427:'s programmes, Borsato became interested in initiating a film inspired by these stories. Together with his manager Paul Brinks, he decided that making a movie would be good for his career. Unfortunately, he found none of the scripts he was sent suitable because he couldn't connect to them. Eventually, a friend, Sandra Nagtzaam (Borsato's first manager) wrote a fitting story. A lot of elements in the screenplay are based on true events. Borsato has been an ambassador for
470:. Its natural beauty and the abandoned airport on the top of a local mountain were the main reasons this location was chosen. During the shoot over 1400 locals were enlisted as extras to aid the 150 cast and crew. Early on during shooting in South Africa, a house which was used as a sleeping place by crew was attacked. Since then, extra security has been on the set.
473:
Shooting was also done in Uganda in an area where a war just ended and a peace treaty wasn't yet signed. Hundreds of people who experienced this war were extras. Borsato said: "The tension on their faces is real. We also filmed in refugee camps. That gives the film authenticity. It is suspenseful and
431:
for almost ten years and child soldiers was a subject he was often confronted with and something that he connected with. Paul and Marco asked Dutch film producer Chris
Brouwer to produce the film. He brought the story to writer/director Jean van de Velde. Van de Velde wrote the screenplay and asked
286:
Eduard
Zuiderwijk (Marco Borsato) runs a restaurant in Africa. When his wife (Ricky Koole) suddenly dies, he is left to take care of his son Thomas (Siebe Schoneveld) on his own. When his son's best friend Abu (Andrew Kintu) is abducted by a rebel leader to be trained as a child soldier, Eduard goes
454:
could do well internationally if it were recut drastically. Rissient cut out many Dutch scenes, took away the music, changed the ending and made the movie more suitable for arthouse audiences. This resulted in an invitation for the
490:, all carrying the same name as the movie. Although they carry the same name, the single and album are not a soundtrack to the film. The music is inspired by the emotions and themes of the movie instead.
823:
604:
711:
565:
742:
1117:
975:
532:
31:
1097:
1137:
1102:
274:. More than 100,000 people went to see the film in two weeks time. In April 2009, it was announced that the film would be shown at the
1132:
1127:
1107:
968:
668:
467:
637:
1058:
1122:
985:
612:
255:
51:
773:
719:
961:
750:
1112:
419:
The idea for the film originated with singer Marco
Borsato, who is an ambassador for the non-profit organisation
275:
540:
259:
998:
343:
1008:
908:
862:
836:
403:
393:
121:
447:
30:
1092:
1068:
1038:
944:
428:
424:
420:
373:
363:
111:
353:
116:
383:
897:
154:
144:
134:
778:
591:
463:
270:. On December 29, 2008, it was reported that, despite bad reviews, the film had received a
930:
505:
499:
483:
446:
After the movie had a big release in the
Netherlands, French critic and movie director
247:
953:
1086:
1028:
323:
313:
267:
106:
101:
676:
645:
440:
1018:
333:
271:
237:
902:
935:
924:
803:
487:
804:"Christa Schamberger-Young — Independent Casting Director (archive)"
511:
Heart of Fire, a film directed by Luigi
Falorni, also has a similar theme.
919:
913:
423:. After hearing stories from former child soldiers who had been through
891:
436:
263:
940:
957:
826:- waarbenjij.nu weblog Martje Rijkens (met foto's van de set)
486:
and an album and he performed in a series of concerts in
287:
in pursuit to save the boy and regain his son's respect.
294:
802:
Schamberger-Young, Christa (August–September 2008).
221:
201:
193:
183:
160:
150:
140:
130:
94:
74:
57:
47:
23:
638:"Movies bringing life to sleepy town (Slideshow)"
566:"Wit Licht geselecteerd voor filmfestival Cannes"
705:
703:
697:Foreword photobook 'Wit Licht - The Making Of'.
560:
558:
297:
236:is a recut, international version of the 2008
969:
8:
936:War Child Holland site about The Silent Army
611:(in Dutch). October 13, 2008. Archived from
435:The film was recorded on location; first in
669:"Wit Licht - Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga - concert"
976:
962:
954:
632:
630:
539:(in Dutch). April 11, 2008. Archived from
527:
525:
29:
20:
774:"Marco Borsato vreest artistiek bloedbad"
521:
772:van Ree, Annemart (December 5, 2008).
266:. It marks the acting debut of singer
7:
863:"Wit Licht in première in Amsterdam"
741:Minnema, Mark (September 20, 2008).
1118:Films directed by Jean van de Velde
462:A majority of the film was shot in
712:"Borsato met Wit Licht de boer op"
432:Borsato to take on the lead role.
14:
254:meaning White Light) directed by
710:Minnema, Mark (March 21, 2008).
459:program at the Cannes Festival.
533:"Filmzoon Marco Borsato bekend"
743:"Borsato vol in het Wit licht"
644:. May 27, 2008. Archived from
590:"Gouden film voor Wit Licht",
64:Jean van de Velde (screenplay)
1:
837:"Set Borsato-film overvallen"
667:Nathalie (October 16, 2008).
1098:2000s English-language films
869:(in Dutch). December 9, 2008
508:, film with a similar theme.
502:, film with a similar theme.
169:December 11, 2008
1154:
1138:Films about child soldiers
1103:2000s Dutch-language films
749:(in Dutch). Archived from
718:(in Dutch). Archived from
675:(in Dutch). Archived from
572:(in Dutch). April 23, 2009
67:Sandra Nagtzaam (plotline)
992:
673:Nathalie.borsatoweblog.nl
474:touching, a real story."
276:2009 Cannes Film Festival
40:
28:
1133:Dutch multilingual films
605:"Thekla is overal thuis"
482:Borsato also released a
1128:2008 multilingual films
999:The Little Blonde Death
843:(in Dutch). May 6, 2008
824:Marco Borsato in Afrika
258:about the hardships of
1108:Swahili-language films
251:
642:Daily Dispatch Online
1123:Films shot in Uganda
615:on December 15, 2008
594:; December 29, 2008.
35:Original film poster
753:on October 24, 2008
466:on the east of the
450:saw it and thought
378:Ruud van Kalenberg
364:Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga
344:Peter van den Begin
112:Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga
1059:The Price of Sugar
984:Films directed by
909:TCM Movie Database
722:on August 27, 2008
398:Thomas Zuiderwijk
318:Eduard Zuiderwijk
272:gold certification
1080:
1079:
986:Jean van de Velde
543:on April 14, 2008
457:Un Certain Regard
429:War Child Holland
425:War Child Holland
421:War Child Holland
412:
411:
256:Jean van de Velde
229:
228:
155:Independent Films
145:Nick Laird-Clowes
135:Theo van de Sande
52:Jean van de Velde
1145:
1113:2008 drama films
1073:
1063:
1053:
1043:
1033:
1023:
1013:
1003:
978:
971:
964:
955:
950:
943:on the official
879:
878:
876:
874:
859:
853:
852:
850:
848:
833:
827:
821:
815:
814:
812:
810:
799:
793:
791:
789:
787:
779:Algemeen Dagblad
769:
763:
762:
760:
758:
738:
732:
731:
729:
727:
707:
698:
695:
689:
688:
686:
684:
664:
658:
657:
655:
653:
634:
625:
624:
622:
620:
601:
595:
592:Algemeen Dagblad
588:
582:
581:
579:
577:
562:
553:
552:
550:
548:
529:
464:Port Saint Johns
404:Frederick Mpuuga
394:Siebe Schoneveld
338:Anna Zuiderwijk
295:
176:
174:
122:Siebe Schoneveld
33:
21:
1153:
1152:
1148:
1147:
1146:
1144:
1143:
1142:
1083:
1082:
1081:
1076:
1066:
1056:
1049:The Silent Army
1046:
1036:
1026:
1016:
1006:
996:
988:
982:
948:
931:Rotten Tomatoes
926:The Silent Army
915:The Silent Army
904:The Silent Army
893:The Silent Army
888:
883:
882:
872:
870:
861:
860:
856:
846:
844:
835:
834:
830:
822:
818:
808:
806:
801:
800:
796:
785:
783:
771:
770:
766:
756:
754:
740:
739:
735:
725:
723:
709:
708:
701:
696:
692:
682:
680:
679:on May 27, 2009
666:
665:
661:
651:
649:
648:on May 27, 2009
636:
635:
628:
618:
616:
603:
602:
598:
589:
585:
575:
573:
564:
563:
556:
546:
544:
531:
530:
523:
518:
496:
480:
448:Pierre Rissient
417:
293:
284:
233:The Silent Army
217:
186:
179:
172:
170:
163:
126:
90:
70:
36:
24:The Silent Army
19:
18:2008 Dutch film
12:
11:
5:
1151:
1149:
1141:
1140:
1135:
1130:
1125:
1120:
1115:
1110:
1105:
1100:
1095:
1085:
1084:
1078:
1077:
1075:
1074:
1064:
1054:
1044:
1034:
1024:
1014:
1004:
993:
990:
989:
983:
981:
980:
973:
966:
958:
952:
951:
938:
933:
922:
911:
900:
887:
886:External links
884:
881:
880:
854:
828:
816:
794:
764:
733:
699:
690:
659:
626:
596:
583:
554:
520:
519:
517:
514:
513:
512:
509:
506:Johnny Mad Dog
503:
500:24: Redemption
495:
492:
479:
476:
416:
413:
410:
409:
406:
400:
399:
396:
390:
389:
386:
380:
379:
376:
370:
369:
366:
360:
359:
356:
350:
349:
346:
340:
339:
336:
330:
329:
326:
320:
319:
316:
310:
309:
306:
302:
301:
292:
289:
283:
280:
260:child soldiers
227:
226:
223:
219:
218:
216:
215:
212:
209:
205:
203:
199:
198:
195:
191:
190:
187:
184:
181:
180:
178:
177:
166:
164:
161:
158:
157:
152:
151:Distributed by
148:
147:
142:
138:
137:
132:
131:Cinematography
128:
127:
125:
124:
119:
114:
109:
104:
98:
96:
92:
91:
89:
88:
85:
82:
78:
76:
72:
71:
69:
68:
65:
61:
59:
55:
54:
49:
45:
44:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
17:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1150:
1139:
1136:
1134:
1131:
1129:
1126:
1124:
1121:
1119:
1116:
1114:
1111:
1109:
1106:
1104:
1101:
1099:
1096:
1094:
1091:
1090:
1088:
1071:
1070:
1065:
1061:
1060:
1055:
1051:
1050:
1045:
1041:
1040:
1035:
1031:
1030:
1025:
1021:
1020:
1015:
1011:
1010:
1005:
1001:
1000:
995:
994:
991:
987:
979:
974:
972:
967:
965:
960:
959:
956:
946:
942:
939:
937:
934:
932:
928:
927:
923:
921:
917:
916:
912:
910:
906:
905:
901:
899:
895:
894:
890:
889:
885:
868:
864:
858:
855:
842:
838:
832:
829:
825:
820:
817:
805:
798:
795:
781:
780:
775:
768:
765:
752:
748:
744:
737:
734:
721:
717:
713:
706:
704:
700:
694:
691:
678:
674:
670:
663:
660:
647:
643:
639:
633:
631:
627:
614:
610:
606:
600:
597:
593:
587:
584:
571:
567:
561:
559:
555:
542:
538:
534:
528:
526:
522:
515:
510:
507:
504:
501:
498:
497:
493:
491:
489:
485:
478:Related works
477:
475:
471:
469:
465:
460:
458:
453:
449:
444:
442:
438:
433:
430:
426:
422:
414:
407:
405:
402:
401:
397:
395:
392:
391:
387:
385:
382:
381:
377:
375:
374:Adrian Galley
372:
371:
367:
365:
362:
361:
357:
355:
352:
351:
347:
345:
342:
341:
337:
335:
332:
331:
327:
325:
324:Thekla Reuten
322:
321:
317:
315:
314:Marco Borsato
312:
311:
307:
304:
303:
300:
296:
290:
288:
281:
279:
277:
273:
269:
268:Marco Borsato
265:
261:
257:
253:
249:
245:
244:
239:
235:
234:
224:
220:
213:
210:
207:
206:
204:
200:
196:
192:
188:
182:
168:
167:
165:
159:
156:
153:
149:
146:
143:
139:
136:
133:
129:
123:
120:
118:
115:
113:
110:
108:
107:Thekla Reuten
105:
103:
102:Marco Borsato
100:
99:
97:
93:
87:Richard Claus
86:
84:Chris Brouwer
83:
80:
79:
77:
73:
66:
63:
62:
60:
56:
53:
50:
46:
43:
39:
32:
27:
22:
16:
1069:Bram Fischer
1067:
1057:
1048:
1047:
1039:Wild Romance
1037:
1027:
1017:
1007:
997:
925:
914:
903:
892:
873:December 14,
871:. Retrieved
867:theAgenda.nl
866:
857:
847:December 14,
845:. Retrieved
840:
831:
819:
809:December 14,
807:. Retrieved
797:
792:, interview.
786:December 12,
784:. Retrieved
777:
767:
757:December 12,
755:. Retrieved
751:the original
746:
736:
726:December 12,
724:. Retrieved
720:the original
715:
693:
683:December 14,
681:. Retrieved
677:the original
672:
662:
652:December 14,
650:. Retrieved
646:the original
641:
619:December 14,
617:. Retrieved
613:the original
609:CJP Magazine
608:
599:
586:
574:. Retrieved
569:
547:December 11,
545:. Retrieved
541:the original
536:
481:
472:
461:
456:
451:
445:
441:South Africa
434:
418:
354:Andrew Kintu
298:
285:
242:
241:
232:
231:
230:
185:Running time
162:Release date
117:Andrew Kintu
41:
15:
334:Ricky Koole
240:drama film
197:Netherlands
189:120 minutes
81:Paul Brinks
75:Produced by
48:Directed by
1093:2008 films
1087:Categories
949:(in Dutch)
782:(in Dutch)
747:BN De Stem
716:BN De Stem
516:References
468:Wild Coast
439:, then in
415:Production
408:commander
388:Abu's Dad
308:Character
225:€7 million
173:2008-12-11
58:Written by
1009:All Stars
947:website.
945:War Child
941:Wit Licht
576:April 24,
537:DePers.nl
488:Gelredome
452:Wit Licht
384:Sam Okelo
348:Francois
252:Wit Licht
243:Wit Licht
202:Languages
42:Wit Licht
920:AllMovie
494:See also
328:Valerie
141:Music by
95:Starring
907:at the
211:Swahili
208:English
194:Country
171: (
1072:(2017)
1062:(2013)
1052:(2008)
1042:(2006)
1032:(2004)
1029:Floris
1022:(2000)
1012:(1997)
1002:(1993)
570:Parool
484:single
437:Uganda
368:Obeke
305:Actor
264:Africa
222:Budget
841:NU.nl
248:Dutch
238:Dutch
214:Dutch
1019:Leak
898:IMDb
875:2008
849:2008
811:2008
788:2008
759:2008
728:2008
685:2008
654:2008
621:2008
578:2009
549:2008
358:Abu
299:Cast
291:Cast
282:Plot
929:at
918:at
896:at
262:in
1089::
865:.
839:.
776:.
745:.
714:.
702:^
671:.
640:.
629:^
607:.
568:.
557:^
535:.
524:^
443:.
278:.
250::
977:e
970:t
963:v
877:.
851:.
813:.
790:.
761:.
730:.
687:.
656:.
623:.
580:.
551:.
246:(
175:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
