Sinterklaas and the riddle of December 5 (2011)

Directed by: Martijn van Nellestijn | 85 minutes | family | Actors: Wim Rijken, Pamela Teves, Martine van Os, Inge Ipenburg, Hetty Heyting, Martijn van Nellestijn, Richard de Ruijter, Frans Bauer, Gerard Joling, Peter van der Vorst, Jack Spijkerman, Astrid Joosten, Marga Bult, Bert Kuizinga, Sjoerd Pleijsier, Ellen Evers, Frank de Winne, André Kuipers

It is now a regular fixture: the Sinterklaas films by Martijn van Nellestijn (direction, production & screenplay). After the cinema successes ‘Sinterklaas and the secret of the Great Book’ (2008), ‘Sinterklaas and the missing parcel boat’ (2009) and ‘Sinterklaas and the Parcel Mystery’ (2010), ‘Sinterklaas and the riddle of December 5’ is the quartet complete. A group of actors forms the permanent core: the director himself as the stupid Joris, Richard de Ruijter as Boris and Pamela Teves as the maniacal Dr. Brain, who every year has a diabolical plan to undermine the Sinterklaas party. And with Aunt Til, Diego, Pieta, Pendulepiet, Perspiet and Planpiet it is a joyful reunion. Not to forget the most important… er… horse of the stable: Sinterklaas!

This year, initially, the problems aren’t even caused by the power-hungry Dr. Brain. The Pieten appear to be bothered by alarm systems, and the police unceremoniously put them in jail. But of course it doesn’t take long before we hear the well-known ‘Moehahaha’ by Dr. Brain will hear. Because just as Sinterklaas is explaining this problem to Aunt Til and the vain Ingrid la Fleur, he and Ingrid are kidnapped. They regain consciousness in an old factory hall, where Dr. Brein and her two accomplices keep office. The goal of Dr. Brain? Get rid of the secret code of the “Sinterklaas satellite”!

As if this weren’t enough storylines, we also meet Michiel (Ralf Mackenbach), who is harassing the Pieten at Sinterklaas castle to get an interview that he wants to write for his school newspaper. Pieta has other things on her mind: she is confronted with two young Piets, Pedro and Pascalli, who did not pass the Pieten exam, but nevertheless secretly traveled to the Netherlands, hoping to work as Piet after all. can. Pieta appoints Mrs. Dakjes (Inge Ipenburg, also such a familiar face) and Diego as Pieten Examination Board, but whether that is such a good idea…

Despite the many side plots, ‘Sinterklaas and the riddle of December 5’ is less messy than the previous ‘Sinterklaas and the Parcel Mystery’. It also seems that the vocals are erupted a little less often, which is also an improvement. The song that is sung by Joris and Boris approximately in the middle of the film adds zero point zero to the story and seems to be a repeat of earlier films. Then the final song, in which the title of the film is finally sung about, is just a bit better, even if it is only an explanation of the title that doesn’t quite cover the whole thing.

Despite the criticisms, you will provide children up to the age of eight or nine, which is what the film is intended for, a pleasant afternoon with this new Sinterklaas adventure. And for the adult viewers, there are a few smile-inducing jokes in it (there suddenly turns out to be a special reason for the name of the leader of the Mission Control Center of Sinterklaas). If you don’t want more than that, ‘Sinterklaas and the riddle of December 5’ is well worth a look.