The story

The short film tells the story of Boy de Kleine Pianist, a slightly autistic son (11 years old) of a poor fruit picker in South Beveland. September 1944. He becomes fascinated and inspired by the bombing of Antwerp and the anti-aircraft guns of the Allies. The start of the Battle of the Scheldt. In the many explosions and explosions in the air (‘Black Puffs’), he discovers and hears a magical melody. Waving his hands, he fantasizes and conducts his piano piece on the dike, while watching the bombs rain. focused. Determined. When he gradually wants to start composing on his piano, he is opposed by his authoritarian and gruff father. He thinks hands are meant for work, not for flapping. His older brother (14 years old) tries to protect him, but can he resist father enough? And will Boy finish his composition in time before the bombing subsides?

How did the idea come about?

Director Raimond van Soest: “In preparation I watched many documentaries. Looking for little stories. At one point I saw a fragment (of 1 min) in which children on a dike looked with admiration at the bombardment and the anti-aircraft guns. “Bomb, Bomb.. Bomb.”

The idea stuck. Sitting outside late one evening and a propeller plane flying high above our yard in the dark with engines roaring, I mimicked the sounds of the explosions. Started drumming himself to the rhythm of bombs. Waved my hands through the air like a conductor and thought that a little boy with an eye for detail and a great imagination, on that dike in question, could hear a melody in it..

An insecure, introverted young autist perhaps. Determined. As a young pianist, he focused on converting this melody into a piece of music and finishing it on time… Before the bombings were over. In the meantime, being declared crazy while fluttering and composing. Enough moral and personal dilemmas. In a difficult, uncertain time. But also a time of hope. And with room for character growth. His difficult relationship with his father plays a major role in this.”

“I waved my hands through the air like a conductor and thought that a little boy with an eye for detail and a great imagination, on that dike in question, could hear a melody in it.”

RAIMOND VAN SOEST, DIRECTOR & SCENARIO WRITER

Knowledge autism

As a (film) teacher and mentor at the ROC Media & Design in Amsterdam, I have a lot to do with Appropriate Education. Recently I had a workshop about forms of autism. In addition, our own son Valentijn (7 years) has been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. With similarities from the autistic spectrum.

It also makes the story I want to tell personal. Documents that I received at the workshop showed the strong (recognizable) sides of autism and I want to refer to this in a positive way. Without naming it specifically and emphasizing the ‘why’ of our main character’s actions. It should feel natural, but mainly show that he is different from others and that he is special.