Whitey

1980 · Movie · 106 min. · Belgium

Drama Childhood

The second movie version, now in color, of Flemish (heimat-)author Ernest Claes' classical novel, titled after the nickname (Dutch 'the White', referring to a blond male) of the main character. The smart but naughty farmhands son's eternal mischief, pranks and disobedience drive his elders (especially teachers, family and father's grumpy employer, a rich farmer, but also neighbors and even the kind curate whose liturgical server he is) and classmates to despair in a time when a boy's punishment was still inevitable, swift and often severe; thus when his mother catches him skinny dipping she takes all his clothes home, forcing him to a long walk of shame, dreading dad's wrath all the way. This version also stresses the story's social and Flamingant aspects.

Direction Robbe De Hert

Cast Eric Clerckx · Blanka Heirman · Willy Vandermeulen · Paul S'Jongers · Paul-Emile Van Royen · Jos Verbist · Magda De Winter · Luc Philips · Martha Dewachter · Bert Struys