2012, The Year Zero (2009)

Directed by: Jan Albert de Weerd | 300 minutes | action, drama, adventure, family | Actors: Yannick van de Velde, Bram Suyker, Abbey Hoes, Sem Veeger, Genio de Groot, Ingeborg Wieten, Joep Sertons, Carly Wijs, Juda Goslinga, Fred Butter, Mauro Jarquin, Hermilo Lizcano, Alonso Mendez, David Goddyn, Jeroen Bos, Eduardo Peralta Ramos, Esgo Heil, Ernst Dekkers, Freerk Bos, Filip Bolluyt, Irmgard Winter

Centuries ago, the Maya predicted that the Earth will undergo a major change in 2012. On December 21 of that magical year, a 26,000-year cycle will conclude. What exactly will happen to the world, and whether that will be positive or catastrophic, we can only guess. What is certain is that the ancient Mexican people recorded their findings in codices. One of those codices is central to the exciting Dutch youth series ‘2012, The year zero’ (2009).

The grandfather of teenage brothers Hidde (Yannick van de Velde) and Twan (Bram Suyker), Peter Hellinga (Genio de Groot), is an amateur archaeologist with a passion for ancient Maya culture. He regularly travels through Mexico and Hidde especially loves his stories. Hidde is therefore the one who most empathizes with Grandpa’s experiences. Mother Pien (Ingeborg Wieten) takes her father’s stories with a grain of salt and Twan also seems a bit sober in his attitude. It is therefore not surprising that Peter confides in his eldest grandson Hidde when he has found a secret and very important codex in an ancient Mayan temple. The old man is well aware that this codex is vital to the future of the world and warns Hidde not to trust anyone. Let Twan have just let in a fake journalist who claims to have an appointment with Peter… When the boys and their mother then want to pick up grandpa from the airport and only his luggage arrives, and their house is broken into, Hidde realizes that something is very wrong. Where is his grandfather? Was he kidnapped?

At the airport we meet Mascha (Sem Veeger), a girl who goes to school with Hidde and Twan. She is waiting for her father, who is also arriving by flight from Mexico, where he has been on business. The three teenagers can’t air or see each other, but with the two adults it’s a completely different story. Pien and Chris (Joep Sertons) immediately like each other and spend more time together, much to the horror of Mascha, Twan and Hidde, whom Chris doesn’t trust at all. Mascha involuntarily becomes involved in the quest that Hidde starts and the three youngsters become increasingly intrigued by what they find. Help comes from an unexpected source when they meet the mysterious girl Felix (Abbey Hoes) at the Museum of Ethnology in Leiden. Felix has visions of an Indian, who gives her directions and warns of dangers. When she passes this information on to Mascha and the two brothers, they initially react skeptically. But in the end, the four must work together to rescue Peter and get the codex to safety, all for a moment. It’s going to be a grueling race against time.

‘2012, The Year Zero’ is extremely exciting and in that respect it is not inferior to major productions such as the American “24”. Although the series is primarily aimed at young people, adult viewers will also be carried away by the mysterious events. There are just as many cliffhangers in twelve episodes and it is therefore very nice that the series, after being broadcast on television in 2009 and 2010, is available on DVD, so that you can enjoy a number of episodes (or all if you have five hours to spare) undisturbed. ) can watch one after the other. The series is produced by Johan Nijenhuis and Alain de Levita of NL Film & TV and the production values ​​are, as you may expect, high. The occasional act in front of a green screen should not spoil the fun. The screenplay is well put together and thanks to the well-written, believable dialogues you hang on the lips of the actors. The acting is excellent, big compliments to the talented young cast that almost entirely carries the series. ‘2012, The Year Zero’ is an absolute must for the whole family!