The Pupil

12-year-old Daan is a talented keeper and dreams of a professional soccer career. His 35-year-old coach Ries supports him in his dream and offers more training sessions. Daan is flattered by the personal attention, but doesn’t realise he is being drawn deeper into a dark world of abuse and manipulation. When the truth threatens to come to light, Daan will also have to muster the courage to acknowledge that he is a victim.

Karin Junger makes fiction films and documentaries (‘Birthplace Unknown’, ‘Ik alleen in de klas’). She based ‘The Pupil’ on true stories of abuse of power in the sports world. The film premiered at the Netherlands Film Festival.