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The Silent Army

Original title: Wit licht
  • 20082008
  • 1h 55m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Wit licht (2008)
  • Drama
  • Thriller
Child soldiers in Africa are at the fore in this tale of a white restaurant owner in an African town bordering a conflict zone. When his son's African friend Abu is abducted, he sets out to ... Read allChild soldiers in Africa are at the fore in this tale of a white restaurant owner in an African town bordering a conflict zone. When his son's African friend Abu is abducted, he sets out to find the boy, and walks right into a training camp exploiting children like Abu.Child soldiers in Africa are at the fore in this tale of a white restaurant owner in an African town bordering a conflict zone. When his son's African friend Abu is abducted, he sets out to find the boy, and walks right into a training camp exploiting children like Abu.
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jean van de Velde
  • Writer
    • Jean van de Velde(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Marco Borsato
    • Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga
    • Thekla Reuten
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jean van de Velde
  • Writer
    • Jean van de Velde(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Marco Borsato
    • Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga
    • Thekla Reuten
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 12User reviews
    • 26Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 3 nominations

    Photos

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    Top cast

    Edit
    Marco Borsato
    • Eduard Zuiderwijkas Eduard Zuiderwijk
    Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga
    • Michel Obekeas Michel Obeke
    Thekla Reuten
    Thekla Reuten
    • Valerieas Valerie
    Andrew Kintu
    • Abuas Abu
    Siebe Schoneveld
    Siebe Schoneveld
    • Thomas Zuiderwijkas Thomas Zuiderwijk
    Peter Van den Begin
    Peter Van den Begin
    • François Lamaas François Lama
    Ricky Koole
    Ricky Koole
    • Anna Zuiderwijkas Anna Zuiderwijk
    Adrian Galley
    Adrian Galley
    • Ruud van Kalenbergas Ruud van Kalenberg
    Jacqueline Blom
    • Agnes van Damas Agnes van Dam
    Frederick Mpuuga
    • Rebel commanderas Rebel commander
    Vuks Ngcingwana
    • Commanderas Commander
    Sam Okelo
    • Abu's Fatheras Abu's Father
    • Director
      • Jean van de Velde
    • Writer
      • Jean van de Velde(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      The international version of this film ("The Silent Army") was the original Dutch entry for the Academy Awards' Best Foreign Film. However, the film was turned down because it was a re-cut version. This led to the submission of Oorlogswinter (2008).
    • Quotes

      Valerie: Most people have brilliant reasons to do nothing at all.

    • Alternate versions
      A shorter (92 minutes) version that left out all the music and focused less on Marco Borsato was cut under the supervision of French critic, director and editor Pierre Rissient. This version was retitled 'The Silent Army'.
    • Connections
      Featured in Pauw & Witteman: Episode #3.64 (2008)

    User reviews12

    Review
    Top review
    4/10
    Singers sing, actors act. Do not ever mix that up.
    A Dutch guy runs a restaurant in Uganda. He lives there together with his young son and their life isn't quite all that - he suffers from the trauma of having lost his wife and the political stability in the country isn't quite right either. When things go from bad to worse he's forced to do something about it.

    I guess the story could be worse. It is pretty standard, but nothing too bad. What makes this film bad is the fact that one of the main players is in his daily life a singer/entertainer (and a successful one at that), but he's not an actor. Most of the scenes he's staring into the camera much like a rabbit stares into the headlights of a car just before being run over. The other actors in the film do a better job, but the irritation of having one bad main character is so bad that their good work is overshadowed by his bad work.

    As a political message this film brings too much action, too much heroism. It might have left a deeper impact (on me at least) if it had not tried to be an action film. Then the real painful truth behind it all might have dawned some better, but not now. Now it's once seen, twice forgotten.

    4 out of 10 toe curling bad acted scenes
    helpful•8
    13
    • LazySod
    • Jan 15, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 11, 2008 (Netherlands)
    • Country of origin
      • Netherlands
    • Official site
      • Official site [Netherlands]
    • Languages
      • Dutch
      • English
      • Swahili
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Vahşetin Çocukları
    • Filming locations
      • South Africa
    • Production companies
      • A The Entertainment Group
      • Honoris Causa Communication
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,920,058
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 55 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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