When 12-year-old Daan‘s special bond with his football coach transforms into manipulation and abuse, he must confront not only his conflicted feelings of loyalty and betrayal, but also his community‘s uncomfortable response to a truth no one wants to face.“ ”
Synopsis
Twelve-year-old Daan‘s passion for football transforms into a nightmare when his trusted coach Ries (45) methodically manipulates him into a web of abuse and secrecy. Inside Daan‘s turbulent emotional world, validation and special attention gradually intertwine with shame and secrecy. As Ries‘s predatory behavior escalates, Daan retreats into isolation, trapped between loyalty to his mentor and the crushing weight of his hidden trauma. When the unthinkable truth finally surfaces, Daan must navigate not only his own devastating shame but also face the community‘s conflicted response.
Details
Director: Karin Junger
Genre: Crime, Family, Drama
Tags: Emotional, Suspenseful, Psychological
Original title: De Pupil
English title: The Pupil
Country of production: The Netherlands, Belgium
Year of production: 2025
Length: 105 min
Color: yes
Shooting format: 2K
Screening format: DCP 2K (2048x858), QT Proress 422 HQ (5.1 & stereo), H264 (stereo)
Original language: Dutch
Subtitles: English, Dutch
Cast: Bart de Wilde, Gijs Naber, Hadewych Minis, Marcel Hensema, Joost Meuwsen
Scriptwriter: Karin Junger
Director of photography: Martijn van Broekhuizen
Production designer: Ben Zuydwijk
Editor: David Verdurme
Sound design: Mark Glynne
Sound mixing: Jac Vleeshouwers
Music: Frederik Van de Moortel
Producers: Ineke Kanters, Lisette Kelder
Co-producers: Maarten D’Hollander, Tim Martens, Xavier Rombaut, Robert Kievit
Production company: The Film Kitchen
Co-production company: Krater Films, Polar Bear, BNNVARA
Supported by: Netherlands Film Fund, Netherlands Film Production Incentive, Tax Shelter of the Belgian Federal Government, BNNVARA, CoBO, Creative Europe - MEDIA Programme of the European Union, POSTA Sound for Picture
