Iep! Follows the story of a childless bird watcher, Warre, and his wife, Tine. One day whilst Warre is out bird watching he hears an unusual noise. Following the sound he discovers Viegeltje, a baby no bigger than his hand. She looks almost human, except that she has wings, instead of arms. With no sign of Viegeltje's parents, Warre takes her home, where Tine's maternal instincts immediately kick in. The couple decide to keep the baby and raise her as a little girl, hiding her true identity from friends and local villagers.
Some years later when Viegeltje is grown, her affinity for birds is still clear. The only vowel sound she can make is "e", she eats insects, and flies around the kitchen. When she sees a flock of birds flying south for the winter, she flies away to join them.
When Warre and Tine discover she's gone, they begin a cross country pursuit that will take them and the people they meet along the way on a journey which will change them all in unexpected ways.
Eep! Is at times serious, dealing with issues of family, loss and loneliness. Mostly however it is a light hearted film with lots of comic moments. It's perfect for children, who will love cute Viegelte, the thought of being able to fly and the adventure story. The film will also appeal to adults who will appreciate the situation's absurdity more than children will.
The characters are very well portrayed, particularly the elderly couple, who make the situation feel real despite the absurdity. The children in the film are also wonderful, sweet and innocent.
Iep! Is suitable for all the family, it hasn't been widely distributed but has been screened at several film festivals including Leeds Young People's Film Festival and Lancaster Children's Film Festival. If you get the chance, it is well worth a watch.
