Hogweed

Sven is nine. He lives with his mother who works hard, but doesn’t earn much money. One day during the summer holidays, Sven notices that home appliances no longer work. The power has been cut off because the bill hasn’t been paid. Now he has a problem because he has promised his friends they can watch the World Cup game between the Netherlands and ivory Coast at his house. This was going to be more or less his only treat this summer, there’s no money for a holiday. He tries to explain his problem to his mother, but she has bigger problems on her mind. So he decides to come up with a solution himself.

This atmospheric, short film beautifully demonstrates how the perspectives of children and parents can be miles apart. And how lonely children can feel if they are ashamed of, for instance, poverty – something increasing numbers of children in the Netherlands will have to face.