Oorlogswinter (Winter in Wartime)

[*TIMMIE*]

This is a marveleous movie is set in the last Dutch winter of WWII. This winter was extremely cold, and people litterally died of the hunger. This movie is based on the the book Oorlogswinter, which is a semi-autobiography of writer Jan Terlouw.

Synopsis from IMDB:
This is the story of Michiel, a 14 year old boy living in a small town in the Netherlands. It's winter 1944/1945 and he thinks that war is quite exiting. He is very interested in joining the underground movement but does not know how. This all changes when a good friend ask him to deliver a letter for him if 'things' should go wrong. As of that moment Michiel finds out that war isn't that exiting. He struggles with trust and choices and finds out that war is no fun at all. He is thrown into adulthood in a very short time. I think this movie is very good. It has a very good atmosphere which was wonderfully done by director Martin Koolhoven.

Now on Blu Ray in the Netherlands:
Regio: A/B/C
Distributor: VideoFilm Express
Play time: 103,10 min.
Disc format: Blu-ray Disc 50 GB
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 2.35:1, 1080p24fps H.264/MPEG-4 AVC High Definition
Audio: Dutch LPCM 5.1, DTS 5.1 en Dolby Digital 5.1 and Audiodescriptive track in DD5.1 2x
Subtitles: Dutch (for non Dutch dialogues), Dutch for the hearing impaired, English and French
Features (various formats: some in PAL, some in HD):
- Audiocommentary by Martin Koolhoven and Editor Job ter Burg (DD 5.1),
- Making Of (PAL),
- Het Gesprek: TV Interview with Martin Koolhoven (PAL),
- Interviews (PAL),
- Martijn Lakemeier at RTV Rijnmond (PAL),
- Documentary: Hongerwinter (hungerwinter) (PAL),
- Photogallery (HD),
- Trailers (HD) En Spotjes (PAL),
- Visual Effects (HD),
- Deleted Scenes(PAL),
- Stunts featurette (PAL),
- Première (PAL),
- On the set (PAL)

[Xboxbydegrees]

thanks for the write up.

[pro-bassoonist]

Yes, I saw the announcement on DVDoutlet. Thank you for the post. More than likely, I will add it to my library.

Pro-B

[KubrickFan]

And it's a gorgeous Blu-Ray as well. I had reservations (VideoFilm Express isn't one of the best companies) but it looked and sounded great. I wish I could give a more detailed review, but it was the first time I saw the film, so I obviously focused more on that than on the technical aspects.

[Busara]

I have to agree with Oorlogswinter being an amazing film. I didn't catch its theatrical showing overhere in the Netherlands, but the recently released Blu-ray is so incredible detailed it's like having the very best seat in the theatre. It's probably the best way to experience the movie.

For me, the film felt exactly right. Though I had heard mention of the film having been 'dumbed down' for a younger audience, it didn't seem so to me. Oorlogswinter was a pure and sincere story of a boy getting personally involved with world war II, often without realizing the possible consequences of his actions.

In some ways, the film reminded me of Spielberg's Empire of the Sun, which I absolutely adore. The story deals all about growing up and following your own heart, though it may be a very dangerous and dramatic path to take.

I was happy to read that Oorlogswinter will soon be shown in England and Ireland as well, in theatres. It's great to see that these relatively small but excellent films get the decent treatment they so need and deserve.

Hopefully you guys will enjoy the movie as much as I have.

[The Driver]

Is there an English subtitle option with the special features?

Unlikely, but worth asking cos my Dutch is a bit rusty

[Busara]

I checked my Dutch Oorlogswinter Blu-ray for you, but unfortunately English subtitles are only available during the main feature. There are no English subtitles with the extras.

It seems a UK Blu-ray release is also available (I saw it here, on Play.com) - I assume it will have English subtitles with its extras, but I cannot confirm it since I only have the Dutch version.

Perhaps someone with a UK copy can help?

[The Driver]

Originally Posted by Busara

I checked my Dutch Oorlogswinter Blu-ray for you, but unfortunately English subtitles are only available during the main feature. There are no English subtitles with the extras.

Thanks

Anyone ever tell you you look like River Phoenix. Spooky

Yeah, there's a UK disc but it's got nothing sadly https://forum.blu-ray.com/united-kin...r-wartime.html

Oh well.

[Busara]

Anyone ever tell you you look like River Phoenix. Spooky

Heh. I just selected River to be my forum avatar - it seemed fitting, because "Stand By Me" and "The Mosquito Coast" are among my favourite films from the eighties.

[ArnoBD]

Following versions you can find here on bluray.com incl. review:


Oorlogswinter (Winter in Wartime) [NL sdh, ENG, FRA subs]
NL: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Winte...Blu-ray/13685/
USA/CAN: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Winte...Blu-ray/24519/
GER: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Oorlo...Blu-ray/18461/
UK: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Winte...Blu-ray/10373/
Martin Koolhoven -- Martijn Lakemeijer, Yorik van Wageningen, Tygo Gernandt, Melody Klaver