Nova Zembla (film)

Last updated
Nova Zembla
Nova Zembla Poster.png
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Reinout Oerlemans
Screenplay byReinout Oerlemans
Produced by Hans de Weers
Reinout Oerlemans
Starring Robert de Hoog
Derek de Lint
Doutzen Kroes
CinematographyLennert Hillege
Edited byMichiel Reichwein
Music by
  • Melcher Meirmans
  • Merlijn Snitker
  • Chrisnanne Wiegel
Production
company
Distributed by Benelux Film Distributors
Release date
  • November 24, 2011 (2011-11-24)
Running time
108 minutes
CountryNetherlands
LanguageDutch
Box office$11 million [1]

Nova Zembla is a 2011 Dutch historical drama film directed by Reinout Oerlemans. It is the first Dutch feature film in 3D. [2]

Contents

The film describes the last journey of Willem Barentsz and Jacob van Heemskerk through 1596–1597 when they and their crew tried to discover the Northeast Passage to the Indies. However, due to the sea ice, they are stranded on the island of Novaya Zemlya and have to spend the winter there in Het Behouden Huys (The Safe Home). The story is told through the eyes of Gerrit de Veer, and is loosely based on a diary he published in 1598 after his safe return. [3] Gerrit is portrayed as having a relationship with Catharina Plancius, the daughter of the astronomer, cartographer and reverend Petrus Plancius, who pioneered the concept of the North East passage to reach the Indies. The Novaya Zemlya effect, first described by De Veer, is shown in the film, albeit in a non-historical fashion.

Cast

Filming locations

The film was filmed on location in Iceland, Belgium, Canada and the Netherlands. The scenes set in Amsterdam were filmed in Bruges (Brugge).

Critical response

According to Variety, the screenplay was "too light on historical background and character development," while the movie was "coming off as a technically competent but narratively uninvolving History Channel-like reenactment." The acting was considered "weak." [4]

Soundtrack

The musical theme of the movie was remixed by Dutch DJ and producer Armin van Buuren. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willem Barentsz</span> Dutch navigator, cartographer, and Arctic explorer (c. 1550 – 1597)

Willem Barentsz, anglicized as William Barents or Barentz, was a Dutch navigator, cartographer, and Arctic explorer.

Nova Zembla may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petrus Plancius</span> Dutch-Flemish astronomer, cartographer and clergyman (1552–1622)

Petrus Plancius was a Dutch-Flemish astronomer, cartographer and clergyman. Born, in Dranouter, now in Heuvelland, West Flanders, he studied theology in Germany and England. At the age of 24 he became a minister in the Dutch Reformed Church.

Jan Cornelisz Rijp was a Dutch mariner best known for his involvement with Willem Barentsz in finding a route to the East, avoiding the Spanish and the Portuguese fleets in the South.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Novaya Zemlya effect</span> Atmospheric optical phenomenon

The Novaya Zemlya effect is a polar mirage caused by high refraction of sunlight between atmospheric thermal layers. The effect gives the impression that the sun is rising earlier than it actually should, and depending on the meteorological situation, the effect will present the Sun as a line or a square — sometimes referred to as the rectangular sun — made up of flattened hourglass shapes.

Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser was a Dutch navigator and celestial cartographer who mapped several constellations on the southern celestial hemisphere.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jan Huyghen van Linschoten</span> Dutch merchant, traveller and writer (1563-1611)

Jan Huygen van Linschoten was a Dutch spy, merchant, traveller and writer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacob van Heemskerck</span> Dutch explorer and naval officer (1567–1607)

Jacob van Heemskerck was a Dutch explorer and naval admiral. He is generally known for his victory over the Spanish at the Battle of Gibraltar, where he ultimately lost his life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornelis Nay</span> Dutch navigator and explorer

Cornelis Corneliszoon Nay was a Dutch navigator and explorer who attempted to discover the Northeast Passage from Europe to the Far East. He came from Enkhuizen in the Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerrit de Veer</span> 16th-century Dutch naval officer

Gerrit de Veer was a Dutch officer on Willem Barentsz' second and third voyages of 1595 and 1596 respectively, in search of the Northeast passage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elling Carlsen</span>

Elling Carlsen was a Norwegian skipper, seal hunter and explorer. He is credited with the discovery of Kong Karls Land and was one of the crew of the 1872 Austro-Hungarian North Pole Expedition. He is also known for the 1871 discovery of the lodge of Willem Barentsz, which had stood for 270 years since Barentsz sheltered there on his third and final voyage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">False sunrise</span> Atmospheric optical phenomena in which the Sun appears to have risen

A false sunrise is any of several atmospheric optical phenomena in which the Sun appears to have risen, but is actually still some distance below the horizon. A number of different atmospheric conditions can be responsible for this effect, all of which divert the sunlight in such a way as to allow it to reach the observer's eye, thereby giving the impression that the light comes directly from the Sun itself. The spread of light can sometimes resemble that of the true sun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Novaya Zemlya</span> Archipelago in northern Russia

Novaya Zemlya, also spelled Novaja Zemlja, is an archipelago in northern Russia. It is situated in the Arctic Ocean, in the extreme northeast of Europe, with Cape Flissingsky, on the northern island, considered the easternmost point of Europe. To Novaya Zemlya's west lies the Barents Sea and to the east is the Kara Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willoughby's Land</span>

During his 1553 voyage across the Barents Sea, English explorer Hugh Willoughby thought he saw islands to the north. Based on his description, these islands were subsequently depicted and named "Willoughby's Land" and "Macsinof Island" on maps published by Petrus Plancius in 1592 and 1594. Gerardus Mercator included them on his 1595 map. Willem Barentsz found no sign of Willoughby's discoveries and omitted them from his map published in 1599, but they continued to appear on Arctic maps published by Jan Janssonius and Willem Blaeu at least into the 1640s.

During his 1553 voyage across the Barents Sea, English explorer Hugh Willoughby thought he saw islands to the north. Based on his description, these islands were subsequently depicted and named "Willoughby's Land" and "Macsinof Island" on maps published by Petrus Plancius in 1592 and 1594. Gerardus Mercator included them on his 1595 map. Willem Barentsz found no sign of Willoughby's discoveries and omitted them from his map published in 1599, but they continued to appear on Arctic maps published by Jan Janssonius and Willem Blaeu at least into the 1640s. Macsinof Island also appears as Macsin or Matsyn Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Dutch Expedition to the East Indies</span> First voyage of Dutch ships to Nusantara in 1595–1597

The First Dutch Expedition to the East Indies was an expedition that took place from 1595 to 1597. It was instrumental in opening up the Indonesian spice trade to the merchants that eventually formed the Dutch East India Company, and marked the end of the Portuguese Empire's dominance in the region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stedelijk Gymnasium Leiden</span> Gymnasium school in Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands

Stedelijk Gymnasium Leiden is a gymnasium in the Netherlands. Located in Leiden, it is one of the oldest schools in the Netherlands. Its history dates back to the Middle Ages. The Stedelijk Gymnasium Leiden is the biggest gymnasium-only school in the Netherlands, with over 1,800 pupils.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Egide Linnig</span> Belgian painter, draughtsman and engraver

Egide Linnig or Egidius Linnig was a Belgian painter, draughtsman and engraver who is best known for his marine art and occasional genre scenes. He was one of the first realist engravers in Belgium.

References

  1. "Nova Zembla (2011)". Box Office Mojo . IMDb . Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  2. Vijn, Ard (2011-10-15). "A Trailer For Dutch Epic NOVA ZEMBLA". Twitch Film . Archived from the original on 2011-10-19. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  3. The true and perfect description of three voyages : so strange and woonderfull, that the like hath neuer been heard of before: done and performed three yeares, one after the other, by the ships of Holland and Zeland, on the north sides of Norway, Muscouia, and Tartaria, towards the kingdomes of Cathaia & China; shewing the discouerie of the straights of Weigates, Noua Zembla, and the countrie lying vnder 80. degrees; which is thought to be Greenland: whereneuer any man had bin before: with the cruell beares, and other monsters of the sea, and the vnsupportable and extreame cold that is found to be in those places, London, 1605, English translation by William Phillip
  4. Review: 'Nova Zembla', Variety, 1 January 2012
  5. "Armin van Buuren maakt remix van soundtrack Nova Zembla". Algemeen Dagblad . November 24, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  6. (in Dutch) Eerste Nederlandse 3D film op NFF