Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival

My Extraordinary Summer with Tess

26 JUL 2020 — Film

About.

Company

New Zealand International Film Festival

Duration

82 minutes

Advisory

PG Offensive language & sexual references

Mijn bijzonder rare week met Tess
The Netherlands/Germany 2019
In Dutch with English subtitles

A charming and sensitive all-ages drama that explores life’s lightness and gravity with uplifting emotional depth. Winner of a special mention from the Berlinale Generation KPlus’ adult jury, and the NYICFF Grand Prize Feature Film Award.

10-year-old Sam is enduring a summer family holiday on a Dutch island, but things are far from idyllic – his brother has a broken leg, his mum has terrible migraines, and his dad is constantly trying to encourage togetherness. Sam, who has an imaginative morbid streak and a desire to unpack life’s big questions, embarks on “aloneness training” to prepare for the fact that as the youngest he’ll likely outlive his family. But his training quickly changes tack when he meets 11-year-old Tess, an enigmatic and electric force, with a secret and quest all of her own. — Nic Marshall

My Extraordinary Summer with Tess is particularly affecting when it’s in quiet rather than breezy mode, and its central duo rise to the task of conveying complicated emotions in tender, telling glances. It helps that Sal Kroonenberg’s scenic cinematography not only makes a visual impact, but reinforces the feature’s thematic journey. In a movie about young hearts and minds trying to find their place in the world – one by accepting life’s losses as well as its connections, the other by exploring her origins – continually placing its searching characters amongst sandy dunes, sprawling hillsides and ocean expanses is a smart and fitting touch.” — Sarah Ward, Screendaily

Credits

Steven Wouterlood

Director

Joram Willink, Piet-Harm Sterk

Producers

Laura van Dijk. Based on the book by Anna Woltz

Screenplay

Sal Kroonenberg

Photography

Christine Houbiers

Editor

Florian Legters

Production Designer

Margriet Procee

Costume Designer

Franziska Henke

Music

With

Sonny van Utteren

Sam

Josephine Arendsen

Tess

Julian Ras

Jorre

Tjebbo Gerritsma

Gijs

Suzan Boogaerdt

Mara

Johannes Kienast

Hugo

Terence Schreurs

Elise

Jennifer Hoffman

Ida

Hans Dagelet

Hille

Guido Pollemans

Sil

Festival

Berlin 2019

Book
Tickets.

Tickets.

Adult $18.50

Student $15.50

Senior $12.50

Multi-Trip Pass $77.50

Family-friendly… youth cinema with surprising emotional depth.
— Alissa Simon, Variety

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