Sonny Boy - A love in dark times

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Movie
German title Sonny Boy - A love in dark times
Original title Sonny Boy
Country of production Netherlands
original language Dutch
Publishing year 2011
length 132 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
Rod
Director Maria Peters
script Maria Peters,
Pieter Van de Waterbeemd
production Maria Peters
Hans Pos
Dave Schram
music Henny Vrienten
camera Walther van den Ende
cut Ot Louw
occupation

Sonny Boy - A Love in Dark Times is a Dutch literary film adaptation produced in 2011 . The script is based on the novel by the writer Annejet van der Zijl . The plot and protagonists are based on historical events and people.

In 2012 the film was the Dutch nominee for an Oscar in the category Best Foreign Language Film , but did not make it among the nominees.

action

Waldemar Nods grew up in Suriname . As a child he was a keen swimmer, which will be of use to him later. The dark-skinned man came to the Netherlands as a student in 1928. He must quickly recognize that he is living in a climate of racism, intolerance and harassment. Although he has exemplary certificates, these are not accepted at the university; unlike his white colleagues, he has to repeat many exams. He also doesn't find a job because as a black man he is not offered a job.

He is housed as a housekeeper in Rika van der Lans' household; a single mother of four children, the sons Wim, Jan and Henk and the daughter Bertha. The devout Rika has separated from her husband Willem because he was having an affair with the maid. Rika is an open-minded woman who slowly falls in love with Waldemar, who is 17 years her junior. One day Rika becomes pregnant by Waldemar. A son of a white and a black is born. They call the child Waldemar junior and nickname him Sonny Boy (after the song by Al Jolson ). But that's only where the problems begin. Willem, Rika's husband, withdraws custody of their children from Rika. Indoctrinated by their father, they no longer want any contact with their mother. The landlord, who is also intolerant, throws Waldemar, Rika and the baby onto the street a little later. By luck they find a place in a small back room of a pub. The owner is tolerant of Rika and Waldemar's relationship.

Over the next few years, Rika and Waldemar will save enough money to open their own hotel on the beach. Shortly afterwards the Second World War begins , the Germans also invade the Netherlands. Waldemar can work as a clerk for the German occupying power. Rika and Waldemar come into contact with the resistance movement. Finally, they offer their hotel as a hiding place for Jews. All goes well for a while; until one day a raid brings to light the hiding place of the Jewish victims. Waldemar, Rika and Sonny Boy are arrested. Sonny Boy is released shortly afterwards. Rika's brother takes his nephew to the country, where he finds shelter with a farmer.

After being tortured with waterboarding , Rika and Waldemar are separated and deported; Rika is sent to the Ravensbrück concentration camp ; Waldemar to Neuengamme concentration camp . Waldemar can work in the camp's post office and thus write letters to his son. After Hitler's death , the Neuengamme prisoners were imprisoned on the Cap Arcona . The ship is attacked by British bombers and sinks. Since concentration camp prisoners are denied access to the lifeboats, Waldemar has to swim. He can save himself on land, he is free. Suddenly Waldemar is fatally hit by bullets. Two child soldiers did their service for the “Führer”.

A few weeks later, Sonny Boy comes back to the city from the country. Here he not only has to find out that his father died as a prisoner on the Cap Arcona , but also that his mother Rika died of an illness in Ravensbrück. He now has to grow up with his uncle.

criticism

"Brilliantly visualized epic family drama, which as a moral image of an increasingly radicalized, intolerant society shows that resentment towards the 'other' is firmly anchored in apparently free societies."

- Film service

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Annejet van der Zijl: Sonny Boy - Book by Annejet van der Zijl. Retrieved on September 14, 2019 (English): "The true story of a love that almost seemed impossible"
  2. ↑ Wilma gravel Kamp: Annejet van der Zijl schrijft alsof he ze bij what. December 24, 2005, accessed on September 14, 2019 (nl-NL): “In 2002 I went to Waldy, Sonny Boy himself. [...] He said that he had tried all his life to write down the story of his parents . "
  3. ↑ Sonny Boy - A love in dark times. In: Filmdienst . Retrieved July 10, 2018 .