Documentary | “Miss Kiet’s Children” | Screened in the U.S.

“Miss Kiet’s Children” the documentary by Peter Lataster and Petra Lataster-Czisch will be screened in the United States in January, February, and March. 

About “Miss Kiet’s Children” 

Kiet Engels is the kind of teacher one wishes every schoolchild could have. She is strict but never harsh. She is loving but never soft. Her patience in endless.

Miss Kiet’s pupils have only just arrived in Holland. Many are refugees. Everything is new and confusing. Some at first are quarrelsome and headstrong. But Miss Kiet’s firm but loving hand brings calm and awakens interest. She not only teaches her pupils to read and write Dutch, but also helps them learn to solve problems together and respect one another. Slowly the children gain skills and confidence.

Haya is at first impetuous, yet fearful. Little by little, Miss Kiet helps her to find her friendly side. Leanne is quiet and lonely. But after a few months she able to tell everyone, in Dutch, that she loves Branche. Jorj has trouble sleeping and is unruly. His little brother Maksim has terrible nightmares. Miss Kiet’s tenacity helps Jorj discover that learning can be worthwhile and even fun.

By observation alone, without interviews or voice-over, the film focuses on four children of different nationalities. Pursuing their perspective, the camera follows at close hand their struggles to learn a new language, their fights, their friendships and their first loves.

By the end of the documentary, an affectionate community has grown – the fruit of a teacher’s patience and dedication. A film of many touching moments, some of them hilarious, The Children of Miss Kiet chronicles changes that are small yet at the same time immense.

Agenda 2018

January 28 – January 29 | Moxie Cinema | Springfield, Missouri

January 31 – February 1 | Munson Cinema | Utica, New York

February 2 – February 8 | Film Streams | Omaha, Nebraska

February 17 – February 24 | Northwest Film Center | Portland, Oregon

February 22 | Creative Alliance | Baltimore, Maryland

March 16 & 18 | Gene Siskel Film Center | Chicago, Illinois

March 8 | Union Theatre | Milwaukee, Wisconsin 

March 9 – March 11 | Detroit Institute of Arts | Detroit, Michigan

March 12 | Jacob Burns Film Center | Pleasantville, New York

March 25 – March 27 | Cleveland Museum of Art | Cleveland, Ohio

April 13 – April 15 | Sonoma Film Institute | Rohnert Park, California

Awards