''The Promise of Pisa'' ( nl, De Belofte van Pisa) is a 2019 Dutch drama film directed by Norbert ter Hall. The film is based on the autobiographical novel by

Mano Bouzamour Mano Bouzamour (born 1991 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch novelist and columnist. He scored a stunning success with his first novel, ''De belofte van Pisa'' (The Promise of Pisa), in which he described his childhood and youth as the son of immigrants in ...

Plot summary & cast

Plot summary Sam Zafar, called Samir at home, grows up in the Amsterdam Pijp as the son of illiterate, poorly integrated Moroccan parents. His brother is involved with serious crime, his sisters work behind the cash register and his friends hang around aimlessly on the streets. Sam, however, is determined to get his diploma at the white gymnasium in posh Amsterdam-Zuid and throw himself into his great love of classical piano music. Cast

Awards

The film won the award for Best Film at the Breaking TV Film Festival in London, United Kingdom. Shahine El-Hamus won the

Golden Calf for Best Actor The following is a list of winners of the Golden Calf for best actor/actress at the Nederlands Film Festival. From 2021 onwards the award became a gender-neutral award. Best Actor (1981–2020) * 1981 - Rutger Hauer - All his works * 1982 - Rijk ...

award at the 2020

Netherlands Film Festival The Netherlands Film Festival ( nl, Nederlands Film Festival) is an annual film festival, held in September and October of each year in the city of Utrecht. During the ten-day festival, Dutch film productions and co-productions are exhibited. Be ...

for his role in the film. Rui Reis Maia, Jasper Boeke and Diederik Rijpstra won the Golden Calf for Best Music award for the music of the film.

Production

In August 2015, it was announced that Norbert ter Hall and Robert Alberdingk Thijm were going to adapt Mano Bouzamour's book to film. In May 2018, it was announced that

Yorick van Wageningen Yorick van Wageningen (born 16 April 1964) is a Dutch actor who has performed in Dutch and American films, including ''The Chronicles of Riddick'' and the 2011 remake of ''The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo''. Life and career Van Wageningen was b ...

was added to the cast. In September 2018, it was announced that Shahine El-Hamus, Olivia Lonsdale,

Nora El Koussour Nora El Koussour (born 1994) is a Dutch actress. She won the Golden Calf for Best Actress award in 2017 for her role in the film ''Layla M.''. Career She made her film debut in the 2016 film ''Layla M.''. She won the Golden Calf for Best Actre ...

and Thor Braun were added to the cast.

Principal photography Principal photography is the phase of producing a film or television show in which the bulk of shooting takes place, as distinct from the phases of pre-production and post-production. Personnel Besides the main film personnel, such as actor ...

began in September 2018 and concluded in May 2019. In May 2019, it was announced that

Monic Hendrickx Monic Hendrickx (born 3 December 1966 in Sint Anthonis) is a Dutch actress. She has won several awards during her career including four Golden Calf awards for Best Actress at the Nederlands Film Festival, the Jury Award at the 2001 Newport Beach ...

also plays a role in the film.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Promise of Pisa 2019 films 2010s Dutch-language films Dutch drama films Films shot in Amsterdam 2019 drama films Films based on autobiographical novels Films directed by Norbert ter Hall