Toen Ik Klein Was, Was Ik Niet Bang

A Poetic Film on Childhood Dreams and Inequality of Opportunity. In “Toen Ik Klein Was, Was Ik Niet Bang,” poet and theatre maker Gershwin Bonevacia reflects on his childhood in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde. He journeys back to his 10-year-old self, Gush—a dreamy boy who aspires to become an astronaut, yet struggles with the weight of everyday life.

The film is based on Bonevacia’s poetry collection of the same name and his award-winning theatre production “Terug Naar Prinsenplein.” Gush is an imaginative child growing up in a neighborhood where one is forced to grow up quickly. As he plays and dreams, the adult Gershwin watches on—as a neighbor, as a voice from the future. He tries to protect his younger self and grant him the childhood he himself was, in part, denied. Click above to see the trailer. To see the full movie, check out NPO Start.