IDTV Film, Samsa Film, Nederlandse Christelijke Radio Vereniging (NCRV)
Karina Smulders, Anna Drijver, Waldemar Torenstra, Pleuni Touw, Petra Laseur, Elise Schaap, Willeke van Ammelrooy, Rutger Hauer, Mykola Allen
Bride Flight (The name comes from the practice of importing brides to New Zealand from Holland in the 1950’s. The planes were called “Bride Flights”) is the story of three women who met when they emigrated to New Zealand to become War Brides. While on their journey they become friends with Frank (Waldemar Torenstra ) a handsome cowboy who intertwines in the lives of these three women forever. Later, after Frank is gone, the women return to his funeral, and have a chance to reconnect and see where their lives have gone and how they changed from the first time they bonded as young potential war brides.
This is certainly a beautiful movie. It is Dutch, but it takes place in New Zealand, so much of the movie is in English, but many parts are in Dutch. Like real people in the situation of being in a strange land, they pop in and out of their native tongue on a regular basis. The Dutch portions are subtitled so we can read along.
The country of New Zealand is very beautiful, so the scenery and cinematography is wonderful. It’s a beautiful film. It’s also a pretty heavy drama with lots going on. It takes a great deal of concentration to follow the story and keep up with what is happening. You have a lot to get familiar with the backgrounds before you can sit back and enjoy the scenery. It is more of a chick flick in a way, as it’s a strong character piece with love stories, and heartbreak and disappointment galore, but its a lot deeper than that. It was interesting to learn of two new cultures at once, that of New Zealand where they ended up and Holland where they started out. Many of their problems are just like today when immigrants land in a foreign land.
All in all it’s a pretty slow developing story, but a very rich one. If you want action and adventure, this will bore you to tears, but if you love deep character driven stories, this was a multiple award winning Dutch film, and therefore something way out of the ordinary for what you are used to.
EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog
