the audience applauded

an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

I think "De Zevensprong" is one off the finest pieces of TV made in the Netherlands in the early eighties. I was ecstatic when I found a DVD box of the complete series some 20 years after seeing the series on TV. At the time I believed that all kids in our little kingdom watched this series.,there where only two channels in the dutch language so all of my classmates..I mean every kid I knew at that time watched the series and somehow I remember there was a sense of excitement and secrecy/mystery when we talked about last nights episode. The Tonke Dragt children's book somehow creates a atmosphere in which children get the feeling that they are in on a big secret. this also worked for the TV series and most kids felt that they where somehow taking part in a secret society of children (watching TV) You just knew stuff that other people did not......you wanna know more....you just have to watch! I'm not the only adult with strong feelings for this series...there is a special website and lot's of people made the pilgrimage to the Old castle ( the house of stairs )or staircase castle Excellent messages in the story too. I appreciated the ending more as an adult than when I watched It as a kid. Use your common sense but also take in account that there is a little magic involved in living your live.Een alleen zal mij niet vinden..........

Its a shame that many people don't know this television mini series. I have seen the German translated version but i don't know if its available in other languages than dutch and German. It is absolutely necessary to watch them in chronological order otherwise you will get (even more) confused. The music also is very precise and fits in perfectly. If you are in adventure like young Indiana Jones then go for it. I think of it as one of the best series ever made -not only for kids, because the acting is very professional- with real suspense. Franz the red only is worth watching. He is a pretty smart actor and surely every kid likes him to be their teacher. The story to me is a mixture of PSI and adventure sometimes a little bit overdone but very sympathetic (everyone dreams about mystery). Call it a Hitchcock Movie for kiddies. Hardly recommended! Watch it!

Tonke Dragt's 'De Zevensprong' was an excellent children's novel, so it is only fitting that it was made into this charming and well-crafted series. The plot concerns the investigations of a school teacher with a fantasy-prone personality into the dark and creepy history of a nearby castle. A great script, excellent acting and a superb score by Tonnie Eijk.