover that he is not that good after all. Now the shy Tibbe wants to help the cats and expose Mr. Ellemeet but he has no prove besides the stories of cats. Minoes, the other cats and a girl named Bibi (Sarah Bannier) who lives next door come up with a plan to help Tibbe.

The simple story is based on a novel written by Annie M.G. Schmidt, who was and is probably the most read author for children books in The Netherlands. Although it is quite simple it has so many nice touches you almost forget the simplicity. The nice little touches deal with Minoes who has a struggle with herself. She is a cat but slowly becomes a human being. The hunger for fish and birds and the need to climb trees when dogs are near are those little nice things.

Carice van Houten plays her part extremely well. It may seem pretty easy what she does but that is only because of her. Theo Maassen finds the right note for his character as well and Pierre Bokma is a good villain. The performances are good and it looks very good as well, exactly the way a movie like this should look. The movie is perfect for children and I think that adults will have at least the same amount of fun. There is simply nothing wrong with this movie considering it is for the whole family. If you want to see a great family film, try this Dutch little treasure.

Note: A nice fact is that Jan Roelfs is the co-producer. He was Oscar-nominated as the production designer for 'Orlando' and 'Gattaca' and is the production designer for the upcoming 'Alexander' from Oliver Stone.