Don’t Touch (2006)

Directed by: Maria Peters | 105 minutes | family | Actors: Sem Veeger, Jim Bakkum, Melody Klaver, Gijs Scholten van Aschat, Tessa Schram, Juliann Ubbergen, Matthijs van de Sande Bakhuyzen, Loes Wouterson, Tommie Venneker

‘Keep off’ is the youth film from the autumn of 2006 and is a film adaptation of a book by Carry Slee, who has already written more than seventy successful books. Many of her books have received awards. Director Maria Peters has also earned her spurs with well-known films such as ‘De Tasjesdief’, ‘Kruimeltje’, ‘Pietje Bell’ and the sequel ‘Pietje Bell 2′.

With the filming of the book “Keep off” a dream has become reality for Carry Slee. It will be interesting to see how the combination of these two successful women would work out. As with many book adaptations, the space and freedom has been taken to convert the book into a contemporary scenario that here and there could seek more connection with contemporary trends and tastes.

The conclusion may be that this combination has become a success. That was actually the case from the start when, after an initial pre-selection from about 4,000 applications, almost 1,000 young people competed for a role at an audition in Amsterdam. The future cinema audience was therefore already ready to make their own contribution to the film.

The story of ‘Keep away’ is exciting and dramatic at the same time and very contemporary. Melissa is a teenage girl who dreams of a dance career and is auditioning to participate in a music video. Her parents actually think she does classical ballet, but she secretly takes hip-hop dance lessons. Classmate Debby can also dance well, but is not really a good friend. To suppress her nerves during the audition, another dancer gives her some pills. They help to suppress her nerves and she is hired. Then the problems begin. Jim is not only a professional dancer, but also a dealer in ecstacy pills. She continues to use these pills through Jim. Jim uses her and pressures her. Melissa is in love with Jim and abandons all her other friends. Of course this goes from bad to worse. Her friends watch helplessly as she swallows more and more pills and lies about everything. The problems of drug use (ecstasy), wrong friends, jealousy and mutual envy at success and falsely troubling each other are all themes in the story. Yet the film is also a story about real friendships. ‘Keep away’ is nowhere ‘preaching’ in tone and is not based on false sentiments.

Strong play by Melissa (Sem Veeger, who is making her debut), but also by Jordi (Matthijs van de Sande Bakhuyzen). The other cast is also of a high level with good playing by Tommie Venneker, Tessa Schram, Melody Klaver, Juliann Ubbergen and Jim Bakkum. Big names such as Gijs Scholten van Aschat and Loes Wouterson play as Melissa’s father and mother. The well-known rapper Brainpower has his own contribution and a guest appearance.

A film about music, dance, drugs, ambition and friendship. A film full of speed, not only for young girls in the age category of twelve to sixteen years, but also for other young people and actually the entire family. Recognizable problems, well presented and interpreted, not with a finger-raised tone and a fine soundtrack. An absolute must!