SYNOPSICS
Bride Flight (2008) is a Dutch,English movie. Ben Sombogaart has directed this movie. Karina Smulders,Anna Drijver,Elise Schaap,Pleuni Touw are the starring of this movie. It was released in 2008. Bride Flight (2008) is considered one of the best Drama movie in India and around the world.
In 1953, a flood adding to the aftermath of World War II swells the numbers of Dutch emigrants. On a KLM flight to New Zealand, part of a race from London, Frank de Rooy (Waldemar Torenstra), who lost his family and colonial estate in the Japanese occupation and Indonesian civil war of Independence, meets some virtual mail order brides. Ada van Holland (Karina Smulders) becomes his lover before confessing she's already married by proxy to gloomy Calvinist Derk Visser (Micha Hulshof). Jewish concentration-camp survivor Esther Cahn (Anna Drijver) dodges her engagement for a fashion career and discreetly has her son Bobby (Mykola Allen) adopted by infertile Marjorie Mullin (Elise Shaap), who did everything else right with husband Hans (Mattijn Hartemink). Over the years, some of their paths cross again, and all of the survivors meet at Frank's funeral.
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Bride Flight (2008) Reviews
A simple but solid and well acted drama with flair for locale and historic atmosphere.
On paper the story of Bride Flight might be told in 5 sentences but it's all executed in a convincing fashion with a keen and convincing eye for locale and historic atmosphere. The movie is about three women that fly to find their future in New Zealand in the fifties. On the plane is a man that will influence and tie their lives together in an unforeseen manner. The strength of the movie lies in the characters and the convincing way they are portrayed. Waldemar Torenstra is very convincing as the charismatic and Deanesque Frank that makes the other male characters (but not their performers) pale in comparison. Karina Smulders is delicious with her big naive gazing eyes. In fact the whole cast turns in solid performances and the young and old versions of the characters are very much in line with each other. All in all it's not an epic movie like "de Tweeling", director Ben Sombogaard previous movie, but it increasingly takes you by the throat as the story unwinds and relationships become clearer. A pity we did not see more of Rutger Hauer though.
In one word 'amazing'
This is a fantastic film. The trailer for this film tells of a passionate love affair between two people who can't be together. OK, the film is about these two people, but it is about so much more! The bond between these four people who met on a plane in 1953. The secrets some of them kept for 55 years. The expectations of starting a new life in a new country. And the scenery is amazing. I love New Zealand, and I thoroughly enjoyed the background in the film. I recommend this film to anyone. Although, fair to say, I guess it's more of a girl's film. It's an epic drama; there are no car chases or high tech gadgets. This is what a film is supposed to be. And the 130 minutes fly by! Also pay attention to the beautiful song at the end.
Great acting in great cinema
I saw the trailer of this movie several times and I just hated it. Bombastic overpowering music that overloaded my senses and gave the impression of an average movie. The complete movie is totally different and I loved every minute of it (all 130). The acting is subtle and strong and New Zealand provides a beautiful background for some amazing shots. The story has real power and all twists and turns feel very natural. You get a real good feel about all the characters involved and their motivations. They all evolve together to the end of the movie. Special mention for me are two of the main characters, Frank and Ada. The (erotic) tension between these actors is one of the most intense I've ever seen in cinema. If you like well told drama with great acting this is the movie for you. Forget the trailer, go to see the real thing!
Simply Loved It
Normally I'm not a big fan of Dutch films, but when a friend of mine convinced me to see it and I actually saw the film, I was just blown away! Nothing like the usual Dutch films I was used too, it was way better! to start with the cast, in one word fantastic!! It was so refreshing to see other actors and actresses than we see in so many Dutch films. Waldemar Torenstra, Anna Drijver, Karina Smulders (and of course the other actors/actresses) were really at their best! When I read the plot outline I was expecting some sort of chick-flick, but it turned out to be a story with much more depth than I was expecting. the way the story unfolds itself is very clever and Ben Sombogaart deserves a big compliment for this. Then the setting, New Zealand, is perfect for this story. The laid-back people in contrast to the strict catholic dutchies was very interesting to witness. and of course, New Zealand is a beautiful country which leads to great shots! This all makes me very happy that I came over my prejudices and went to see the film! I wouldn't have wanted to miss it and I can recommend it to everyone!
Solid drama about finding "home".
After reading the previous comments from (mostly) Dutch viewers I feel I have to add some more. This movie has to be seen with the historic background in mind : early 50's in post-war Holland, the recent loss of Indonesia as colony, (war) broken families, and a recent flood disaster. There are a few references to these events. In this time a lot of Dutchies migrated to New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the USA (incl. my relatives). Young people wanting a new start, after the WW-II war. Some of them were born and raised in Indonesia, suffered from the Japanese camps, and when they were forced to relocate to post-war Netherlands after Indonesia's independence the Netherlands was like an unknown country for them. This movie's Frank is an example of such a young man. Lost and looking out for a new life, with no attachments to his "mothercountry". All main characters have their personal baggage from these tragic events they experienced during their young years. Marjorie is a little of an exception to this. Which translates in the plot. The storyline really tells subtly and in complexity how this generation walked away from their past, leave it behind and looking out for a prosperous future in their chosen promised land. I give this movie an 8 out of 10. Production is solid, as is the acting. Scenery adds up to this feeling of "promised land".