STORY
THE STORY
War movie ‘Betuwe44’ about forgotten chapter of Dutch WWII history
Premiere in exhibition Freedom Museum
Due to corona measures, the recordings had to be stopped, but now it is finally here: the short film The Reconciliation. A true episode from the film Betuwe44 that you can see from October 29, 2020 till april 22, 2021 in the Freedom Museum in Groesbeek. In the exhibition 'The Second World War in Films', you can see the short film, objects from the film set and a behind-the-scenes film! Book here: https://tickets.vrijheidsmuseum.nl/en/tickets
The exhibition of the Freedom Museum focuses on the Second World War in feature films. Using original scripts, costumes and props, the development of the war film over the years is portrayed. In addition, the exhibition depicts the development of war film over the years through original scripts, costumes and props. From classics such as A Bridge Too Far and Zwartboek to more recent productions such as Inglourious Basterds, Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter and Dresden. Among the highlights are a Tom Hanks costume, a script by Sean Connery and a George Clooney uniform.
Story short film Reconciliation
The scene that we filmed for the Freedom Museum is about a true story about a meeting between an allied and a German lieutenant in October 1944. G-company of the American 508th parachute regiment lay in an orchard between Huissen and Bemmel, waiting for possible German patrols. The German patrol headed for the American lines was then ambushed. All thirty Germans were killed except one. This seriously injured captain begged for his life in English. An American lieutenant went over with his sergeant. They placed the German captain with his back against the trunk of an apple tree. The dying man spoke to the Americans for an hour and a half about home and that he had been a professor before the war. They gave him cigarettes and - against their better judgment - water, out of compassion for being so horribly thirsty.
The American lieutenant later said he was sorry to see the German die. This story recalls history and represents the reconciliation between the two sides that faced each other during World War II.
Film story full-length feature film
The above scenes are part of the great film story that follows Johannes Crekel. Crekel is a local villager who must carefully navigate this perilous time to try and safeguard what remains of his family and village. Little does he know that his fate will come down to a basic choice between justice and revenge. Will he be able to push the chaos aside and make the right choice?
Due to corona measures, the recordings had to be stopped, but now it is finally here: the short film The Reconciliation. A true episode from the film Betuwe44 that you can see from October 29, 2020 till april 22, 2021 in the Freedom Museum in Groesbeek. In the exhibition 'The Second World War in Films', you can see the short film, objects from the film set and a behind-the-scenes film! Book here: https://tickets.vrijheidsmuseum.nl/en/tickets
The exhibition of the Freedom Museum focuses on the Second World War in feature films. Using original scripts, costumes and props, the development of the war film over the years is portrayed. In addition, the exhibition depicts the development of war film over the years through original scripts, costumes and props. From classics such as A Bridge Too Far and Zwartboek to more recent productions such as Inglourious Basterds, Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter and Dresden. Among the highlights are a Tom Hanks costume, a script by Sean Connery and a George Clooney uniform.
Story short film Reconciliation
The scene that we filmed for the Freedom Museum is about a true story about a meeting between an allied and a German lieutenant in October 1944. G-company of the American 508th parachute regiment lay in an orchard between Huissen and Bemmel, waiting for possible German patrols. The German patrol headed for the American lines was then ambushed. All thirty Germans were killed except one. This seriously injured captain begged for his life in English. An American lieutenant went over with his sergeant. They placed the German captain with his back against the trunk of an apple tree. The dying man spoke to the Americans for an hour and a half about home and that he had been a professor before the war. They gave him cigarettes and - against their better judgment - water, out of compassion for being so horribly thirsty.
The American lieutenant later said he was sorry to see the German die. This story recalls history and represents the reconciliation between the two sides that faced each other during World War II.
Film story full-length feature film
The above scenes are part of the great film story that follows Johannes Crekel. Crekel is a local villager who must carefully navigate this perilous time to try and safeguard what remains of his family and village. Little does he know that his fate will come down to a basic choice between justice and revenge. Will he be able to push the chaos aside and make the right choice?
Although Johannes Crekel is a fictional character, the names, events and circumstances are based on true stories. We tell the story trough the perspective of Crekel to show what this time was like for a local villager and the many horrors he had to go through in the Betuwe from September 1944 until the end of the war in the Netherlands.
The story is based on actual history. Examples of true stories are, for example, the ‘Men's Island’. The enclave of men, civilians and soldiers, who stayed behind near the town of Lent when the majority of the women and children were evacuated. And of course the deliberate flood, also known as ‘Operation Stork’ of ‘Fallstorch’, plays an important role. The blowing up of dikes in the Betuwe, in December 1944, ensured that the land was flooded. From Kleve in Germany to the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal. We want to highlight the battle at Hemmen and Zetten Castle and the bombing of Huissen will be part of it as well.
After Operation Market Garden failed in September 1944, a six-month period of intense fighting followed between the Allies who liberated Nijmegen and the Germans who refused to give up their hold on Arnhem. For many, it is an unknown chapter of Dutch history during World War II. Between these cities, civilians of the agricultural region of the ‘Betuwe’ were caught in the crossfire and deliberately flooded land. They had to leave their hearth and home, or even assist soldiers in the gathering of food and resources.
AC Films is making a new short feature film in collaboration with Exodus-Huissen and various re-enactment associations. They consciously choose not only to portray the military perspective in the film, but also the experiences of the civilians of the Betuwe.
Filmmaker Bram van Workum: ‘a story to be told’
Bram immediately saw a story that has to be shared, as a film. With the death of the last veterans, it is the task of our generation to continue remembering the war. We can use all kinds of documented - and therefore true - stories as a backdrop for the film. Bram believes that with a feature film we can reach a new and also younger audience, for example for the commemoration of 75 years of freedom in the Netherlands in 2020.
Bram van Workum, director and owner of AC Films, has always been fascinated by the Second World War. When he was in the Betuwe for several film projects he met Martien van Hemmen, chairman of the Exodus Huissen foundation. Martien told him about the last winter of war and how the civilians in the Betuwe had suffered. Around 40 to 50 percent of the Betuwe had been completely destroyed. But this episode of the second World War in the Betuwe is not engrained in the collective memory of the Dutch.
Wanted: partners and financing
Director Bram van Workum is now working with Exodus Huissen and various re-enactment associations and film crew on this WWII film. The production as we would love to make it, is not easy to be realized. To realize the entire film project, the team is actively looking for partners, sponsors and funds.
Would you like to donate? Then please take a look at the ‘Donate’ page.
Planning
The teaser is now ready and we are busy raising the funds to produce the rest of the film. When hopefully by 2019 the financing is complete, the team will continue with the most important film recordings during the autumn and winter months. The film will be released in May 2020 in collaboration with various local authorities, as part of the 75th anniversary of the Market Garden. After the first local presentation, the idea is that the film will become available for museums and various historical and educational initiatives.
Director Bram van Workum is now working with Exodus Huissen and various re-enactment associations and film crew on this WWII film. The production as we would love to make it, is not easy to be realized. To realize the entire film project, the team is actively looking for partners, sponsors and funds.
Partners
Martien van Hemmen, chairman of Exodus Huissen is a partner of ‘Betuwe44’. Bram's idea of portraying these stories in a feature film fits in nicely with the aim of the Exodus Huissen foundation: to continue to commemorate the struggle and fate of vulnerable civilians in the Betuwe in the aftermath of the Second World War. And it fits in with other activities such as walking-tours and landscapes decorated with monuments and other points of interest. In addition to actors, members of various re-enactment associations play a role in the film. Their knowledge and enthusiasm make this a film for and by local people.Wanted sponsors
AC Films would like to get in touch with as many people as possible who can contribute to the production of the feature film. Such as writers, historians or civilians who think they can contribute something. But of course funds and other people who are interested in sponsoring this film are also very welcome.Would you like to donate? Then please take a look at the ‘Donate’ page.
The Betuwe44 foundation
The Betuwe44 Foundation was established to realize the film and financing thereof. This foundation is responsible for acquiring and managing funds and other assets. The board of the foundation consists of independent persons.The teaser is now ready and we are busy raising the funds to produce the rest of the film. When hopefully by 2019 the financing is complete, the team will continue with the most important film recordings during the autumn and winter months. The film will be released in May 2020 in collaboration with various local authorities, as part of the 75th anniversary of the Market Garden. After the first local presentation, the idea is that the film will become available for museums and various historical and educational initiatives.
THE BETUWE (1944 - 1945)
More information
Website and trailer: www.betuwe44.com
Bram van Workum
Director and owner AC Films
+31 6 48493904
workum.bramvan@gmail.com
www.acfilms.nl