Eighth-Grades Don’t Cry (2012)

Directed by: Dennis Bots | 96 minutes | drama, family | Actors: Hanna Obbeek, Nils Verkooijen, Johanna ter Steege, Reinout Bussemaker, Fiona Livingston, Bram Flick, Amin Beyandouz, Eva van der Gucht, Loek Peters, Chrisje Comvalius, Lieke van Lexmond, Hanna Verboom

Jacques Vriens can answer that question well about how to write a children’s book about cancer. His gripping book “Eighth-groupers don’t cry”, in which he describes in a recognizable way the ups and downs of a group of eight, who have to deal with a classmate suffering from leukemia, was awarded by the Dutch Children’s Jury. You can now easily ask director Dennis Bots how to make a youth film about cancer. With his film adaptation of Jacques Vriens’ successful novel, he has made a film that will undoubtedly do well at information meetings or during lessons at (primary) schools.

The role of the tough eighth-grouper Akkie is bravely played by Hanna Obbeek, who has clearly grown since her performance in ‘Briefgeheim’ (2010). Dennis Bots, however, has deliberately chosen not to focus on Akkie’s illness: ‘Eighth graders don’t cry’ may be about leukemia in all its horrible facets, but the focus is regularly shifted to the rest of Akkie’s endearing classmates. For example Laurens, who has a crush on Akkie and who pours his early love for her into beautiful (comic) form. Or the insecurity of Akkie’s best friend Elise, who has braces, doubts she’s good enough to compete in the soccer tournament and gets ridiculed for her belief in God. Or Joep (Nils Verkooijen, keep an eye on this young actor!), who cannot stand Akkie and vice versa, but for whose insufferable performance there is also a very plausible explanation.

At the beginning of the film, the dialogues are still a bit stiff and artificial, but fortunately there is an upward trend. The young cast is convincing, the older actors (Johanna ter Steege and Reinout Bussemaker as Akkie’s parents, Eva van der Gucht as teacher Ina, Loek Peters as Doctor Snor and Chrisje Comvalius as Afida) also do their job well. Very nice are the drawings that come to life that group eight makes for Akkie when she is just in the hospital. Or the way Dr. Mustache explains to Akkie what exactly her illness is. It could just be a real doctor. Because despite the loaded subject, there is enough room for a smile and even in the sad scenes you can’t blame the director for excessively stimulating the tear ducts. ‘Eighth graders don’t cry’ is a beautiful and honest tribute to all (young) heroes who fight against an unfair disease.