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.
Length 106 minutes
Clerckx Eric | Willy Vandermeulen | Blanka Heirman | Paul S'Jongers | Jos Verbist | Magda De Winter | Paul-Emile Van Royen | Martha Dewachter | Jaak Van Assche | Chris Lomme | Gaston Berghmans | Michael Pas | Linda Schagen Van Leeuwen | Brigitte Bertrand | Bora De Winter | Leo Martin | Raymond van het Groenewoud | Anton Cogen | Luk De Konink | Fred Van Kuyk | Marleen Merckx | Mieke Verheyden