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Houen zo!, which has also been released as Steady!, is a Dutch short documentary film from 1952, directed by Herman van der Horst. The film shows the reconstruction of Rotterdam, following the city's destruction by the Nazis in the Rotterdam Blitz.
| Houen zo! | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Herman van der Horst |
Release date |
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Running time | 20 minutes |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Language | Dutch |
The film begins its journey through the city at the severely damaged St. Laurens Church, followed by the port and major building sites in the city. The film is a poetic impression of the work done, without any commentary. The film heralds a new era, of hope and joy.
The film was commissioned and financed by the Mutual Security Agency (MSA) of the Marshall Plan, and "made for a national and an international audience, to show the spirit of the Dutch, and what the country was able to do. The city is presented as a model of reconstruction achievements, and of Dutch modernity."[1]
Steady! won the first prize for nonfiction short at the Cannes Film Festival (1953).
References
edit- ^ Paalman, Floris (2011). Cinematic Rotterdam: The Times and Tides of a Modern City. Rotterdam: 010 Publishers. p. 286. ISBN 9789064507663.