Yesterday it was announced that War in Wintertime (no link given, the Dutch title Oorlogswinter is on the IMDb though), made the short list. Based on a seventies novel by a beloved politician temporarily turned author of children's' books, the director managed to adapt this to the screen in an amazingly effective way. Enough interesting turning points, good acting, superb cinematography and art direction made this a very pleasurable movie to watch. The Netherlands have a tradition of turning out second world war movies regularly (some good, some stupid). This one adds to classics such as Soldaat van Oranje, Het Meisje met het Rode Haar, Zwartboek and De Tweeling (all must sees) in that it provides a surprising insight into people with hidden agendas. At the end of the day, Oorlogswinter makes a thrilling boy's coming of age story. Well done and let's hope it makes the short list (though that other war movie from an earlier war, Das Weisse Band, is going to run off with the Academy Award).
Review of Winter in Wartime
