Ciske de Rat (1955)

Ciske de rat is a 1955 Dutch drama film directed by Wolfgang Staudte, based on the Ciske trilogy by Piet Bakker. The film was remade in 1984 and turned into a popular musical in 2007.

With 2,433,000 viewers it is the third best visited movie of the Dutch cinema. The film was also shown at the Venetian Movie Festival, where it won a Silver Lion of San Marco.

A German version has been made with other actors, titled 'Ciske: Ein Kind Braucht Liebe' (Ciske: A Child Needs Love).

Synopsis

The story is set in the Amsterdam of the thirties, and told from the perspective of a teacher named Bruis. The narrative is centered around Cis Vrijmoeth, an oaf who never sees his father, because he is a sailor, and who is neglected by his mother. Time after time he is expelled from school. Only teacher Bruis can really handle and restrain the boy. In an fit of rage and fear, Ciske kills his mother with a knife and he is sent to a youth detention center. In the end, his father returns from the sea and decides to take care of him, together with his wife Aunt Jans.

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