''Keep Off'' ( nl, Afblijven) is a 2006 Dutch children's film, based on the children's novel '' Afblijven'' by Carry Slee. The film, much like the book, explores

drug abuse Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, is the use of a drug in amounts or by methods which are harmful to the individual or others. It is a form of substance-related disorder. Differing definitions of drug abuse are used in public health, ...

by adolescents and the negative effects it has on their lives. The film received a

Golden Film The Golden Film ( nl, Gouden Film) is a film award recognizing domestic box office achievements in the Netherlands. The Golden Film is awarded to films from the Netherlands once they have sold . The award is an initiative by the Netherlands Fil ...

(100,000 visitors).

Plot

Fourteen-year-old Melissa (Sem Veeger) pretends she's taking

ballet Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of ...

lessons, to please her strict father, while she is in fact a hip hop dancer. She is given the opportunity to audition for background dancer in a video clip, but grows uncertain of her abilities. A newly met friend, Jim, gives her

XTC XTC were an English rock band formed in Swindon in 1972. Fronted by songwriters Andy Partridge (guitars, vocals) and Colin Moulding (bass, vocals), the band gained popularity during the rise of punk and new wave in the 1970s, later playing in ...

, which enhances her performance. She is then selected to be in the music video. Her close friends Jordi and Fleur watch as Melissa becomes dependent on both XTC and Jim, who is now her new boyfriend, but can't convince Melissa she is making a wrong turn. At the music video shoot, Melissa fails to perform as well as she did before due to a lack of XTC and leaves the set. She has a fight with Jim and disappears soon after. As Jordi tries to find Melissa, she calls him and states she will be fine and she'll be at her "house" tonight. As the call was cut off, Jordi grows even more concerned and figures out where Melissa will be as he finds a poster announcing a " house party" the same night. Hoping to find Melissa, Jordi attends the house party, only to see Melissa being treated by

paramedics A paramedic is a registered healthcare professional who works autonomously across a range of health and care settings and may specialise in clinical practice, as well as in education, leadership, and research. Not all ambulance personnel are p ...

and taken to the hospital in critical state. Melissa ends up in a coma while Jordi finds out contaminated XTC pills were what caused her to collapse at the house party. After Melissa wakes up from her coma, Jordi convinces himself something needs to be done and enlists the police in order to arrest Melissa's boyfriend Jim. It is revealed Jim distributed the contaminated pills. Jordi then finds it difficult to become romantically involved with Melissa, but ultimately gives in.

Cast

Sem Veeger SEM can refer to: Computing * Search engine marketing, promoting websites by increasing their visibility in search engine results * Security event manager, a security log tool used on data networks Economics and management * Stock Exchange ...

as Melissa *

Matthijs van de Sande Bakhuyzen Matthijs Nicolaas van de Sande Bakhuyzen (born 16 October 1988) is a Dutch movie and television actor and former child actor. Biography Van de Sande Bakhuyzen was born on 16 October 1988 in Amsterdam, the son of movie director Willem van de San ...

as Jordi *

Melody Klaver Melody Zoë Klaver (born 9 September 1990) is a Dutch actress. Early life and education Klaver was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands and grew up in the suburb town Abcoude. She has two older sisters, presenter/actress Kimberley Klaver and dancer ...

as Debby * Jim Bakkum as Toine *

Juliann Ubbergen Juliann is a given name. Notable people with the name include: * Juliann Bluitt Foster (1938–2019), American dentist * Juliann Graham (1915–1935), American church choir singer and actress See also * Julian (given name) * Juliana * Julianne ...

as Kevin *

Tessa Schram Tessa Schram (born 18 October 1988) is a Dutch actress and director. She is the daughter of film producer and director Dave Schram and Maria Peters and the sister of actor Quinten Schram. Filmography Films As director * ''Sammie is Looking'' ( ...

as Fleur *

Tommie Venneker Tommie is a masculine given name of English origin, occasionally a nickname or shortened form of Thomas, and is sometimes used as a feminine form of Thomas. Notable people with the name include: *Tommie Aaron (1939–1984), first baseman and left f ...

as Jim *

Gijs Scholten van Aschat Gijs Scholten van Aschat (born 16 September 1959) is a Dutch actor. He has appeared in more than sixty films since 1980. He is the father of Reinout Scholten van Aschat Reinout Scholten van Aschat (born 9 November 1989) is a Dutch actor. ...

as father of Melissa *

Loes Wouterson Loes may refer to: Places *Loes Hundred, a Suffolk county division *Loes River, a river in East Timor Given name A Dutch feminine given name (pronounced ), a short form of Louise.