Return to the Hiding Place (2014)

Great Film overall

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

I looked forward to viewing this movie with its theme, including Nazi Germany, and hoped it would awaken people to the world around them today. This movie fell deeply short in many areas. It uses the title of the book, "Return to the Hiding Place" by Hans Poley, and yet that is where the similarity between the book and movie ends. Read the book for yourself.Stass Klassen as the sinister German Colonel and John Rhys Davis in the all too small role of Eusi, were a welcome presence and offset to the weak and one dimensional portrayal by many of the other actors. It was apparent which actors were theatrically trained versus movie actors and which were there as "scenery" and lacked experience and training.This was basically a family backyard production. Looks to be a directorial debut with scant seasoned movie production professionals involved. The screenplay had some good points. The editing was a hack job. The story lines were disjointed, it was difficult to follow the characters and which storyline they pertained to and many scenes were far-fetched.It's apparent the directors and production didn't know what they were doing. I've seen too many "low budget" quality indie films and yet their quality was far superior to this movie. It doesn't compare to "The Hiding Place" made in 1975 either.Those who gave this film a 10 rating, were obviously involved with the making of the film, know people who made it or were in it. As such, they chose to be "overenthusiastic" and obviously, grossly exaggerated its quality. Passion of the Christ, Schindler's List & Forrest Gump deserve a high rating. This film does not. When a movie is good, be honest and say so. When it is not of decent quality, be truthful and say so! I saw this movie in one of the few places they actually previewed it. The ever changing release date, including postponing again until February 2015, and the many free previews they've done, lends more to the case that it is not a quality film worth your very valuable money and very valuable time.Perhaps someone else will create a movie which will give those who lived courageously and stood up for the cause of humanity, the quality production their story deserves. I pray so as theirs is a story worth telling rightly.

I am not easy on films. I am not a fantastic writer but I do work with some amazing screenwriters and feel like I am pretty honest and can see what does or doesn't work. This movie works. It has some flaws, for sure. For example, parts of it drag out and it is kinda unclear who the main character is for awhile, but it still grabbed me. There is heart in this film that keeps it from being too preachy like many Christian films, most of which I don't even see. Ouch. What I typically don't like in Christian films doesn't apply to this one - they show their lives and what they stand for instead of just talking about it. There is genuine emotion played out in this story - the confusion, heartache, fear... Mimi Sagadin, who plays Corrie ten Boom, portrays her with a sweetness I haven't seen in other films. Her sister Betsie - whoever played her (can't remember) is fantastic. My favorite is Max Van Bel, and his role was so minor, but how he played it hit me hard. The acting overall struggles at times, but it is not at all what others wrote - it isn't horrible. That is a huge exaggeration. You do need to be in the mood to see it. Also, they don't show extreme violence, but do a pretty good job at showing reality as much as they probably felt able to do with that rating. I do feel like things got tired in certain scenes, that they didn't really know what to do with it, but they generally wrapped it up well. I will agree that the love story was a little confusing; I couldn't tell if something was going on with those in love or not. Discretion in a love relationship on screen is good but taking it too far can be confusing to people.I love the motto of this film and that teenagers and young adults are the focus and the heroes of the story. What they did amazes me, and what they risked amazes me as well. I like that this film shows Christians with some balls (sorry if that offends you; just trying to be real). This is how Jesus lived; not wimpy and annoying like he's often portrayed. What people are capable of in greatness through self-sacrifice is the focus of this film and I think they succeeded in touching that. Could it have been done better? Yes. But would I see it again and recommend it? Yes again.

This is a grand historical tale of courage and how youth helped support the resistance movement. Most citizens sat back and did nothing as the Nazi's fought it out internally with the Resistance. Many young people, made the courageous decision to give their lives for country and the protection of the innocent (and people they did not even know). The Christian undertone is there, but not heavy-handed. Faith drives these people to love their neighbors and lay down their lives for the same. The story and characters are engaging, and the mild humor in various situations is very well done. I hope that such a film can gain a broader release. Critiques that discuss every thread of clothing, accent, or backdrop in terms of authenticity go too far. This is a great film which make a unique contribution to WWII film history. Young people throughout the world need to see this film, and more like it.

I highly recommend this to everyone, especially for our youth to partake and see the supreme true story example, of what it is to stand for something for a vastly larger purpose beyond themselves. Corrie ten Boom's story is one in a million. Nearly every life that has been touched by the 1975, "The Hiding Place" and it's stunning reality of the message of forgiveness worked into the framework of the plot of her rare and untouchable example, causes the viewer to thirst for more information on this dreaded and difficult time in history of WWII. When I learned that Return to the Hiding Place, sequel to her story, was to be released, it was a delight to know that more of the story was to be revealed concerning the underground work of Holocaust and the resistance to the German Occupation. To see the details of work of her "youth army" led by Hans Poley and Piet Hartog , young and brave men they were, gives this film a position that would challenge any youth of today to question their own maturity level, compelling a natural introspection to do something for a greater purpose and cause. Only a masterfully executed direction and production by the Spencer Team could pull this off in this beautiful and rich example of what few may know took place with the younger generation of the 1940s. With the reality of Human Trafficking and Bullying that Hitler was notorious for inciting, no one can argue with ANY merit that this work in time wouldn't touch the viewer and place into the mind a self evaluation, for a life impacting "take away". Dr. Spencer worked DIRECTLY with Hans Poley and heard the story first hand, working diligently to preserve the miraculous details of the truth of what actually took place. Nothing can quite measure against the passion behind "why" this film was created, and completed for an eternal purpose. Acting, location shots, editing, and final product are par exellence.