Don (Dutch film)

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Don
Directed by	Arend Steenbergen
Produced by	Bert Nijdam
Written by	Arend Steenbergen
Starring	Clemens Levert Caroline de Bruijn Reinout Bussemaker
Music by	Beatkidz Paleis van Boem
Cinematography	Lennert Hillege
Editing by	Jef Hertoghs
Distributed by	A-Film Distribution
Release date(s)	April 27, 2006 July 16 (Giffoni Film Festival) November 22
Running time	90 min.
Country	Netherlands
Language	Dutch
Official website
IMDb profile

Don (also known as Off-Side) is a Dutch 2006 film, directed by Arend Steenbergen.

[edit] Plot

The film is about bullying (with death threats and assaults causing injuries), friendship, and soccer. Don (Clemens Levert), a 12-year old boy, is the main character. Don's best friend at his new school is Milos (Marius Gottlieb). Milos boasts about his big brother who supposedly protects him and is a sportsman. However, this brother is already missing several years after the war in former Yugoslavia, and he is probably dead.

Henri (Samir Veen) is the worst bully.

Don gains respect by being good at football. He organizes a football team. Several former bullies become friends. Don even invites his worst enemy, Henri, to join, because he plays well. On and off Henri is in the team; when he is, he is team leader, when not, Don is. Milos is so afraid of the ball that he seems to be of no use for the team. However, he can run fast, and is assigned the task to stay near one strong opponent, making him ineffective.

Don gets little support from his parents: when he comes home beaten up, he is blamed for fighting. When this happens a second time, they are about to send him to a boarding school in England. However, the whole class except Henri comes, lead by Milos, to the house, and asks the parents to allow Don to stay. After Don says also that he wants to stay, the parents give in.

At the final of the competition they win by unfair tactics such as kicking their opponents.

Henri refuses to shake hands with Don. However, he does one positive thing: he makes good for destroying Milos' football by asking the judge to give them the ball, and, after he gets it, giving it to Milos.