''Hush Hush Baby'' is a 2004

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

, written and directed by Albert ter Heerdt.

Plot

Hush, Hush Baby is about a Moroccan family that tries to find their way in Dutch society. Abdullah 'Ap' Bentarek is a young Moroccan man, about 20 years old. He is happy that, unlike his Uncle Yusuf who stayed in the ancestral Moroccan mountain village, his own father, Ali, moved to the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

. His mother knows only one sentence in Dutch, which she utters every time, and in a strong Moroccan accent: "Is goed" ("It's OK"). His father doesn't speak or understand Dutch at all. He has, however, a tough choice to make. Either he can choose a modern

lifestyle, playing some pool with his lousy friends and lead a life like his sister Leila does--Leila refuses to be married off and takes off her

hijab In modern usage, hijab ( ar, حجاب, translit=ḥijāb, ) generally refers to headcoverings worn by Muslim women. Many Muslims believe it is obligatory for every female Muslim who has reached the age of puberty to wear a head covering. While ...

often when attending school--or he can do what his father wants him to do: 'become serious', find a job and choose a bride in Morocco. His older brother Sam is a policeman and is very well integrated in Dutch society. He gets Ap an officejob, at a bank he and his friends have dreamt of robbing, but Ap lasts only a day there. He then chooses to join his friends in the attempt to break into the bank. The attempt, however, fails miserably. Meanwhile, his little brother Driss blackmails their sister Leila and other

Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...

girls at his school, by taking pictures of them when they have taken off their hijab in school. His grades are low, but his parents don't know of that. When his father has to come over to discuss his grades, Driss accompanies him as his interpreter. Everything the teacher tells about his grades and his behaviour is not translated by him: instead, he tells his father his teacher thinks he is a brilliant student. The scheme fails when the conversation is overheard by a Moroccan cleaner who intervenes. When Ap is heading for trouble, he decides to follow his fathers' advice and become 'serious'. He sets off for Morocco to find a bride, but if that is the right choice for him is uncertain.

Reception

The movie became one of the most successful Dutch comedy productions ever. Reactions from the Moroccan community were mixed: on one side, Moroccan youths claimed the movie, comparing themselves to the main characters; on the other side, the movie was criticised for being stereotypical and giving an overall negative impression of Moroccan immigrant families.

Cast

Mimoun Oaïssa Mimoun Oaïssa (born 11 March 1975) is a Moroccan-Dutch actor and screenwriter. Education and career He was born in Beni Said, Nador Province, Morocco and graduated from Amsterdam Theatre School in 1999 and followed acting lessons abroad. He ...

as Ap * Salah Eddine Benmoussa as Ali * Zohra 'Flifla' Slimani as Khadija *

Najib Amhali Najib Amhali ( Riffian-Berber: ⵏⴰⵊⵉⴱ ⴰⵎⵀⴰⵍⵉ; born April 4, 1971) is a Moroccan-born Dutch stand-up comedian and actor. Life Najib Amhali (born Najim Amhali) was born in Nador Nador ( Riffian-Berber: ⵏⴰⴷⵓⵔ) i ...

as Sam * Iliass Ojja as Driss * Tanja Jess as Maja *

Frank Lammers Frank Lammers (born 10 April 1972) is a Dutch television and film actor. In 2006, he won a "Best Actor" Golden Calf for his work in ''Nachtrit ''Nachtrit'' (English ''Night Run'' or ''Night Ride'') is a 2006 Netherlands thriller film about t ...

as Chris * Touriya Haoud as Leila * Mimoun Ouled Radi as Rachid *

Mohammed Chaara Mohammed Chaara (born 16 August 1980 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands) is a Moroccan-Dutch television and film actor. Chaara started his career in soap opera Goudkust as "Samir" and is best known for his appearances in films ''Hush Hush Baby'' and '' ...

as Mussi * Leo Alkemade as Robbie *

Winston Gerschtanowitz Winston Ronald Gerschtanowitz (born 2 October 1976, in Amsterdam, Netherlands) is a Dutch presenter and actor. Education Gerschtanowitz completed a HAVO education at the Keizer Karel College in Amstelveen. Career Gerschtanowitz' first beca ...

as Daan *

Tara Elders Tara Johanna Elders (; born 17 January 1980) is a Dutch actress. She has been in Dutch films and TV series. She also was in the American film ''Interview'' (2007). Early life and education Tara Johanna Elders was born on 17 January 1980 in Am ...

as Britt *

Bridget Maasland Bridget Maasland (born 9 November 1974) is a Dutch VJ, television presenter and producer. Career She worked as a model and appeared on the catwalk in fashionshows for children. Her debut on television was a commercial for fruit as a healthy al ...

as Carlie

Production

Since January 2006, Dutch broadcasting organisation VARA broadcasts ''Shouf Shouf! de serie''. In this series, most of the main cast is the same as in the film. The series is directed by Tim Oliehoek.

References

* * * {{cite web , url= https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/hush-hush-baby-20051101-gdmc6w.html , title= Hush, Hush, Baby , last= Kalina , first= Paul , date= 2005 , website= The Sydney Morning Herald 2004 films 2000s Dutch-language films Films set in the Netherlands 2004 comedy films Dutch comedy films