Bonkers (film)

Bonkers
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMartin Koolhoven
Screenplay byMieke de Jong
Produced by
  • Leontine Petit
  • Joost de Vries
Starring
CinematographyMenno Westendorp
Edited byJob ter Burg
Music byDirk Brossé
Production
companies
Distributed byA-Film Distribution
Release date
  • 15 October 2005 (2005-10-15)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryNetherlands
Box office$264,168

Bonkers (Dutch: Knetter) is a 2005 Dutch comedy drama film directed by Martin Koolhoven, starring Jesse Rinsma, Carice van Houten and Daan Schuurmans.

It was the opening film of the Cinekid Festival and was released on 15 October 2005. The film won an Audience Award at the Netherlands Film Festival.

Plot

The nine-year-old Bonnie lives together with her mother Lis, a sweet mom who is sometimes happy and energetic but other times gloomy and lethargic, and who is considered by Bonnie as an atypical mom, and her grandmother, who is the one really keeping the family going. All three are big fans of elephants. Bonnie has no siblings, in contrast to her neighbor Koos, who has many brothers, and thinks its weird that Bonnie wants a little brother as he just considers them a hassle. Next door to Bonnie lives the shy Puch. Bonnie and Koos find her creepy, wondering why she's always alone and are afraid she eats human flesh.

Bonnie's life is turned upside down when her grandma has an accident, leaving Bonnie and Lis to fend for themselves. Bonnie has to care for not only herself but also for Lis. From time to time, a woman from Child Protective Services stops by to check if Bonnie is being properly cared for. If she isn’t, Bonnie will have to go to a foster family.

Bonnie is overjoyed when her mother meets shoe salesman Cees, with whom she gets along very well. She fantasizes about her mother and Cees falling in love, and her finally getting a little brother or sister. However, when she discusses this with her mother, she doesn't think it a good idea, and would prefer to have a pet instead. To Bonnie's great surprise, one day her mother brings home a special pet: an elephant. Bonnie thinks it's a wonderful gift, but isn't sure where to hide it when the woman from Child Protective Services suddenly comes by. She wants to place Bonnie in a foster home immediately. Fortunately, her neighbor Puch comes up with an excellent solution for Lis and Bonnie.

Cast

References

  1. ↑ "Bonkers (2005)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Knetter". Netherlands Film Festival. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  3. ↑ Blokker, Bas (15 October 2005). "`Knetter' is mooi begin Cinekid". NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  4. ↑ van Hoeij, Boyd (10 September 2006). "A-Film collects herd of Golden Calves". Cineuropa. Archived from the original on 6 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2024.