The Pupil

Twelve-year-old Daan’s passion for football transforms into a nightmare when his trusted coach Ries (45) methodically manipulates him into a web of abuse and secrecy. Inside Daan’s turbulent emotional world, validation and special attention gradually intertwine with shame and secrecy. As Ries’s predatory behaviour escalates, Daan retreats into isolation, trapped between loyalty to his mentor and the crushing weight of his hidden trauma. When the unthinkable truth finally surfaces, Daan must navigate not only his own devastating shame but also face the community’s conflicted response.