Polecats, hedgehogs or black-backed gulls. They seem to feel perfectly at home around the harbor of Moerdijk. The animals therefore play an important role in the wildlife film Wild Port of Europe. A number of primary school students from Zevenbergen received a preview of the film on Wednesday, which was partly shot in Moerdijk.
The children in groups 7 and 8 look almost enchanted at the screen when mother polecat, after a grueling journey, treats her ‘grey-brown rascals’ to a freshly caught field mouse. “I think it’s great that they have captured everything so well,” says Maick from primary school De Boemerang in Zevenbergen.
Director Willem Berents is impressed by the students’ reactions. “Children are honest and direct. From the questions I noticed that they are impressed. They want to know how we worked and they ask for more information about the animals. That makes this film presentation very nice.”
“I immediately saw a story.”
The shooting for Wild Port of Europe took place between 2019 and 2021. Filming was done around the ports of Moerdijk and Rotterdam. Yet the Moerdijk industrial estate was still the original starting point for the film in 2016.
“I received an invitation from the Moerdijk Port Authority and Shell to come and have a look because what can be seen here is quite special. I was skeptical at first because I am a real nature filmer. But once I went to see it, I was amazed and I immediately saw a story in it,” said the director.
“We still think too much in boxes while nature is everywhere.”
To film the animals in their own environment, various cameras, including one the size of a large die, were used. “I think it’s great that they were able to film so close. This way you learn a lot about nature,” says primary school student Fem.
In the film, the daily activities in the harbor are depicted against the background of the surrounding nature. Willem Berents hopes that the story will get across to viewers: “With this film, we want to show unseen nature in totally unexpected places. We still think too often in boxes while nature is everywhere.”
“It’s important that people think about this.”
Maick thinks it’s a beautiful film. He hadn’t expected such beautiful animals to live so close by. “It’s important that people think about this and see the film.”
Wild Port of Europe opens in all cinemas from 20 October. All other students in groups 7 and 8 at primary schools in the municipality of Moerdijk will be able to see the film from next month.
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