Critical Acclaim for HIDDEN / "Niemand die het ziet"
"Hidden" ("Niemand die het ziet") is a compelling four-part geopolitical documentary thriller. The series explores the clandestine realm of hybrid warfare, espionage, sabotage, and disinformation, revealing the invisible conflicts shaping our contemporary world. Following protagonists across the Netherlands, Ukraine, Taiwan, and Brussels, it illuminates how hackers and spies have become the new soldiers in battles waged through digital attacks, disinformation campaigns, and covert operations.
Critics have lauded the series for its intensity and relevance. NRC likened it to watching Oppenheimer, James Bond, and the evening news simultaneously, highlighting the unsettling invisibility of modern warfare. Het Parool noted the pervasive tension and the blurred line between war and peace, while De Volkskrant praised its gripping nature that almost feels scripted. Trouw described it as a disturbing exploration of digital battlefields, emphasizing the hidden wars being waged between nations.
The series adopts a thriller-style cinematography approach, echoing documentary-style feature films. Jean Counet's visual direction is crucial in creating an immersive experience, with raw, handheld camerawork subtly building tension in each frame. His use of silhouettes and reflections, inspired by his street photography background, adds depth to the visuals. Counet's custom-designed camera system, allowing for stable handheld shooting with a 400mm lens, further intensifies the storytelling.
A major production challenge involved capturing moments that were inaccessible due to safety concerns or restricted access. Director Chris Westendorp, brought in for her expertise to direct the series' main storyline based on Huib Modderkolk's work, utilized her extensive experience as a dramaturg and screenwriter to devise creative techniques for visually suggesting these events, immersing viewers in scenes they couldn't physically access.
"Hidden" not only offers a riveting exploration of hybrid warfare but also showcases creative filmmaking under complex circumstances. By merging cinematic techniques with investigative journalism, it compels viewers to confront the unsettling reality of modern conflicts, where the battlefield is invisible but the consequences are profoundly tangible.
Selected for: Canneseries 2024
With: Huib Modderkolk, Sevgil Musaieva, Bart Groothuis
Directed by: Mea Dols de Jong & Chris van Westendorp
Concept & Screenplay: Reijer Zwaan, Ester Gould, Mea Dols de Jong
Dramaturgy: Chris van Westendorp
Final Editing & Production: Ester Gould & Reijer Zwaan
Production: Sam Godfried
Cinematography: Jean Charles Counet, NSC
Editing: Pelle Asseberghs, Pepijn Ashmann, Patrick Schonewille
Camera: Jean Charles Counet NSC, Sal Kroonenberg, Denis Melnik, Vyacheslav Tsvetkov, Eva Lucia Dekkers, Niels van Coevorden, Gregor Meerman, Diderik Evers
Sound: Bente van der Spek & Rik Meier
Additional Sound: Gideon Bijlsma, Hein Verhoeven, Lily van Leeuwen
Music: Alexander Reumers
Sound Design: Evelien van der Molen, Lennert Hunfeld
Location Production: Vova Altsybeev, Gladys Tsai, Noa Ben Shalom, Noa Amiel Lavie, Darya Antonyuk, Nynke Bonnema, Kiana Jackson
Research: Martijntje Denters, Hans Dortmans, Mandy Duijn, Mady Shiahaya, Reijer Zwaan
Post-Production Manager: Rosan Boersma
Final Editing BNNVARA: Hein-Jan Keijzer
Directed by: Mea Dols de Jong & Chris van Westendorp
Concept & Screenplay: Reijer Zwaan, Ester Gould, Mea Dols de Jong
Dramaturgy: Chris van Westendorp
Final Editing & Production: Ester Gould & Reijer Zwaan
Production: Sam Godfried
Cinematography: Jean Charles Counet, NSC
Editing: Pelle Asseberghs, Pepijn Ashmann, Patrick Schonewille
Camera: Jean Charles Counet NSC, Sal Kroonenberg, Denis Melnik, Vyacheslav Tsvetkov, Eva Lucia Dekkers, Niels van Coevorden, Gregor Meerman, Diderik Evers
Sound: Bente van der Spek & Rik Meier
Additional Sound: Gideon Bijlsma, Hein Verhoeven, Lily van Leeuwen
Music: Alexander Reumers
Sound Design: Evelien van der Molen, Lennert Hunfeld
Location Production: Vova Altsybeev, Gladys Tsai, Noa Ben Shalom, Noa Amiel Lavie, Darya Antonyuk, Nynke Bonnema, Kiana Jackson
Research: Martijntje Denters, Hans Dortmans, Mandy Duijn, Mady Shiahaya, Reijer Zwaan
Post-Production Manager: Rosan Boersma
Final Editing BNNVARA: Hein-Jan Keijzer
"Niemand die het ziet" is a co-production of The Other Room Film Productions and BNNVARA. The series was made possible by NPO, NPO-fund, Limelight Foundation, Vfonds - National Fund for Peace, Freedom and Veterans Affairs, and the Fund for Special Journalistic Projects (Fonds BJP).
