Bride Flight

About the Film

Bride Flight is a lavish romantic drama that charts the lives of three women who escape the gloom of post-WWII Holland for what they hope will be a better life in New Zealand. Ada, the shy but sensual farm girl, Marjorie, who dreams of a big family, and Esther, a Holocaust survivor who aspires to be a fashion designer, become fast friends during the long flight taking them to their waiting husbands, who have already settled in Christchurch.

Reactions

“Lavishly entertaining...Fascinating, beautifully acted and magnificently photographed.” – Rex Reed, NY Observer

"A haunting masterpiece with the power of Doctor Zhivago…" — Moving Pictures

“3.5 stars! Terrific." – Stephen Whitty, Star Ledger

 

Awards

• Winner! Newport Beach Film Festival 2010 - Best Feature Film
• Winner! Newport Beach Film Festival 2010 - Best Actress, Karine Smulders
• Winner! Newport Beach Film Festival 2010 - Best Director, Ben Sombogaart
• Winner! Newport Beach Film Festival 2010 - Best Cinematographer
• Winner! Newport Beach Film Festival 2010 - Best Screenplay
• Winner! Scottsdale Film Festival 2010 - Audience Award for Best Film
• Winner! Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival 2010 - Audience Favorite Award
• Winner! Rehoboth Beach Film Festival 2010 - Best Feature
• Winner! Nederlands Film Festival 2009 Golden Calf Award - Best Supporting Actress, Pleuni Touw
• Nederlands Film Festival 2009 Golden Calf Award Nominee - Best Supporting Actor, Micha Hulshof
• Winner! Rembrandt Awards 2009 - Best Film Song
• Rembrandt Awards 2009 Nominee - Best Film
• Winner! Golden and Platin Film, Netherlands 2009 - Golden Film Award

Cast & Crew

Cast

Ada: Karina Smulders
Marjorie: Elise Schaap
Esther: Anna Drijver
Frank: Waldemar Torenstra
Old Frank: Rutger Hauer
Old Ada: Pleuni Touw
Old Marjorie: Petra Laseur
Old Esther: Willeke Van Ammelrooy

Crew

Director: Ben Sombogaart
Screenplay: Marieke van der Pol
Producers: Anton Smit & Hanneke Niens (IDTV Film), Jani Thiltges (Samsa Film), and NCRV
Cinematography: Piotr Kukla
Editing: Herman Koerts
Production Design: Michel de Graaf
Music: Jeannot Sanavia

Technical Info

Production Year: 2008
Release Date: 06/10/11
Countries of Production: Netherlands, New Zealand
Languages: English, Dutch
Running Time: 2h 10m
Screen Ratio: 2.35:1
Sound: Dolby Digital
Color: Color
Rating: R

Bride Flight - Press Page

Awards

• Winner! Newport Beach Film Festival 2010 - Best Feature Film
• Winner! Newport Beach Film Festival 2010 - Best Actress, Karine Smulders
• Winner! Newport Beach Film Festival 2010 - Best Director, Ben Sombogaart
• Winner! Newport Beach Film Festival 2010 - Best Cinematographer
• Winner! Newport Beach Film Festival 2010 - Best Screenplay
• Winner! Scottsdale Film Festival 2010 - Audience Award for Best Film
• Winner! Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival 2010 - Audience Favorite Award
• Winner! Rehoboth Beach Film Festival 2010 - Best Feature
• Winner! Nederlands Film Festival 2009 Golden Calf Award - Best Supporting Actress, Pleuni Touw
• Nederlands Film Festival 2009 Golden Calf Award Nominee - Best Supporting Actor, Micha Hulshof
• Winner! Rembrandt Awards 2009 - Best Film Song
• Rembrandt Awards 2009 Nominee - Best Film
• Winner! Golden and Platin Film, Netherlands 2009 - Golden Film Award

Reactions

“Lavishly entertaining...Fascinating, beautifully acted and magnificently photographed.” – Rex Reed, NY Observer

"A haunting masterpiece with the power of Doctor Zhivago…" — Moving Pictures

“3.5 stars! Terrific." – Stephen Whitty, Star Ledger

 

Detailed Film Info

Spanning over five decades, Bride Flight is inspired by the true story of the 1953 "Last Great Air Race" London-Christchurch (NZ), and follows Esther (Anna Drijver), Ada (Karina Smulders) and Marjorie (Elise Schaap), three young women who, eager to escape post-WWII Holland, emigrate to New Zealand for what they hope will be a better life.  

On the plane trip overseas – dubbed the “Bride Flight” – the three become fast friends and meet Frank, a dashing young man (played by Waldemar Torenstra and Rutger Hauer in his later years) who will come to play a critical role in each of their lives. They all part ways on arrival in their new country as two of the women's fiancés await them - but their paths continue to cross in the years to come in life-altering ways. 

Trailer

Photos