The Test of Time (2019)

Directed by: Joost Van Den Bosch, Erik Verkerk | 90 minutes | animation | Original voice cast: John Buijsman, Panthero Toney, Venna van den Bosch, Valentijn Avé, Hadewych Minis, Bill van Dijk, Martin van Waardenberg, Tygo Gernandt, Paul Groot, Owen Schumacher

The Telefilm has been a fantastic springboard for promising filmmakers for twenty years. Making a feature film with a current social theme for television is a great way to make flying hours, without the pressure of a cinema release breathing down the filmmaker’s neck. In the past, renowned directors such as Martin Koolhoven, Mijke de Jong, Pieter Kuijpers and Nicole van Kilsdonk have gratefully made use of the opportunity to gain experience by shooting a Telefilm. There are enough examples of Telefilms that made such an impression that they won prizes at home and abroad; some of the most notable examples are ‘Suzy Q’ (1999), ‘Bluebird’ (2004), ‘Cloaca’ (2003), ‘Off screen’ (2005), ‘The chosen one’ (2006, Emmy Award for protagonist Pierre Bokma ), ‘Skin’ (2008, Emmy nomination for Robert de Hoog), ‘TBS’ (2008), ‘The new world’ (2013, Emmy for Bianca Krijgsman) and ‘Aanmodderfakker’ (2014). About one in five Telefilms is also released in cinemas, with ‘Het schnitzelparadijs’ (2005) being the biggest box-office success with almost 350,000 visitors. Other films, such as ‘Loverboy’ from 2003, which is used in schools as an information film, still prove their social relevance.

‘The test of time’ (2019) has already secured a place in Telefilm history. Not that the film will make such an indelible impression, but the film by Joost van de Bosch and Erik Verkerk is the very first animated Telefilm to be released. ‘The Test of Time’ is primarily aimed at a young target group (approximately six to twelve years old) and, like the other Telefilms of the 2019 class, revolves around family relationships. Master Menno (voice of John Buijsman), the history teacher who is known as the most boring master of primary school De Zandloper. And that while history is such a beautiful subject! The children don’t like his lessons, neither does Master Menno’s very own son Sam (Panther Tony). He even makes fun of his father during a class trip to a museum. But Menno has a nefarious plan: what if he steals from the museum a magical talisman, with which he can summon all kinds of historical figures? By bringing impressive characters such as Cleopatra, Willem van Oranje and Vincent van Gogh into his classroom, Master Menno’s popularity suddenly rises to unprecedented heights. But playing with time also has a downside; Menno is kidnapped by pirates and it’s up to Sam and his friends to delve into history to rescue him.

‘The Test of Time’ is original in its approach; although the animations seem a bit simplistic and crude from a stylistic point of view, they are effective. In the meantime, the young viewers also learn something about the paths that important figures from world and national history have taken. In addition to the above-mentioned prominent figures, Christopher Columbus, Mozart and Johan Cruijff, among others, are also reviewed. It is obvious to make a comparison with a film series such as ‘Night at the Museum’, in which historical figures also come to life. But ‘The Test of Time’ manages to distinguish itself sufficiently in style and content from those films. In addition, the film can boast of a choice of fine voice actors, including Loes Luca, Bill van Dijk, Martin van Waardenburg, Hadewych Minis, Tygo Gernandt and Paul Groot. The story of Tingue Dongelmans (known as scriptwriter of ‘Sprookjesboom – de film’ (2012) and youth series such as ‘Vrijland’ and ‘Het zandkasteel’) and Marc Veerkamp (‘The Sinterklaas news’) is in line with the wishes of the target group, but lacks a bit of sjeu and looks a bit dusty. Whether this Telefilm will stand the test of time (!) as well as ‘Loverboy’ or ‘Cloaca’? To ask the question is to answer it. But for the young target group, this is a very nice lesson in history.