Dichter op de Zeedijk

Television drama based on the novel by Kees van Beijnum, is set on Amsterdam's Zeedijk. Constant, dreamy and 13, grows up with his grandmother because his mother is in a psychiatric institution. Grandma is owner of the café and hotel 'De rode laars' (The Red Boot) and every day she gets a colourful group of drinkers, gamblers, hoodlums and whores in the place. The boy denies harsh reality by lying that his mother lives in Hollywood and fleeing into what he most likes doing: writing poems. Grandma forbids his pastime because she wants to train her grandson to succeed her in the café. The only one who understands Constant is the pimp Siem who is a close friend. When a national poetry competition is held, Siem encourages the boy to take part. Awarded a Golden Calf Direction TV Film in 1999.