Het kruis van Tegelen

The Tegelse Passion Play, which is performed every five years, is about the last days of suffering of Jesus Christ. This tradition, in which almost the entire Limburg village in the Netherlands participates, goes back to 1931. It is also a tradition that is often accompanied by conflicts about texts, innovation and the design of the game. Because the Bible is serious business. In the shadow of the last Passion Plays unfold the passion stories of a few passion players who struggle with contemporary dilemmas such as abuse of power, domestic violence, homosexuality, migrants, equality, but also the suffering of Biblical themes such as betrayal, exclusion and misplaced pride.

Directed by Hans Heijnen, Het kruis van Tegelen leans on a strong ensemble — Geert Beurskens, Abbie Chalgoum, Arjan Langen — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 2022.