Bluebird (2004 film)

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Bluebird
Bluebird 2004.jpg
Written byHelena van der Meulen
Directed by Mijke de Jong
Starring Elske Rotteveel
Kees Scholten
Elsie de Brauw
Jaap Spijkers
Bright O'Richards
Theme music composerHarry de Wit
Richard Janssen
Country of originNetherlands
Original languageDutch
Production
Producers Hans de Weers
Hans de Wolf
Cinematography Goert Giltay
EditorDorith Vinken
Running time77 minutes
Production companyCoBo Fonds
Original release
Release10 April 2004 (2004-04-10)

Bluebird is a 2004 Dutch television film directed by Mijke de Jong. It is the first in a trilogy of films made by de Jong about young women becoming adults. [1] The film was selected by the Netherlands as its official Foreign Language Film submission for the 78th Academy Awards, but was disqualified by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences because it had been shown on television.

Contents

Plot

Merel (Elske Rotteveel) is a 13 year old girl living in Rotterdam and looking after her younger disabled brother. She is successful at school, but hounded by a group of a classmates. As the bullying intensifies, Merel finds it hard to talk about it and her behaviour changes.

Accolades

Bluebird won a Crystal Bear award at the Berlin International Film Festival. [2] The film was selected by the Netherlands as its official Foreign Language Film submission for the 78th Academy Awards, but was rejected by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences because it had been shown on television. [3] The film also won the Youth Jury Award at the Toronto Sprockets International Film Festival for Children and the Grand prix de Montréal at the Montréal International Children’s Film Festival. [4]

In 2008, VPRO rated it as de Jong's best film and stated it demonstrated her skill as a director. [5]

See also

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References

  1. Bockting, Berend Jan; Broekhoven, Jorrit van (14 February 2020). "De Volkskrant film- en tv-tips voor zaterdag 15 februari". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  2. "Katia's Sister (Het Zusje Van Katia)". Walker Art Center. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  3. "The blue bird will not fly". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  4. Kortum, Evelien (19 September 2018). "Op scherp: Mijke de Jong - vpro cinema". VPRO (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  5. "Op scherp: Mijke de Jong". VPRO (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 April 2020.