The Storm (2009)

During the devastating North Sea flood of 1953, a young woman and a naval officer search for her lost infant son.

Director:

Ben Sombogaart

Writers:

Marjolein Beumer (screenplay), Rik Launspach

Stars:

Sylvia Hoeks, Barry Atsma, Dirk Roofthooft

4 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sylvia Hoeks	...	Julia
Barry Atsma	...	Aldo
Dirk Roofthooft	...	Vader Julia
Monic Hendrickx	...	Moeder Julia
Elsa May Averill	...	Emma
Katja Herbers	...	Krina
Lottie Hellingman	...	Stientje
Bas Keijzer	...	Guus
Sanne den Hartogh	...	Koos
Evert de Jager	...	Burgemeester Haverkamp
Betty Schuurman	...	Mevrouw Haverkamp
Serge Price	...	Felix
Sarah Jonker	...	Geesje
Guus Dam	...	Job
Micha Hulshof	...	Piloot Theo

Storyline

A fictional story within the historical context of the disastrous flood that engulfed the Dutch coastal province of Zeeland in 1953. When their farmhouse is destroyed by the flood, teenage mother Julia gets separated from her baby boy, whom she kept hidden in a box. She is saved from drowning by a young air force lieutenant, who agrees to go help looking for Julia's little son. A near-hopeless quest ensues.

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Plot Keywords:

flood | baby | storm | disaster | reunited with parent | 

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Genres:

Action | Drama | History

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Netherlands]

Country:

Netherlands Belgium

Language:

Dutch

Release Date:

17 September 2009 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

A natureza contra ataca

Filming Locations:

Belgium

Box Office

Budget:

€6,300,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Focus Features, Nijenhuis & de Levita Film & TV B.V.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

In the movie Julia is saved by a helicopter the morning after the flood, and the wind and water are calm. In reality, a strong gale was still blowing the day after, preventing an air rescue.

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Connections

Featured in De wereld draait door: Episode #5.9 (2009)

User Reviews

Missed chance

This could have been a very important movie. The 1953 floods, in which thousands of people lost their lives, was probably the biggest historical event in the Netherlands since the second world war. As far as I know, this is its first major cinema treatment, with the technology to make the storm scenes credible. But that's just about all that's credible.

The dominating storyline, of a single mother in search for her lost baby, supported by a deserted naval officer, was melodramatic and totally incredible. The dialog was wooden and full of anachronisms, the soundtrack often out of sinc with lip movements, and the sappy, swelling music in every scene irritating. Those whose mother tongue isn't Dutch won't mind, but there is no attempt at regional accents by any of the main characters, which would at least give the dialog a hint of authenticity. Some of the actors even had Flemish accents, very different from Zeeuws.

A big miss.