The Hell of '63 (2009)
"De hel van '63" (original title)

When conditions are right an infamous ice-skating race is held in the north of the Netherlands. The 200 km race must be completed by midnight and everyone who finishes receives a medal. ... See full summary »

Director:

Steven de Jong

Writers:

Steven de Jong (screenplay), Maarten Lebens (screenplay),

Stars:

Willeke van Ammelrooy, Chantal Janzen, Pierre Bokma

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Willeke van Ammelrooy	...	Moeder Will
Chantal Janzen	...	Dieuwke
Pierre Bokma	...	Commissaris der Koningin Harry Linthorst Homan
Cas Jansen	...	Henk Brenninkmeijer
Cees Geel	...	Sergeant-Majoor Hoeks
Chava Voor in 't Holt	...	Annemiek
Dirk Zeelenberg	...	Telegraaf-journalist Jack
Dennis Overeem	...	Militair Edwin
Rense Westra	...	Jan Hoogland - voorzitter Elfstedentocht
Peter Tuinman	...	Eisinga
Kees Prins	...	TV-commentator
Chris Zegers	...	Kees Ferwerda
Joop Wittermans	...	Wolf
Lottie Hellingman	...	Annie
Hilbert Dijkstra	...	Kingma

Storyline

When conditions are right an infamous ice-skating race is held in the north of the Netherlands. The 200 km race must be completed by midnight and everyone who finishes receives a medal. This film is based on the true facts of the fateful day in 1963 when, due to plunging temperatures and rough terrain,thousands of skaters suffered frostbite and shocking injuries. Only a small number would cross the finish-line, but for those who did, it was to be a life changing event!

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Plot Keywords:

ice skating | birth | baby | year in title | pregnancy | 

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Genres:

Drama | Sport

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Details

Country:

Netherlands

Language:

Dutch Frisian

Release Date:

17 December 2009 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

The Hell of '63

Filming Locations:

Dokkum, Friesland, Netherlands

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bridge Entertainment Group, RCV Film Distribution, CoBo Fonds

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

The weather forecaster on the TV reports that a "weather alarm" has been issued, but the concept of weather alarm was first introduced in the Netherlands in 2001 (http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weeralarm) and the movie is set in 1963.

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Connections

Spoofed in De del van '63 (2010)

User Reviews

This movie is absolutely dreadful in many ways !!

This movie is absolutely dreadful in many ways !!

a) As a movie of any kind, about any place, and about any event. (script , acting, plot, direction, etc – all are very, very poor indeed)

b) an a "faction" account of a historical event (compare : depict concentration camps as holiday resorts and you get the idea.)

c) as an alleged representation of a real country (a province) in 1963 (the date of the event). Go to Disney Land or another fantasy and be disappointed when seeing the real thing.

If you see a commercial made by a local tourist bureau you expect that many things are made a bit "rosy" and more attractive than when you get there. Indeed, the scenes of the villages etc. are lovely …….. and false.

AND INDEED, by golly, the local provincial governments (i.e. the taxpayers) DID put a lot of money in this movie.

Yes, I am Dutch. Yes, I remember the winter of 1963. Yes, I myself skated on that day – although my "endurance" was a far cry from the participants of this 200 kilometers competition AND (simultaneous) "recreational" skaters.

(Just a statistic: 9.862 people started, i.e. participated – 127 made it to the finish.)