Merel, a young 12 year old girl is quite talented in a lot of activities, especially in swimming. She lives with her parents and has a handicapped younger brother. One day she suddenly starts getting bullied and teased in school by her classmates, for no particular reason. She often gets teased and sometimes even beaten up by them wherever they meet; but she keeps all those tough secrets to herself, being shy to whine about it to her parents, like any other normal kid. The movie shows various expressions of her in almost every scene -more of a sad and lonely kind of expression. She has good interest in reading English novels, and is often encouraged by a gentleman who she meets in train. Another touching part of this movie is the way she and her handicapped younger brother shares. Often taking good care of him, understanding his needs, clinging on to him -heartwarming indeed. Not many siblings in this world bond that kind of a relationship (Although it's a movie). The movie naturally is convincing in the end.
I first thought this movie was German and never knew it was Dutch until I came searching for it here in IMDb. However Elske Rotteveel acted brilliantly as 12 yr old Merel. I actually cried a bit towards the end as I too know how bad a kid of her age gets the kind of environment she goes through in school.....perhaps because we're both of the same age. The soundtrack and music too were lovely.
I first thought this movie was German and never knew it was Dutch until I came searching for it here in IMDb. However Elske Rotteveel acted brilliantly as 12 yr old Merel. I actually cried a bit towards the end as I too know how bad a kid of her age gets the kind of environment she goes through in school.....perhaps because we're both of the same age. The soundtrack and music too were lovely.