Menno Meyjes

Writing

Menno Meyjes

Born

1954-01-01 (72)

Place of birth

Eindhoven, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands

Known for

Writing

Credits

15 titles

Menno Meyjes (born 1954) is a Dutch screenwriter, film director, and producer. He is an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award nominee, and a Goya Award and Hugo Award winner. Meyjes was born in Bloemendaal, North Holland in 1954. He moved to the United States in 1972 and studied at San Francisco Art Institute, graduating with a master's degree in 1980. In 1984, he founded the graphic design magazine Emigre, with fellow Dutchmen Marc Susan and Rudy VanderLans. Meyjes first gained attention for his spec script The Children's Crusade, which was later produced in 1987 by Francis Ford Coppola as Lionheart. His first produced screenplay was the 1985 film The Color Purple, directed by Steven Spielberg …

Known for

The Color Purple poster
7.7

An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie, an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. After Celie's abusive father marries her off to the equally debasing 'Mister' Albert Johnson, things go from bad to worse, leaving Celie to find companionship anywhere she can. She perseveres, holding on to her dream of one day being reunited with her sister in Africa.

The Color Purple

1985

The Siege poster
6.3

The secret US abduction of a suspected terrorist from his Middle East homeland leads to a wave of terrorist attacks in New York. An FBI senior agent and his team attempt to locate and decommission the enemy cells, but must also deal with an Army General gone rogue and a female CIA agent of uncertain loyalties.

The Siege

1998

A Matador's Mistress poster
5.8

Scandal erupts over a famous bullfighter's affair with a left-wing actress.

A Matador's Mistress

2008

Martian Child poster
6.7

A recently-widowed science fiction writer considers whether to adopt a hyper-imaginative 6-year-old abandoned and socially-rejected boy who says he's really from Mars.

Martian Child

2007

Max poster
6.2

In 1918, a young, disillusioned Adolf Hitler strikes up a friendship with a Jewish art dealer while weighing a life of passion for art vs. talent at politics

Max

2002

Black Gold poster
6.5

On the Arabian Peninsula in the 1930s, two warring leaders come face to face. The victorious Nesib, Emir of Hobeika, lays down his peace terms to rival Amar, Sultan of Salmaah. The two men agree that neither can lay claim to the area of no man’s land between them called The Yellow Belt. In return, Nesib adopts Amar’s two boys Saleeh and Auda as a guarantee against invasion. Twelve years later, Saleeh and Auda have grown into young men. Saleeh, the warrior, itches to escape his gilded cage and return to his father’s land. Auda cares only for books and the pursuit of knowledge. One day, their adopted father Nesib is visited by an American from Texas. He tells the Emir that his land is blessed with oil and promises him riches beyond his wildest imagination. Nesib imagines a realm of infinite possibility, a kingdom with roads, schools and hospitals all paid for by the black gold beneath the barren sand. There is only one problem. The precious oil is located in the Yellow Belt.

Black Gold

2011

Behind the camera

The Color Purple poster
7.7

An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie, an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. After Celie's abusive father marries her off to the equally debasing 'Mister' Albert Johnson, things go from bad to worse, leaving Celie to find companionship anywhere she can. She perseveres, holding on to her dream of one day being reunited with her sister in Africa.

The Color Purple

1985

The Siege poster
6.3

The secret US abduction of a suspected terrorist from his Middle East homeland leads to a wave of terrorist attacks in New York. An FBI senior agent and his team attempt to locate and decommission the enemy cells, but must also deal with an Army General gone rogue and a female CIA agent of uncertain loyalties.

The Siege

1998

A Matador's Mistress poster
5.8

Scandal erupts over a famous bullfighter's affair with a left-wing actress.

A Matador's Mistress

2008

A Matador's Mistress poster
5.8

Scandal erupts over a famous bullfighter's affair with a left-wing actress.

A Matador's Mistress

2008

Martian Child poster
6.7

A recently-widowed science fiction writer considers whether to adopt a hyper-imaginative 6-year-old abandoned and socially-rejected boy who says he's really from Mars.

Martian Child

2007

Max poster
6.2

In 1918, a young, disillusioned Adolf Hitler strikes up a friendship with a Jewish art dealer while weighing a life of passion for art vs. talent at politics

Max

2002

Max poster
6.2

In 1918, a young, disillusioned Adolf Hitler strikes up a friendship with a Jewish art dealer while weighing a life of passion for art vs. talent at politics

Max

2002

Black Gold poster
6.5

On the Arabian Peninsula in the 1930s, two warring leaders come face to face. The victorious Nesib, Emir of Hobeika, lays down his peace terms to rival Amar, Sultan of Salmaah. The two men agree that neither can lay claim to the area of no man’s land between them called The Yellow Belt. In return, Nesib adopts Amar’s two boys Saleeh and Auda as a guarantee against invasion. Twelve years later, Saleeh and Auda have grown into young men. Saleeh, the warrior, itches to escape his gilded cage and return to his father’s land. Auda cares only for books and the pursuit of knowledge. One day, their adopted father Nesib is visited by an American from Texas. He tells the Emir that his land is blessed with oil and promises him riches beyond his wildest imagination. Nesib imagines a realm of infinite possibility, a kingdom with roads, schools and hospitals all paid for by the black gold beneath the barren sand. There is only one problem. The precious oil is located in the Yellow Belt.

Black Gold

2011

The Hero poster
4.6

After Sara Silverstein suddenly finds herself involved in a series of violent attacks she realizes she needs to unravel her father’s past in order to neutralize this threat.

The Hero

2016

Lionheart poster
5.6

A young knight sets out to join King Richards crusaders. Along the way, he encounters The Black Prince who captures children and sells them as slaves to the Muslims. It is Robert Narra's sworn duty to protect the children and lead them to safety.

Lionheart

1987

Foreign Student poster
4.1

A French football playing exchange student falls in love.

Foreign Student

1994

Silent Fear poster
4.4

Sabine is looking for the truth behind the disappearance of her best friend twenty years ago. An encounter with the handsome Olaf, a man she remembers from her teenage years, and the announcement of a high school reunion turn her life upside down.

Silent Fear

2015

Silent Fear poster
4.4

Sabine is looking for the truth behind the disappearance of her best friend twenty years ago. An encounter with the handsome Olaf, a man she remembers from her teenage years, and the announcement of a high school reunion turn her life upside down.

Silent Fear

2015

The Dinner poster
5.5

Two brothers and their wives have dinner in a fancy restaurant to discuss their teenage children's misdeeds. An excoriating assessment of Europe’s contemporary social ills.

The Dinner

2013

The Dinner poster
5.5

Two brothers and their wives have dinner in a fancy restaurant to discuss their teenage children's misdeeds. An excoriating assessment of Europe’s contemporary social ills.

The Dinner

2013