The Book of Everything
Happiness begins with not being afraid anymore.
With the help of a free spirited neighbour, his rebellious sister and the Lord Jesus himself, Thomas finds the courage to rebel against his father’s strict religious regime.
It's an adaptation of The Book of Everything by Dutch author Guus Kuijer that is internationally renowned and appreciated for its profound themes, thus has been translated into many European languages (14) plus into Japanese, Hebrew and many more!
THE BOOK OF Everything presents a universal story that resonates across various religions, cultures and generations. At its core, the film celebrates the power of a child’s imagination, illustrating how fantasy can serve as a transformative tool for self-discovery and personal growth.
The directions brings to life a world where imagination flourishes. The narrative encourages young audiences to embrace their individuality and navigates their own lives without fear, a vital message in today’s complex world.
Ineke Houtman's film tells a piece of historical life in a way that is reminiscent of successes such as Jojo Rabbit in terms of tone and thus takes the weight off the subject of domestic violence and oppression. The film is therefore suitable for both adults and young people and perhaps allows us to understand the world of our grandparents a little better.
It is also an insightful portrait of the post-WWII era, of religious narrow-mindedness, of traditional role models, which is countered here by an emerging feminism (and cheerfulness, music, joie de vivre) and a rebellion against the strict and often bigoted morals. Houtman finds light in what was so dark, making the film witty, playful and always lucidly well-intentioned.
THE BOOK OF EVERYTHING is a coming-of-age movie and, at the same time, a fairy tale about how a glimpse into other - vilified – way of lives and sudden solidarity (among women) is sometimes all it takes to break the spell of cultural indoctrination––a universal and powerful parable.
The humor is so audacious and the psychological insight at times so startling that despite the hard topic of a childhood in post-war times in Europe you get an easy and familiar dose of comfort at the end.
Awards
SCHLINGEL International Film Festival for Children and Young Audience (Germany) 2024: SLM Top Award
Filem'On Brussels IFF (Belgium) 2024: ECFA Feature Award and Press Award
Key Information
| Original Title | Het Boek van Allen Dinge |
| Genre |
Fiction/Drama |
| Produced by: | Kaap Holland Film B.V. (NL); FATT Productions (NL); and co-produced by White Pictures (Latvia) |
| Year Of Production | 2024 |
| Duration | 90 min min |
| Country Of Origin | Netherlands |
| Language Versions | Dutch [OV],English [ST] |
Cast & Crew
| Director/s | Ineke Houtman |
| Cast | Aiko Beemsterboer Brandon Coene Daan Schuurmans Margot Dames Sallie Harmsen |
| Producer/s | Hans de Weers Maarten Swart Alise Gelze |
| Writer/s | Maarten Lebens Mieke de Jong |