Esther de Boer-van Rijk

The Dutch Circus

After years of touring abroad with his "Cirque Hollandais", Hendrik van Dalen returns to Holland, hoping that his brother will lend him financial support. Since the death of his wife, things have gone from bad to worse with Hendrik, who drowns his sorrow in drink. Moreover, he has set his heart on the circus-equestrienne, who pretends to love him but is having an affair with the company's wrestler. By encouraging Hendrik to drink, they hope to get their hands on his possessions. Hendrik's daughter sees through their designs and, with the aid of the clown Louisot, tries to foil their plans.

The Good Hope

A poor fisherman's wife sends the remaining family members, her two sons, out to sea on a boat that has seen better days.

The Good Hope

Fisherman’s widow Kniertje urges her two younger sons to set sail on the ‘Op hoop van zegen’, a heavily insured floating wreck which duly goes down in a storm. Kniertje is left behind, alone and lonely. Based on Herman Heijermans’ socialist-inspired Dutch theatre classic.

A Telegram from Mexico

Short feature film about a colonist who gets caught up in the revolution in Mexico. Back at home, they anxiously wait for news. A Telegram from Mexico is one of the short fictional films that Filmfabriek Hollandia produced before the First World War. The film, directed by Louis H. Chrispijn Sr., tells the story of Willem Vandoorn, a Dutch colonist in Mexico. When the revolution breaks out, the young man decides to go back to his homeland. He sends his parents a telegram announcing his planned return. When his journey is delayed by a rebel attack, his parents - already worried about the many dramatic newspaper articles - fear the worst. These nervous suspicions even lead the blind father to have a vision, in which he sees his son's execution.

De Bertha

The daughter of the captain of a trading ship finds out that the ship is in danger of sinking and tries to save it and the crew.

The Secret of the Lighthouse

Young poacher Hendrik van Norden has seriously wounded a game-keeper, who has not recognized him. There was, however, one witness: captain Van Oort, but he promises to keep silent. Five years later Hendrik has become a lighthouse-keeper and is courting Annie. Van Oort is also trying to win Annie's affections, and in his jealousy he decides to remind Hendrik of what he knows about his past...