The Answer?

A local Dutch judge gets entangled in the mysterious past of his Antilian wife.

DEALING AND WHEELING IN SMALL ARMS is a political documentary on the uncontrolled widespread of small arms, which rule and ruin the lives of a growing number of people in developing countries. Through the eyes of different experts whose lives depend on small arms, the film shows the causes and impact of the trade—both legal, 'grey' and illegal—in small arms and its ammunitions, in particular in regions where the European Union and the United Nations are active, such as former Yugoslavia and Congo. Especially interesting for the western audience, the film shows how brokers—often under some 'organized' legal cover—buy weapons collected by the EU and NATO during their mission in Bosnia. These brokers transfer the weapons directly to African battlefields where they continue their killing lifespan unhindered.

In the village of Oranje in Drenthe, which has 150 inhabitants, a reception center for initially 1,400 refugees was established in 2014 by The Hague without consultation. Due to the extensive media attention, the village became a symbol of the fear of asylum seekers. Despite anger over the procedure, Oranje was also willing to help the refugees. Especially the local shop owned by Jan and his family quickly became a welcoming place. When the reception center closed three years later, it left a bigger void than expected. This provides a nuanced view behind the news stories, offering insights into how people react to unexpected situations.

This documentary shows how a project aimed at curbing small arms and light weapons contributes to the establishment of peace and stability in Cambodia. It also shows the obstacles which are met during the implementation of the project, especially regarding the collection of weapons among the population in exchange for development projects, followed by the public destruction of these weapons.