The Penknife (1991) User Reviews

Actually quite enjoyable

[TheOtherFool · 7/10 · 16 July 2004]

10 years before Sombogaart made the best movie ever to have come from The Netherlands (IMO, that is), 'De Tweeling' (Twin Sisters), he made this cute little gem concerning a pocket knife which has to be returned to it's rightful owner.

Mees accidentally put the knife in his trousers instead of giving it back to his friend Tim, who is moving the next day. Through some mishaps Mees can't return the precious knife and goes out to find Tim in his new hometown.

Nice little movie with some good acting (in particular by De Groot who plays the father) and a fun story. I'm sure kids will love it as well.

7/10.

wonderful

[carangi · 10/10 · 28 August 2002]

This is a great movie for children. It has no violence in it at all and they can actually learn something from it. I would also recommend it to parents, because this is really the kind of movie you can watch with your children together. It shows not only the situation, but also how certain situations can be a problem to a (young) child. Olivier Tuinier is Holland's pride and probably our only worldwide known childactor, but he can easily compete with the American ones. Highly recommended movie!

One of the cutest kid movie I've ever seen! Also very educational.

[blur-4 · 10/10 · 12 January 2000]

One of the best kid movies I've ever seen! Kids will learn a lot from this movie. Olivier Tuinier is so cute and nice. I will recommend this movie to my future kids.

Ben Sombogaart : A Dutch filmmaker who makes clean films for children.

[FilmCriticLalitRao · 10/10 · 1 July 2008]

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.