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SILENT ARMY

by Jean van de Velde

synopsis

Life as a restaurant owner in an eastern African country is not easy for the 40 year old, African born and bred Eduard Zuiderwijk after the sudden death of his wife. He now stands for the task of raising his 9-year-old son Thomas all by himself. The young Thomas seeks and gains support from his friend Abu, son of Mafillu, one of the female black staff members in the restaurant. One day Abu disappears suddenly together with at least ten other children, after a nightly and violent raid of his village by the rebel army. Abu’s father and many other villagers were killed and the missing children are nowhere to be found. Young Thomas cannot be consoled. He wants Abu back, and Eduard, who feels he is failing as a father, decides to try to find Abu and save him from the hands of the rebel leader. While Eduard proceeds to an IDP camp in the middle of the conflict-infested area to gather information about the possible whereabouts of Abu and the other abducted children, Abu himself is undergoing harsh child soldier training in the rebel army of Michel Obeke. No means, either physical or psychological, are being withheld in order to transform the children into ruthless killers.

international title: Silent Army
original title: Wit licht
country: Netherlands
year: 2008
genre: fiction
directed by: Jean van de Velde
film run: 92'
release date: NL 11/12/2008, BE 17/12/2008
screenplay: Jean van de Velde
cast: Marco Borsato, Thekla Reuten, Adrian Galley, Ricky Koole, Peter Van den Begin, Siebe Schoneveld, Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga, Sam Okelo
cinematography by: Theo van de Sande
film editing: Peter R. Adam
art director: Wilbert Van Dorp
costumes designer: Moira Anne Meyer
music: Nick Laird-Clowes
producer: Paul Brinks, Chris Brouwer, Richard Claus
production: The Entertainment Group
distributor: Independent Films

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