5 Dutch Films Currently in the Dutch Theaters

The year of 2020 has not been so merciful for the film industry; the global pandemic of COVID-19 has put in a difficult position more than one director, forcing many productions to shift their releases dates, while a lot of other films and projects were straight up cancelled. But now that theaters opened again, why don't we turn off our Netflix desktop and see what's new on the big screen?

Here is a list of 5 national productions in Dutch language, including two to watch with your whole familie and one especially for children. Improve your Dutch the fun way: get yourself some popcorn and enjoy the comfy chairs of the cinema while surrounding you with some Dutch language.

* Scroll down for a bonus film by the end of this article!

#1 : De Beentjes van Sint Hildegard

Genre : Drama, Comedy

Directed by Johan Nijenhuis

How Much Love Is Too Much Love? That is the question that Jan and his daughter Liesbeth are facing. They are both in similar situations. Jan has been married to Gedda for 35 years, who loves him just a little too much. She sees marriage as a form of assisted living. She determines what he wears, with whom he can be friends, their holidays and all other activities. Daughter Liesbeth is in the same boat as her father with her measured and jealous boyfriend.

'De beentjes van Sint-Hildegard' is the very first cinema film from the region Twente, in the Netherlands. This means you have the opportunity to get a bit acquainted with one of the many beautiful dialects in this country.

With strong acting by leading actors Herman Finkers and Johanna ter Steege.

#2 : Kapsalon Romy

Genre : Drama, family film

Directed by Mischa Kamp

With fresh reluctance grandma Stine (Beppie Melissen) is looking after her granddaughter Romy (Vita Heijmen), because her recently divorced daughter Margot (Noortje Herlaar) has to work. Grandma, still active as a hairdresser, is struggling with the onset of Alzheimer's. Romy doesn't like the fact that she has to go to the hair salon every day, but everything changes when Grandma Stine confides in her granddaughter about her growing confusion.

Kapsalon Romy is directed by Mischa Kamp, who previously made 'Het paard van Sinterklaas', 'Tony 10' and 'Jongens'. The film was awarded Best European Youth Film of 2019 at the Norwegian International Children's Film Festival.

#3 : Alles is zoals het zou moeten zijn

Genre : Comedy

Directed by Ruud Schuurman

Immediately after the birth of their first child, Iris' boyfriend Pieter confesses that he never wanted this child and will soon leave for Africa with his new love. Wallowing furiously in self-pity and alcohol, Iris's early motherhood, her job in the television world and her social life are severely oppressed. Iris wants nothing more than for Pieter to come back. Along with her two best friends (and an elusive dog walker), Iris gets her life back on track in the year that follows and finds true love, but not until she has dealt with her adulterous ex, a false colleague and a reluctant dog.

#4 : Engel

Genre : Children's film

Dennis Bots

Engel is an insecure girl who finds it hard to say no and likes to be at home. Home feels familiar to her, with her bright parents' brains, her sweet cat Saturn, and the crazy Uncle Tobias, who is babysitting when her parents go to a convention.

One day, on the way home, something strange happens: she trips, prepares for a hard fall, but suddenly she floats in a soap bubble. When the bubble bursts and Engel lies dazed on the floor, she sees a silver bell next to her. Engel soon finds out that the clock is very special. Everything she wishes comes true! Engel is suddenly very popular, but whether her new life really makes her happy?

#5 : De Piraten van Hiernaast

Genre : Children's film

Directed by Pim van Hoeve

In 'De Piraten van Hiernaast', the boring Dutch coastal town of Zandwijk aan Zee is rocked by the arrival of the sword-fighting and rum-drinking pirate family Donderbus. While the dull neighbors don't like the guard shark and house octopus, eleven-year-old Michiel befriends the tough pirate boy Billy, despite their differences. But he's in danger of losing his new friend when arch-nemesis Bony Krelis suddenly shows up. Together with their girl next door Elizabeth, the boys take on the most dangerous adventure at sea ...

BONUS : Moffie

Genre : Historical, Drama

Directed by Oliver Hermanus

Moffie is a gay-hating, Afrikaans swear word that some men are only too happy to use. This is what adolescent boy Nicholas Van der Swart (Kai Luke Brummer) learns when he is called up as a conscript by the South African army in 1981. The sixteen-year-old cadet finds himself in a brutal macho environment that literally tries to stamp homophobia, racism and xenophobia into the minds of young men. Some of the boot camp scenes are reminiscent of the horror of Full Metal Jacket, but South African director Oliver Hermanus' fourth feature (Skoonheid, The Endless River) is above all a tender portrait of a boy suffocated by his new environment. The humiliating army training confirms that Nicholas is different from his fellow soldiers. Only during rare private moments does he find the space to discover his homosexuality. Hermanus not only depicts the madness, blind racism and political violence of the South African apartheid era, but also the warmth of a youth romance and sexual exploration. Unfortunately, even the strongest romances have to live in fear in South Africa.

This movie is technically not Dutch, but culturally holds close ties with the Netherlands. Moffie is in English and Afrikaans, a language of southern Africa, derived from the form of Dutch brought to the Cape by Protestant settlers in the 17th century. It is an official language of South Africa, spoken by around 6 million people as their first language.

The subtitles for this film, just like most of the films here in the theaters, will be in Dutch.