24/06/2015 - Principal photography for the film, which stars Pierre Bokma, Rifka Lodeizen and Chris Peters, will kick off in Amsterdam in July

Oscar-nominated Dutch director Paula van der Oest (Zus & Zo, Accused [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]) will commence the six-week principal photography of her new film, Tonio [+see also:
trailer
film profile], on 20 July in Amsterdam.

The upcoming movie is an adaptation of AF Th van der Heijden’s novel Tonio, one of the most highly praised Dutch literary releases of the last few years. Hugo Heinen is writing the script for this tale of mourning focused on a father and a mother coming to terms with the premature death of their son. Pierre Bokma and Rifka Lodeizen play the roles of the parents, whilst young Chris Peters stars as the titular son.

“Tonio is a classic, but it is told in a modern way," stated producer Sytze van der Laan, "juxtaposing past and present, love and loss of love, life and death. At one point, it even brings the dead son back to life, almost like in Truly Madly Deeply, in some very moving scenes… There are only a few films about parents losing their child. It takes place in the heart of Amsterdam, but the emotions are of anywhere, anytime.”

Van der Laan is producing Tonio for NL Film and TV together with public broadcaster NTR; the title also has the support of the Netherlands Film Fund and the CoBO Fund. September Film will handle the theatrical distribution in late 2016.