Beautiful Life (2011)

The Dutch film industry has produced quite a lot of fun kids movies. Films like “Het Geheim”, “Kikkerdril” and “Het Paard van Sinterklaas” are all entertaining movies for the smaller movie audience.

Beautiful Life (the Dutch title would translate to My Grandfather the Bank Robber) is another one that can be added to the list. It tells the story of a father/grandfather (Michiel Romeyn) who after the death of his wife is seen as someone with dementia. His granddaughter Grace (Zoë van der Kust) doesn’t really believe it as she sees how he is struggling with his loss. She tries to help him as much as she can. She doesn’t know her own father as she never met him. She only knows his name and that he was from Surinam (one of the former Dutch colonies). Her mother doesn’t want to tell her why he wasn’t around for her. When her grandfather shows her his picture it ignites the flame for her to begin her search for some answers to her questions. Continue reading