This is How Movies Should Be Made

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

I am not good at watching movies at the moment, my concentration is shot - I hope, temporarily. However, this is 2 hrs something and I was glued to it. It was light enough to be enjoyable and of enough substance to hold the attention. I don't know how close to the historical facts it runs, but it didn't do New Zealand's tourism hopes any harm with breathtaking views and a good plug for the wine industry. The story is mostly predictable but runs smoothly, the main actors are great with a nice touch of drama here and there. My only gripe is that some of the smaller parts were played by Australian actors, with noticeable accents. Really? Couldn't find any NZers? Apart from that, sweet as.

This is an absolute GEM of a movie that tells the story of 3 women and 1 man who meet on a flight as they are emigrating in the early 50's from the Netherlands to New Zealand, leaving behind floods and terrible economic conditions. Many of the women on this flight(like our protagonists) have already accepted proposals of marriage from New Zealand men whom they have not even met. These 4 actors embark on a new life; but as things work out ,their lives become intertwined in unusual and unimagined ways.As events unfold, we see the consequences of decisions, some of which should have been reconsidered and were not,some which could be renounced and were, and some which were allowed to play out with tumultuous results.This intriguing saga is at times agonizing,at times uplifting, at times poignant but always compelling. The actors are excellent and fully photogenic! If you are interested in a superb,engrossing and captivating drama, get on board,buckle up and enjoy the flight.

This film is amazing! It is so much more than what it at first seems to be. It's a heartbreaking, intricate film reminiscent of The Notebook. The movie follows the lives and entangling love affairs of three beautiful Dutch women (Marjorie, Ada and Esther) immigrating from post World War II Holland to New Zealand, where their respective fiancés await them. They meet the film's heartthrob, Frank, during their immigration flight. As the plot unfolds, passionate encounters between these four complicate the lives of each character. Yes, this movie an epic love story, but it also captures the historical moment through careful filming and acting to match. Alluring, sensual, quiet and complicated, this film also takes a careful smart eye to watch. By its end, you are left with a smile and a heavy feeling that you've just watched something full of depth and meaning.

I was fortunate enough to see a screening of this recently and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how incredibly crafted this film was. I had no prior knowledge of the film other than it being a Dutch film, which is what initially intrigued me. While the context of the story is set within post WWII Holland, the emotions and relationships extend to any culture. I found the acting to be very natural and convincing as well, especially by Waldemar Torenstra (Young Frank) and Elise Schaap (Marjorie). Ben Sombogaart does a good job of adding layers to each character's relationships as they grow through time. I'm not sure how much I can divulge but the use of wine as a metaphor was well done, subtle and pertinent. Overall, I would recommend this film to anyone. Its a wonderful drama that I'd put up against any of its kind, such as the Notebook or Atonement.