Crucible head (2006)

Directed by: Dorothée van den Berghe | 10 minutes | drama, short film | Actors: Roshni van de Veer, Anneke Blok, Bert Geurkink, Amanda Griffioen, Romy Krommert, Stephanie Koene

Everyone knows it – and probably from personal experience: children can be tough when it comes to the looks of their peers. Flappy ears, a prominent nose or a face full of childhood pimples: it can be disastrous if you are bullied about it. In 2006, scriptwriters and directors were invited to make a film with the theme of the experiences of children from other cultures living with us as part of the Kind en Kleur project of the Dutch Cultural Broadcasting Fund. Dorothée van den Berghe (director) and Klaartje Dullemond (screenplay) made the very entertaining and moving ‘Kroeskop’.

The adopted Hanneke is about to take a big step in her life: she is going to secondary school. That means, among other things, buying cover paper! On her way to the city she cycles behind a group of girls (who hardly differ from each other) and catches the hateful comment about her hair (it seems to explode!). Extremely ashamed, she decides to have her beautiful hair straightened in the city, but on the way back she is attacked by a heavy rain shower and she is back to square one. Every other attempt to smooth her hair (heavy books on it, iron…) fails.

‘Kroeskop’ tells a recognizable story, but is very original in its execution. The humor is in the looks and facial expressions of the characters, not in the dialogues. Apart from a few conversations, the film is almost without dialogue, which improves the atmosphere. The camera work is also very strong. It is therefore as if the basically clichéd story has been given a new life with a new cover paper, pink with white dots of course. Very nice!