I Don’t Wanna Dance

Joey and his little brother Ricardo return to live with their mother Daphne, after having spent two years with their aunt. But Daphne has emotional problems, and it soon becomes clear why they were separated in the first place. Brilliantly acted, powerful and poetic coming-of-age drama.

15-year-old Joey has trouble keeping his temper under control. After a street fight, he comes in contact with the Child Protection Board. They suggest he and his little brother might return to live with their mother Daphne again, from whom they had been separated. But what starts out as a joyful experience, soon turns tense. Daphne is a difficult woman, critical, needy and erratic. Still Joey craves her love and recognition. That his deadbeat criminal brother Roy drops in whenever he wants, doesn’t help the situation much.

Joey has trouble keeping it together, but social worker Frouwkje and dancing teacher Julien don’t give up on him. Gripping coming-of-age film, filmed close to the bone. Starring an impressive Yfendo van Praag and with a truly powerhouse performance by Romana Vrede as Daphne.