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IMDbPro

The Penknife

Original title: Het zakmes
  • 19911991
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
Olivier Tuinier and Verno Romney in The Penknife (1991)
  • Drama
  • Family
Mees has a problem. By accident he took his best friend's pocket knife home with him. Unfortunately he is too late to return it as the next day Tim moves house. All that Mees knows is that T... Read allMees has a problem. By accident he took his best friend's pocket knife home with him. Unfortunately he is too late to return it as the next day Tim moves house. All that Mees knows is that Tim has gone to Flevoland. His parents are tied up in their own lives and have no room for ... Read allMees has a problem. By accident he took his best friend's pocket knife home with him. Unfortunately he is too late to return it as the next day Tim moves house. All that Mees knows is that Tim has gone to Flevoland. His parents are tied up in their own lives and have no room for little Mees' problems. His mother is a world-famous singer and it seems Mees sees her more... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Ben Sombogaart
  • Writer
    • Sjoerd Kuyper(book)
  • Stars
    • Olivier Tuinier
    • Genio de Groot
    • Adelheid Roosen
Top credits
  • Director
    • Ben Sombogaart
  • Writer
    • Sjoerd Kuyper(book)
  • Stars
    • Olivier Tuinier
    • Genio de Groot
    • Adelheid Roosen
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 4User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Photos6

    Olivier Tuinier and Verno Romney in The Penknife (1991)
    Olivier Tuinier in The Penknife (1991)
    Film van Ben Somgaart Winnaar Gouden Kalf, beste regie 1993. TV versie: EMMY AWARD, beste jeugdserie.
    Still of the The Penknife. Director: Ben Sombogaart. Winner International Emmy Awards, New York,1993. The film won various international awards.
    Olivier Tuinier in The Penknife (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Olivier Tuinier
    • Mees Grobbenas Mees Grobben
    Genio de Groot
    Genio de Groot
    • Mees' vaderas Mees' vader
    Adelheid Roosen
    • Mees' moederas Mees' moeder
    Verno Romney
    • Timas Tim
    Beppie Melissen
    • Strenge jufas Strenge juf
    Jaap Hoogstra
    • Oudere heeras Oudere heer
    Sebastiaan Spaan
    • Eduardas Eduard
    Sarah Sijlbing
    • Cynthiaas Cynthia
    Heleen Hummelen
    • Lokettiste NSas Lokettiste NS
    Ellen Röhrman
    • Reizigsteras Reizigster
    Kees Hulst
    Kees Hulst
    • Meneer Hollenbergas Meneer Hollenberg
    Karin van Holst Pellekaan
    • Baliedameas Baliedame
    Frits Jansma
    • Drukkeras Drukker
    Maxim Hartman
    • Bert Bootas Bert Boot
    Wil van der Meer
    • Muziekwinkelieras Muziekwinkelier
    Roel Dekker
    • Postbodeas Postbode
    Maria Tap
    • Haastige mevrouwas Haastige mevrouw
    Kirsten Wilkeshuis
    • Meisje met gitaaras Meisje met gitaar
    • Director
      • Ben Sombogaart
    • Writer
      • Sjoerd Kuyper(book) (screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film was selected into the Canon of Dutch Cinema in 2007, a collection of sixteen "important and defining movies that show the versatility of Dutch movie history".
    • Goofs
      When Mees asks his father about Almere, he tells his son it's the capital city of Flevoland. Although Almere is the largest city of the province of Flevoland, its actual capital city is Lelystad.
    • Connections
      Featured in Zomergasten: Episode #8.3 (1995)

    User reviews4

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Ben Sombogaart : A Dutch filmmaker who makes clean films for children.
    Dutch film "Het Zakmes" is better known as "The Penknife".It is a brilliant family drama with light comedy.There are scenes in this film where both these genres overlap but all possible confusion is prevented due to mutual symbiosis of different protagonists.This is the perfect film for somebody who wants to have a good laugh with family.This film provides excellent commentary on the state of family and friendship as its director Ben Sombogaart created an ingenuous tale involving irresponsible adults and innocent kids.Adults are shown to misuse their status by not caring for young children.This is the reason why Het Zakmes shows that adults live in their own shell impeding on their children's creativity.The touchy issue of race relations in Holland has also been treated in this film.A beautiful lesson that can be learned is that most of the children have good memories and separation from their friend is unbearable,unpardonable act for them.This is precisely a core element of this dutch film.
    helpful•1
    2
    • FilmCriticLalitRao
    • Jul 1, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 15, 1992 (Netherlands)
    • Country of origin
      • Netherlands
    • Official site
      • Homepage of production company
    • Language
      • Dutch
    • Also known as
      • Перочинный нож
    • Filming locations
      • Weesp, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
    • Production companies
      • Bos Bros. Film & TV Productions
      • Algemene Vereniging Radio Omroep (AVRO)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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