Lepel

Dutch kiddies pic "Lepel" is an entertaining and heart-warming yarn about an orphaned math prodigy who seeks refuge in a department store. Occasional magic moments and a range of adult archetypes combine to create an aura of a modern fairy tale. Pic is ideal for kid fests and should deliver on Euro ancillary.

Dutch kiddies pic "Lepel" is an entertaining and heart-warming yarn about an orphaned math prodigy who seeks refuge in a department store. Occasional magic moments and a range of adult archetypes combine to create an aura of a modern fairy tale. Pic is ideal for kid fests and should deliver on Euro ancillary.

Wearing its heart on its sleeve, Dutch kiddies pic “Lepel” is an entertaining and heart-warming yarn about an orphaned math prodigy who seeks refuge in a department store. Occasional magic moments and a range of adult archetypes combine to create an aura of a modern fairy tale. Helmed by experienced Dutch tube director Willem van de Sande Bakhuyzen, satisfying story occasionally stumbles, but moves with a certainty of purpose. Pic is ideal for kid fests and should deliver on Euro ancillary.

Since his balloonist parents went AWOL, 9-year-old math master Lepel (Joep Truijen) has lived a Dickensian existence with his self-centered, button-selling grandmother (Loes Luca). While conducting a Faganian button raid in a department store, Lepel eludes his tyrannical granny and hooks up with likewise abandoned girl Pleun (Neeltje de Vree), who lives in the store. While searching for Lepel’s parents, the pre-pubescent pair plays cupid for handsome but hopeless sales clerk Max (Barry Atsma) and beautiful proprietor Miss Broer (Carice van Houten). Joyful atmosphere and solid perfs rise above obvious script machinations. Helming is solid, occasionally dishing up some transcendent images. Tech credits are quality merchandise.

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Lepel

Netherlands-U.K.

  • Production: A Lemming Film presentation of a Egoli Tossel Films (Netherlands)/Zephyr Film (U.K.) co-production in association with Nederlands Film Fonds, Mitteldeutsche Midienforderung, Eurimages, NPS Television, CoBo Fonds, Stimuleringsfonds, Warner Bros. (Netherlands), Andries Boer, Lemming Film, Fine BV. (International sales: FRC Media Intl. International, Amsterdam.) Produced by Leontine Petit, Joost de Vries. Co-producers, Olivier Damian, Phil Robertson, Brechtje Schaling. Directed by Willem van de Sande Bakhuyzen. Screenplay, Mieke de Jong.
  • Crew: Camera (color), Guido van Gennep; editor, Wouter Jansen; music, Robert Lockhart; art director, Joyce van Diepan; production designer, Gert Vrinkers. Reviewed at Brisbane Film Festival, Australia, Aug. 8, 2006. Dutch dialogue. Running time: 96 MIN.
  • With: With: Joep Truijen, Loes Luca, Neeltje de Vree, Barry Atsma, Carice van Houten.

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