Sexual cross -border behavior of a football coach versus a twelve -year -old boy is the moving theme of the pupil . The film should not shock, but it is precisely the debate about dealing with pedophilia and sexual abuse, director and screenwriter Karin Junger told NU.nl.
Daan (Bart de Wilde) comes from a real football family. When his coach Ries (Gijs Naber) tells that Daan is going to his club’s first team, he can’t get his luck. Ries takes Daan to a football match to see how the real pros are doing and gives his top pupil extra attention during training.
When Ries asks if Daan wants to come home to him, it feels good for Daan. After all, he enjoys the attention of someone he looks up to. Ries always goes one step further and gets more and more influence on Daan’s life. He pulls Daan a secret, forbidden world of adults. That is the start of repeated sexual abuse.
“The film is not just about a victim and a pedophile,” says director Junger. “It is also about the people around it. Because there is a taboo on the subject of rest and people often respond hysterically, there is no room for a conversation. So -called pedojagers strengthen this unhealthy climate. A (potentially) victim benefits from openness. A child must get the feeling that it is negotiable.”
“In addition, it is not a solution to kill or beat up all pedophiles. Starting the conversation is much more effective,” says Junger.
The Pupil was made by Junger and producer The Film Kitchen, who cooperates with Stichting De Stilte for the Impact campaign around the film Broken and Victim Support Netherlands. According to the latter organization, the agreements on social safety at sports clubs are often too free of obligation. For example, trainers do not have to have a statement about the behavior (VOG) and there is often no confidential adviser at a club.
“But the chance of a child’s sexual abuse is also great in other places where there is a certain power relationship,” says Junger. “It wasn’t just about the sports world.”
The topics of pedophilia and abuse regularly cause severe reactions. It was therefore difficult to find a producer and a distributor for the pupil , says Junger. “There was a lot of resistance, I was told that no one would be interested in visiting the film. But luckily the pupil now gets a lot of attention and everyone wants to talk about it.”
Looking for a suitable cast was also a challenge. “I noticed that casting agencies hesitantly responded to the request of Daan’s role,” says Junger. “In the end we found Bart. He had never acted before. From the start he had something disarming and genuine. He also thinks this story should be told.”
To create a safe set for the wild, many conversations with him and his parents took place. “In the film, Daan looks at erotic images on a television, but on the set we have set up something else. Certain texts by Gijs, like” Now you have to do something with me, “he didn’t really say to Bart,” says the director.
“I let Gijs say something with the same number of syllables and let him record the right text later. For example, we confronted Bart as little as possible on the set, but he knew exactly how or what. He is also very happy with the end result.”
The actors were not in line to play the role of football coach Ries. “But Gijs dared, you really need courage for that,” says Junger. “Fortunately, he understood that it is important to make a film about this subject.”
There are no explicit erotic scenes in the pupil , but the film makes clear what is going on in another room. “It is not necessary to make everything so explicit to transfer the message,” says Junger. “Abuse is also not just about sex. In this case it is also about Ries learning to lie to Daan to his parents. That is also very harmful.”
Junger hopes that people learn something from the film. “We have to create safety at sports clubs and other places where adults have to do with children,” says the director. “There are clear things that you can meet with each other. Like that children are not allowed to come home to a trainer or that a trainer is not always alone with his pupils.”
“And if the abuse has already taken place, we should not ignore it and, above all, remain calm,” she continues. “Of course we should not accept pedophilia and abuse, but we can handle it a little more rational. We can all mean something in this story.”
Junger is looking forward to the conversations that arise from the film. “But I also hope that we can celebrate after the premiere. It was no easy film to make for anyone.”
The pupil will premiere on Tuesday evening at the Nederlands Film Festival. The film will be shown in the cinema from October 30.
Sexually transgressive behavior by a soccer coach Towards a twelve-year-old boy forms the gripping theme of the pupil . The Film Should Not Shock, But Rather Spark Debate About Dealing with Pedophilia and Sexual Abuse, Says Director and Screenwriter Karin Junger to Nu.nl.
Daan (Bart de Wilde) Comes from a Real Soccer Family. When His Coach Ries (Gijs Naber) Tells Him That Daan Will Be Joining His Club’s First Team, He could be Happier. Ries Takes Daan to a Soccer Match to see how the real professionals do it and gives his top pupil Extra Attention Duration Training Sessions.
When Ries Asks If Daan Wants To Come To His House, It Feels Good To Daan. After all, hey, the Attention of some He looks up to. Ries Goes a Step Further and Gains More and More Influence on Daan’s Life. He Pulls Daan Into A Secret, Forbidden World of Adults. That is the beginning of repeated sexual abuse.
“The film is not only about a victim and a pedophile,” Says director Junger. “It’s also about the people around them.
“In Addition, it is not a solution to murder or beat up all pedophiles. Engaging in conversation is much more effective,” Junger Believes.
The Pupil was made by Junger and producer The Film Kitchen, Who Are Working With The The Silence Broken Foundation and Victim Support Netherlands For The Impact Campaign Around The Film. Accordance to the Latter Organization, The Agreements on Social Safety at Sports Clubs Are Often Too Non-Committal. For Example, trainers do not have to have a certificate of good conduct (VOG) and there is of no confidential advisor at a club.
“But the chance of sexual abuse of a child is also great in other places where there is a certain power relationship,” Says Junger. “It was just about the sports world for me.”
The Topics of Pedophilia and Abuse Regularly Cause Strong Reactions. It was Therefore Difficult to Find a producer and a distributor for the pupil , Says Junger. “There was a lot of resistance, I was told that no one would be interested in visiting the film. But Fortunately, The Pupil is now Receiving a Lot of Attention and Everyone Wants to Talk About It.”
Finding a Suitable cast was also a challenge. “I Noticed That Casting Agencies Reacted Hesitantly to the Request for the Role of Daan,” Says Junger. “In the end we found bart. He never acted before.
To create a safe set for De Wilde, many conversations TOK Place with him and his Parents. “In the film, Daan looks at erotic images on a television, but we set up something different on the set. Also, Certain texts by Gijs, Such as ‘Now you have to do something for me’, he did not actual Say to Bart,” Says the director.
“I had gijs say something with the same number of syllables and had he record the correct text later. In this way we confronted Bart as Little as Possible on the Set, but he knew exactly how or what. He is also very happy with the end result.”
The actors were not lining up to play the role of soccer coach Ries. “But Gijs Dared to Do It, You Really Need Courage For That,” Says Junger. “He Fortunately Understood that it is important to make a film about this subject.”
There are no explicit erotic scenes in the pupil , but the film makes it clear what is happening in Another Room. “It is not necessary to make everything so explicit in order to convay the message,” Says Junger. “Abuse is not just about sex. In this case it is also about ries teaching daan to lie to his parents. That is also very harmful.”
Junger Hopes That People Will Learn Something from the Film. “We need to create safety at sports clubs and other places where adults have to deal with children,” Says the director. “There are clear things that you can agree on with each other. Such as that children are not allowed to come to a trainer’s home or trainer is not always only with his pupils.”
“And if the abuse has already tasks place, we must not ignore it and above all remain calm,” she continues. “Or Course we must not accept pedophilia and abuse, but we can deal with it a little more rationalally. We can all make a differentence in this story.”
Junger is Looking Forward to the Discussions That Will Arise From the Film. “But I also hope that we can celebrate after the premiere. It was not an easy film for anyone to make.”
The Pupil Will Premiere on Tuesday Evening at the Netherlands Film Festival. The film will be released in Cinemas from October 30.