''The Flying Liftboy'' ( nl, Abeltje) is a

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The '' Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently ...

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

directed by

Ben Sombogaart Bernard Cornelis (Ben) Sombogaart (born 8 August 1947) is a Dutch film and TV director. His film '' Twin Sisters'' (2002) was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Filmography *''The Boy Who Stopped Talking'' (1996) *' ...

. The film was based on the 1953 Dutch children's book ''

Abeltje ''Abeltje'' is a children's novel by celebrated Dutch people, Dutch author Annie M. G. Schmidt, originally published in 1953 by De Arbeiderspers. It was one of Annie M. G. Schmidt's first children's books, and such an instant success that it wa ...

'' by

Annie M. G. Schmidt Anna Maria Geertruida "Annie" Schmidt (20 May 1911 – 21 May 1995) was a Dutch writer. She is called the mother of the Dutch theatrical song, and the queen of Dutch children's literature, praised for her "delicious Dutch idiom," and considered o ...

. It won the

Golden Calf According to the Bible, the golden calf (עֵגֶל הַזָּהָב '' ‘ēgel hazzāhāv'') was an idol (a cult image) made by the Israelites when Moses went up to Mount Sinai. In Hebrew, the incident is known as ''ḥēṭə’ hā‘ēgel'' ...

for

Best Feature Film Best or The Best may refer to: People * Best (surname), people with the surname Best * Best (footballer, born 1968), retired Portuguese footballer Companies and organizations * Best & Co., an 1879–1971 clothing chain * Best Lock Corporatio ...

Plot summary

Lift boy Abeltje takes off in his lift. This to the horror of the management of the department store where he works, the other inhabitants of the lift and of course his mother. Soon after the lift flies out of the department store, Abeltje finds out how to steer the lift. His travelling companions - his classmate Laura, the businessman Mr Tump and singing teacher Miss Klaterhoen - are also embroiled in his adventure. Abel manages to land the lift on a New York parking lot. There Abel sets off to look for work. Millionaire's wife Mrs Cockle-Smith thinks he is her long-lost son Johnny and kidnaps him. Locked up in the luxury penthouse of his 'second' mother, Abeltje finds out that he does bear an uncanny resemblance to Johnny, this makes his next destination clear: he wants to find Johnny. Mr Tump helps Abeltje to escape and immediately after they reach the lift they set off at top speed for Perugona, the spot where Johnny disappeared. In Perugona their visit happens to coincide with a coup. Our friends end up in the hands of the guerrillas who appoint the vain Mr Tump as President. Everyone knows that Tump is only a puppet, Mr Tump himself is convinced that this career leap is justified confirmation of his personality. Mr Tump's position makes it possible for Abeltje to set off with Laura in search of Johnny. In The Netherlands and New York it has become clear that the lift and its inhabitants are in Perugona and the mothers of Abeltje and Johnny set off to look for their offspring. The exciting hunt for Abeltje has started. The hunt gets even more exciting when Abeltje does indeed manage to find Johnny. In the end, Abeltje's mother arrives in Perugona and accidentally takes Johnny back in her plane and sets off to The Netherlands. When Mr Tump is then deposed, it's high time for the lift-travellers to set off for the safety of their own home. But then in front of the eyes of Mother Roef, Mrs Cockle Smith and the guerrillas the lift disappears into the volcano Quoquapepapetl. During the memorial service for our four heroes in the department store, the lift pops up in the elevator shaft and everyone is reunited in a happy ending.

Cast

Victor Löw Victor Löw (born 25 August 1962 in Amsterdam; originally ''Victor Löwenstein''), is a Dutch actor. Victor Löw studied at Studio Herman Teirlinck in Antwerp. He played his first small part in The Northerners. After that he played in numerous ...

... Schraap * Elleke Vervat ... a friend of Laura * Roxanne Stam ... a friend of Laura * Afroditi-Piteni Bijker ... a friend of Laura (as Afroditi Piteni Bijker) * Taina Moreno ... a friend of Laura * Nicole Sanchez ... a friend of Laura * Soraya Smith... Laura * Rick van Gastel ... Abeltje Roef / Johnny Cockle Smith (as Ricky van Gastel) *

Kees Hulst Kees or KEES may refer to: * Kees (given name) * Kees (surname) * KEES, an American AM radio station licensed to Gladewater, Texas See also * Cees (disambiguation) Cees () is a Dutch masculine given name, a short form of Cornelis. Since, as in ...

... Schoolmaster *

Annet Malherbe Annet Malherbe (born 23 November 1957) is a Dutch actress. She is known for her roles in films directed by her husband Alex van Warmerdam, such as ''Voyeur'', ''The Northerners'', ''The Dress'', '' Little Tony'' and ''Grimm''. Malherbe was nominat ...

... Mother Roef / Mrs. Cockle-Smith * Arnita Swanson ... TV presenter *

Marisa Van Eyle Marisa may refer to: * Marisa (town), an Indonesian town * Marisa, Hellenised name of Maresha, town in Idumea (today in Israel) * Marisa (given name), a feminine personal name * ''Marisa'' (gastropod), a genus of apple snails * MV ''Marisa'' (193 ...

... Miss Klaterhoen *

Frits Lambrechts Fredericus Amos (Frits) Lambrechts (born 24 March 1937) is a Dutch actor, musician and cabaret artist. Career He started with cabaret. He was discovered in 1964 by writer and comedian Jaap Van de Merwe. After seeing him perform in Amsterdam, Van ...

... Jozias Tump * Nora Kretz ... Mrs. Tump * Joseph Gudenburg ... Policeman

Awards

for best motion picture (1999) * Public choice award at the Montreal International Children's Film Festival

External links

References

Dutch adventure films 1998 films 1990s Dutch-language films Films set in the United States Films based on works by Annie M.G. Schmidt {{Netherlands-film-stub