Netherlands 2021, 75 min, Dutch, Hebrew & English subtitles
Shabu dreams of becoming a superstar. Music gets his heart, mind, and body going, and so Shabu drums and sings and dances wherever he goes: out on the street, in public parks, and in the hallways of the rough public housing complex in Rotterdam, where he lives. Shabu is 14, and his family expects him to grow up: stop goofing around, take responsibility, stop daydreaming and start being more practical. Shabu also needs to earn money to pay back his grandmother for wrecking her car in circumstances he would rather forget. This gentle and intimate coming-of-age film follows the smiling, curious, adventurous, and creative boy as he copes with love and heartbreak, gets to know the traditions his family brought from the Caribbean, and finds inner strength he never knew he had.
Previous Festivals: IDFA, Rotterdam, Berlinale
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