Sonny Boy (2011)

Director:

Maria Peters

Writers:

Annejet van der Zijl (based on the novel by), Maria Peters (screenplay),

Stars:

Ricky Koole, Sergio Hasselbaink, Angelo Arnhem

4 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ricky Koole	...	Rika van der Lans
Sergio Hasselbaink	...	Waldemar Nods
Angelo Arnhem	...	Waldemar - 13 jaar
Eliyha Altena	...	Sonny Boy - 6 jaar
Daniel van Wijk	...	Sonny Boy - 11-15 jaar
Marcel Hensema	...	Willem
Micha Hulshof	...	Marcel
Frits Lambrechts	...	Sam
Ole Kroes	...	Henkie - 4 jaar
Mees Wielinga	...	Henkie - 10 jaar
Sido Vrieswijk	...	Henkie - 17 jaar
Charlie Leuken	...	Jan - 13 jaar
Martijn Lakemeier	...	Jan - 20 jaar
Claire Veldkamp	...	Bertha - 9 jaar
Gaite Jansen	...	Bertha - 15-26 jaar

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

love | title directed by female

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Taglines:

a ravishing moving story about an impossible love...

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

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Details

Country:

Netherlands

Language:

Dutch

Release Date:

27 January 2011 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

Sonny Boy - Eine Liebe in dunkler Zeit

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shooting Star Filmcompany BV, Ester.Reglin.Film Produktionsgesellschaft

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Actor Willem Nijholt was originally cast as Sam. But he had to decline due to scheduling conflicts.

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Goofs

When Rika is in the camps, sitting outside in the rain, she has a flashback to an earlier scene that took place shortly after Waldemar moved in and they were all dancing outside in the rain with her young children. In the Flashback, Sonny Boy (who's not born yet at that time) appears as a teenager dancing in the rain as well.

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Connections

Referenced in RTL Film: Episode #9.12 (2011)

User Reviews

Interracial Love Story with a Holocaust Background

This epic love story is highly watchable but never really feels substantial enough for you to discuss anything about it after the movie. The story revolves around an inter-racial couple, the Surinamese student Waldemar, who comes to Holland to get a college education and hopefully, lift himself out of poverty, and free-thinking housewife Rika, who leaves her husband after catching him having sex with their maid. The story takes place against a background of prejudice, as the couple find themselves rejected by mainstream society while being helped by outsiders such as Sam, who runs a saloon and gives them a room after they are evicted from their rented house.

The strongest parts of the film are those that take place during WWII, when the Nazis occupied Holland, and Rika and Waldemar find themselves interned in Nazi labor camps. However, the movie never seems to go beyond a depiction of events to give us a deeper insight into the culture of the times. Still, its definitely worth watching for its strong storytelling and good performances.