“A Stunning Story… Compelling, Entertaining”

Rick Kogan Chicago Tribune

Now on national release Old Heart honors our veterans during the 80th anniversary celebration of World War 2 European Liberation. Watch the latest the trailer here.

A complete list of screenings is here.

The film has screened nationally to large audiences in Brooklyn, Detroit, Chicago, California, and many Michigan locations.

Upcoming Dates include Grand Rapids and Portage, Kalamazoo, Michigan (June 27-July 6 and Indianapolis July 20. There are also five screenings set for the Netherlands in September. More dates will be announced soon.

Lead actor Edward Gaines talks about Old Heart talks about his own story behind the film here. Co-Lead Zaneta Adams, formerly director of the Michigan Department of Veterans Affairs who also worked at the VA in Washington during the Biden Administration tells more about the story behind the film here.

Adapted from Peter Ferry’s award winning novel, Old Heart tells the story of Tom Johnson, an American soldier who is part of the Allied liberation of the Southern Netherlands in the fall of 1944. He works with Jewish translator, Sarah van Praag, to smuggle food and supplies to starving residents of northern cities trapped behind Nazi lines. They also fall in love.

Sixty years later, in the summer of 2005, Tom foils his family’s plan to move him to an assisted living facility by taking a flight to the Netherlands. He is determined to find Sarah again, the love of his life. 

Old Heart will screen at theaters, museums, festivals, universities, performing arts centers, libraries and conference across the United States, in many Dutch cities, Belgium and Canada. See below for a complete schedule of events which will be updated in the coming months.

The Dutch Hunger Winter of 1944-45, is central to this screenplay which has won seven best feature film awards at festivals in America and abroad. This movie is the Michigan production team’s fourth release, building on the successes of Waterwalk, Pilot Error and Coming Up For Air which have won a dozen best feature awards at international festivals.

For details on supporting the production please contact Producer Roger Rapoport rogerdrapoport@me.com, call (231) 720-0930 or visit https://heartland-iff.org/how-to-donate

Here is a list of upcoming screenings more dates around the country are being added including Michigan, Illinois, California and Wisconsin. Check back for details.

June 27 - July 7 Celebration Cinema GR North, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Stars, Director and Producer will introduce the evening screening Friday June 27 which plays at 6:15 p.m. Filmed on location in Grand Rapids with local actors Shelley Irwin and Thomas Williams. Celebrating the 80th anniversary of World War 2 European Liberation during the Independence Day holiday. Check the theater website for showtimes which vary by day.

June 30 11:30 A.M. , 1:50 P.M. 6:40 P.M.

July 1 11:30 A.M. , 1:50 P.M. 6:40 P.M.

June 27- July 7 Celebration Cinema Crossroads Portage/Kalamazoo, Michigan.

The film features Kalamazoo costar Shannon Huneryager along with Shelley Irwin and Thomas Williams from Grand Rapids. Check the theater website for showtimes which vary by day.

June 30 11:40 A.M., 4:40 P.M.

July 1 11:05 A.M. , 1:25 P.M., 6:15 P.M.

July 20: Kan-Kan Indy, Indianapolis 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. honoring Old Heart author Peter Ferry with codirector Kirk Wahamaki, lead actor Edward Gaines, producer/screenwriter Roger Rapoport and Carolyn Ferry.

July 31 Friendship Village, Kalamazoo, Michigan This special screening with local veterans partners with Veterans Navigator Antonia Kennedy of Southwest Michigan Behavioral Health.

September 20: Theater De Schalm, Veldhoven., Netherlands with lead actors Edward Gaines, Eva Doueiri, producer/screenwriter Roger Rapoport, historian/author Robert Catsburg and Sebastiaan Volk of blackliberators.nl. Tickets for the 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. showings are here. Veldhoven is the setting for much of Old Heart.

September 21: Kijkhuis Leiden  Netherlands in association with Studium Generale Universiteit Leiden, 10:30 a.m. Detroit Lead Actor Edward Gaines, Dutch costar Eva Doueiri, and producer/screenwriter Roger Rapoport will join a panel with a Dutch Historian. We thank Mieke Kirkels for making this event possible. Coffee and cake will be provided.

September 21: 4 p.m. Hilweg, Netherlands, Biesbosch Museum Eiland This event at scenic Biesbosch National Park commemorates the smuggling operations from liberated Southern Netherlands to people starving in northern cities behind Nazi Lines during the Hunger Winter of 1944-45. Lead actor Edward Gaines joins Dutch actress Eva Doueiri and producer Roger Rapoport who will appear with a museum historian. Guests who arrive early can take a boat tour of this waterway featured in the film. Seating is limited and reservations are advised.

September 22: (Evening) Leiden, Netherlands at Kijkhuis Leiden in association with Studien Generale Leiden. Detroit Lead Actor Edward Gaines, Dutch costar Eva Doueiri, and producer/screenwriter Roger Rapoport will join a panel with a Dutch Historian. We thank Mieke Kirkels for making this event possible.