Hello world, here I am. Brammetje,
My brains never sit still.
And that's why I don't either... I think.
Bram.
Brammetje Baas.
I love inventions.
Inventions are things that are very well conceived.
The best I paste in my "Top 200".
I also collect good words and names.
In another notebook.
Band-Aid isn't a good word.
But a good invention.
Because without Band-Aids everyone would bleed to death.
Band-Aids should certainly go in my notebook.
I put it at number 104.
Scissors are also a very good invention.
Without scissors, we would have to tear everything.
But the fly is much higher in my top 200.
Not invented by man, but by God.
Or nature. I don't know.
The most remarkable part of the fly is his eye.
Which consists of lots of little mini-eyes.
And he who has a thousand eyes can see very much.
Bram.
You be careful with that glass?
Imagine that mom's eye...
No, don't. She sees far too much, already.
While we're on the subject of inventions:
Just arrived for Kim's birthday.
Number one: The trampoline!
Bram!
I have many questions in my head. For example...
Why do you get tears when you're sad?
Why is milk white?
Why are we in this world?
And why do dogs like to sniff each other's butts?
Dad?
- Why... - Eat Bram.
Those kind of things I'm going to learn very well.
In my invention notebook, the toilet is at 85.
And the Gameboy at number 25.
- Bram! - Yes!
Hair-drier at 65.
And automatic toothbrush at 53.
Hey, what was here?
Blinds, which is now...
in my good-words notebook.
But blinds are a good invention!
But a better word.
Put your notebooks away.
Goodnight.
Bram.
Yes?
Are you sad that you're going to first grade?
In first grade, you will learn really real things.
What kind of things?
Everything.
Tomorrow holiday is over.
Then I finally go to first grade.
Mom, can I go to my class?
No, first we go to Kim's.
Hello Kim.
What a lovely dress you're wearing.
Shall I show you your place in the circle?
Are you ready for it, Bram, first grade?
Yes, here it is.
Teacher
P. Fish.
Teacher P. Fish.
That should definitely go in my good words and names notebook.
But teacher V. Piss
THAT is much more special.
Hello teacher Piss.
Well Bram!
You are?
Bram. Brammetje Baas.
Look. See that place there? Go sit over there.
I'm Els Baas-Tenburg. Fish.
I hope that we'll learn Chinese today.
Or Egyptian characters.
Or everything about the past.
In the past people knew nothing.
They thought they could sail off the world.
But then the seas would have to flush off as well.
Were they that stupid, or am I that smart?
Bram?
Put it all in there.
Bram? Look this way Bram.
You have no business behind you. You'll only sit there if you're as sweet
and quiet as
Liselore Luisjes.
That name should definitely go in my names notebook.
Bram! I would like to start if you don't mind.
So sit still.
Sit still?
How can the teacher ask that?
Legs are made to move.
Bram.
Can you stop fidgeting?
No.
Excuse me? What do you mean by no?
I can't help it! My legs want to wiggle.
I want them to stop.
Just tell your legs.
Sometimes, when your legs have to be still for a long time,
they do things
which they shouldn't have done.
Ouch!
Bram!
Teacher Esma was very sweet.
- So. - Yes?
And, we went outside to play,
and all the kids were in line, because you know...
we went, you know my friends
they all went baking cakes.
And me, I was going to pass them along.
Bram!
Eat.
And how was school?
- Fun. - Nice? Good.
I thought I would learn a lot in first grade.
But so far I've learned nothing new.
Two names for my notebook.
That's all.
Teacher Fish.
Liselore Luisjes.
Come here.
Do your best,
don't get distracted,
and listen well.
Yes?
What?
A loose tooth is...
irritating.
Bram.
Come here.
Bring your notebook.
We've been working for ten minutes, now, and you've only made one sum.
How can that be?
My tooth is loose.
I don't think that's a good reason.
Tooth is loose.
Pity.
A pity teacher Fish doesn't understand that some things aren't possible.
Like making sums with a loose tooth.
That's just not possible.
Hello?
Yes!
Here.
The teacher lost you.
You have a loose tooth?
You should very gently turn it, that's what I did. Come here.
Sit down Bram.
Was it hard at school?
Sorry.
Never mind. Never mind.
Better?
Writing with a fountain pen
requires an excellent writing technique.
Teacher Fish means
that it isn't easy at all.
Therefore we first practice with the pencil.
Later you'll all get a fountain pen.
Bram.
Bram?
He is constantly busy with other things, I...
I can't say it differently.
I understand that it is very difficult, but eh
I don't understand either because he is really a very inquisitive boy.
He knows a lot about the world,
about inventions, difficult words,
about history. He likes to watch documentaries about nature.
Interesting.
When he was three, he already knew all the traffic signs by heart.
That sure is smart. But in my class Bram just needs to learn.
Of course.
Do sums,
write neatly, but I...
yet, he is constantly doing other things.
To me the task is to get
and keep him on track.
Instill a little discipline.
Finish his work,
it's important for later to learn those things.
That's for later, right?
Bram. Bram!
I think learning is actually quite easy.
You only have to carefully watch the things around you.
Then you'll see how beautiful everything is made.
This is the "OE".
The "o" and "e "
Sound together as "oe".
As shown in the word
"poes". (*cat)
Who knows another word with an "oe"?
Come on guys, a word with an "oe"
- Teun? - Poep. (*Shit)
- Very nice Teun. - Zoem zoem zoem. (buzzing sound)
In zoem is also a "oe".
Zoem of a fly. (the buzzing of a fly)
Did you raise your finger Bram?
Nooooooooooooo...
- Ouch. - Go back to your seat!
- Later, teacher. - No, not later. Now, Bram.
Just fly, fly.
A fly is invented too well to kill.
What do you think would happen if everyone...
just walked out of the classroom?
Not just, I...
But, but, but I'm quite tired of your cheeky mouth.
You do your work out here in the hallway.
- Why are you in the hallway? - Because.
Maybe that's why I'm in the world.
To rescue flies.
Well done.
What have you done?
So, you've done nothing at all!
We are at school Bram. At school, we work.
Yes teacher, but...
But but. You always with "but". No "but" anymore.
I wish you listened better. Here, these flaps are there for a reason.
- So, how was school today? - Fine.
Yes? And you? Bram?
Bram was in the hallway.
In the hallway? Why were you in the hallway?
Bram?
Bram! Why did you have to go in the hallway?
Because I had rescued a fly.
Teacher Fish doesn't want to hear "but" anymore.
I find that odd. Because often something is like it is,
but sometimes not.
Therefore, "but" is an important word.
Teacher Fish thinks I'm stupid.
But I'm thinking very much.
There are so many things you can think about.
For example, what can you do with the leaves in our garden?
How many ways can you actually read aloud?
And what would it be like if you had no hands?
People without hands...
never need to dry off.
Nor brush their teeth.
Therefore, people without hands,
often become people without teeth.
Look and throw.
Very good, Kiki.
Right.
Very well, Daniel.
- That goes well. - Look at my breasts.
Bram, are you done?
We are pulled apart.
Look at my bosom.
I'm getting so...
Very nice.
Alright, Teun.
Come on, yeah come on.
And roll, you'll see.
You just need the courage to jump. That board is there for a reason.
I'm getting so tired of you.
Get out. I don't want to see you for now.
You wait until I'm done.
Teacher thinks everything I do, I do it on purpose.
He says he is tired of me.
Well, I get tired of myself, sometimes.
Hey!
Teacher Fish and I think differently about a lot of things.
I find first grade very disappointing.
Good morning with no worry.
Bram! Wake up. Come on.
What is it?
Are you sick?
Well, then maybe you should stay home today.
So. Well try to eat something, Bram.
- Sorry. - Doesn't matter.
It still doesn't work.
Is he really too sick for school?
- Until tonight. - Bye baby, till tonight.
If you are sick of school,
you are school...sick.
Then you better stay at home.
Well, you're all sweaty.
Just try to close your eyes.
Styrofoam, consists of tiny - tiny balls.
If you rub them against each other, you hear a beeping sound.
That's why it's called beeping foam (in Dutch).
Are you better?
Were you really sick this morning?
I don't like that Bram, pretending you're sick.
Did something happen at school?
There's always something happening.
All day long.
And all night.
- Hello. - Good evening, Fish.
- Thank you for coming. - Of course, your concern is my concern.
Go on in.
Let me start by saying that I think Bram is a special child. Smart.
Energetic. Yes.
- But little to nothing comes out of his hands.
You mean?
Well, I mean, he doesn't do a thing.
While the other children in the class do 20 sums, he barely finishes one.
But...
He always wins at chess.
It seems therefore reasonable that Bram should take his work home.
What he can't finish at school he can do at home.
- Homework in first grade? - But when it's necessary Els.
- Bram. - No!
Bram!
- I'm about to start! - Bram.
- You haven't done anything yet! - Tomorrow.
Your turn.
- It is quite a lot. - Yes.
Just don't discourage him.
Listen. Bram, if you don't work at school, then you have to do it at home.
And you don't leave the table until it's finished.
Ho ho, stay put! It's not done yet.
- So what? - You have to finish it.
- Why? - Because some things you just have to do.
You stay right where you are!
There you go.
Just come outside.
That's great, Bram.
Okay. Then you don't go to the forest.
Kim come!
I'm not going to do them for you, you should do it yourself.
What did you want to be when you grow up?
An Inventor.
- Yes, and what will you create? - A rocket bus.
And you can come along too. And dad as well.
Then you'll have to know arithmetic, otherwise we'll crash.
- We won't! - We will!
And then I don't dare to come.
You have to know the weight of such a rocket. And how much fuel you need.
13 - 11 = 2.
19.
10 - 3.
Is seven, six
Good?
Good.
Well, all right.
You see, you can do it.
Now you're as far along as the others.
Let me take a look.
Therefore...
- What do we say? - Yes!
The fountain pen is a good invention.
But so is your body. Your body can make water.
The question is:
Do hands only sweat on a table,
or also on a notebook?
What are we doing here?
- Nothing, teacher. - Yes, I can see that!
We're doing writing exercises! Why aren't you writing?
Now take your hands away.
Oh Bram. Bram! Oh no!
Bram, you're going to redo this mess
with the preschoolers. Toddler!
Bye, toddler.
Hey, keep on working. It's not a puppet show.
What happened?
(Bram is crying)
You wait here one minute.
I still feel that you...
- don't really understand Brammetje. - I understand Brammetje very well.
Believe me.
I've been in the trade for 30 years, I've had other boys just like him.
Very intelligent, but very maladjusted.
We are at school to learn. And if we don't do our work, then we have a problem.
It's my job, it's my duty, I have to handle this as a teacher.
Or do we want Brammetje to be held back? Do you want that?
No! Of course we don't want that.
I get all my students through first grade, Bram as well.
But then it's essential that the home front supports me, the teacher.
You mean?
That our noses get up the same way.
Well...
Come on. Let's go.
- Maybe you should try doing better, Bram. - Yes, but I do!
Yes, of course you do, but teacher thinks you're not doing enough in class.
- He thinks you don't want to work. - Teacher Fish is always angry.
Without any reason. That's not normal!
Bram!
- Bram! - Aahhh.
Just do what teacher Fish asks you. Okay?
Where did you leave your notebook?
Bram!
Bram come, we're going.
Bram, are you coming?
Bram! Bram, hurry up!
BRAM!
Teacher Fish understands many difficult things.
But super easy things he doesn't get at all.
He doesn't understand... that legs want to move.
How important it is for you to say nice things.
Get your feet off the bench, rotten boy.
But more people don't understand that.
Bram!
That teacher Fish doesn't understand me, I can understand.
But that mom doesn't understand me...
now that is bad.
Bram!
Is it really that bad?
I don't want to say that Mr. Fish is a bad teacher.
But umm...
Yes, I think there...
Well, we just think there is a wrong interaction between teacher Fish and Bram.
- Wrong chemistry. - A boy of seven, who...
is sick of school, who..
runs away from school.
Do you find that normal? Well...
Well, I just don't feel teacher Fish is trying to understand Brammetje.
I understand that he's very active. But he's not a troublemaker.
He really is a very special and headstrong little boy.
If I had a dollar for every parent who thinks that of his child.
Well, then I wouldn't have to work any more.
Yes dear. No, later.
Okay? Right.
Teacher Fish has 28 children in his class.
And if they were all like Bram.
You know what? I'll talk with teacher Fish.
If you talk with Bram.
- Okay, thank you very much. - Good.
If a man was a car, he would have to run very fast.
Bram.
Can you hear me Bram?
What?
You should just try to do what teacher Fish says.
- Yes, but I do! - I understand that it's really hard.
You just have to adjust a bit. You're not a toddler anymore.
You're in first grade.
Do you get it Bram? There is only one first grade.
first grade of teacher Fish.
Yes, you'll have to get along with each other.
- No, I'm never going back to teacher Fish. Never again.
There is no other option.
- There is! - Well, what is?
Then to preschool, or whatever.
I hate you.
Hey.
My boy.
Being zappy isn't really bad, huh?
But you have to learn to listen.
- But he does listen, he just said so. - Stay here.
He just needs to learn that he isn't the one in charge.
- He knows that he isn't in charge. - He doesn't know. - Yes, he knows.
- No, you often forget that he isn't the boss here.
Jack, you're so bad!
So I am bad. Or maybe you are.
Where does that get the child?
Tell him all day what he does wrong, that's great for his self-confidence.
But that's not the point.
That's exactly the point. Can't you see it's all going wrong?
- You're not helping him! - But he runs away from school.
Yes, and he shouldn't.
I do everything wrong.
Later mom and dad may get a divorce. That's because of me.
I'm not an inventor. I can't make things.
Only destroy.
I'm getting so tired from my head.
I can't turn off my head, you know?
Do you know where my keys are?
- No. - Excuse me.
I would be really happy if you took them to school one time.
Gotcha. Yes I will.
See? I break everything.
- Until this afternoon, huh! - Dad?
Are you going to get a divorce?
No. Just do your best, then there won't be anything to worry about.
When you think of tigers, you think of the stripes of the tigers.
- The paw print... the stripes are like our feet...
Bram,
And hand prints.
In mating season they really mate with each other.
- The female rolls over... - What is mating?
What's mating, Teun?
Well then they get married and have children.
I have seen on television when a tiger and a lion uh... go together
That their baby is called a Liger.
But why not call it a Tion?
All right, it's almost break time. You may now quietly go outside.
If lions can get married, they surely can get divorced.
But you stay in, Bram. I asked you three times to pay attention. 3 times!
If you can't, then you can use the break time to learn a bit more about the tigers.
But I already know everything about tigers.
A tiger is a carnivore. He has large molars: flesh teeth.
No comment. No but.
Come on.
Very good. And now we go to the next door.
The tiger isn't a vegetarian.
Therefore, he has very large molars. Flesh teeth.
With those teeth, the tiger can pull the meat from the prey.
So...
Now this is too much.
My tiger book.
Have you gone mad! Get down off that bookcase at once.
- Get down off that bookcase! - Yes, but...
Off that bookcase!
Get off that bookcase.
Our bodies can do a lot. But what teacher Fish did, no one can.
Not even a contortionist.
Teacher, are you alright?
I don't know the exact circumstances, but it's...
clear that I can't tolerate this behavior.
I don't want to run ahead, but...
Even I could see that teacher Fish's leg didn't look good.
Not good at all.
I'm afraid this is going to be a long-term issue.
For today, I think it best if you take Brammetje home.
Thank you.
Teacher Fish thinks that I'm to blame for the accident.
The director thinks so, too. And even mom thinks so.
But is it my fault?
I wish I could jump so high that I was no longer on this world.
No. No no, he says he didn't do anything.
No. I don't know anymore, Jaap.
"I love bacon" Tarzan cried, excitedly.
Let's take a side of bacon. The big one, there. And carrot mush.
Said the smallest of the three little kittens.
We need to bring some carrots.
He's not a bad boy?
I know that we never ate so many things.
It isn't for us but for the rabbits.
They eat only vegetables.
I'm glad you could both come in, after that terrible incident yesterday.
- So how is teacher Fish? - Well, not very good.
Teacher Fish was operated on yesterday for a compound fracture.
A complicated fracture.
That will surely hurt a lot.
But it is a nice word.
- He'll be out of circulation for the next 6 weeks.
Sheesh.
But for today, the children are split up. Bram is with teacher Esma.
Yes, it's awful for teacher Fish.
But it's no fun for Bram, either.
What do you think?
Would you like it better at another school?
No school seems fine to me, but I don't think that's possible.
Maybe it's not such a bad idea
to think about a different type of school, with smaller classes.
I really have to hurry up. If my rocket-bus was finished, I would fly off.
Very far away from here. Then I'd never have to go to school.
Okay Bram, something really has to change.
Look, here are the things we have to do.
Eat Properly, Listen, Be Quiet, Go to
Sleep on Time, Hurry Up, Do Your Homework.
Yes, and this is for all the Weird Things that you do.
And if for example you go to sleep on time, then you get a green dot.
Yes, but if for example you don't do your homework, you'll get a red dot.
You get it?
Here you go.
Be Quiet
Doing Weird Things
Making a Mess
Bram! Bram! Come on!
Hurry Up
Go to Sleep on Time
Do Homework
Littering
Making a Mess
Go to Sleep
Brush Teeth, Help, Tie Shoelaces
Yeah, I don't know.
But it's going well!
It doesn't feel good.
I get another penalty again?
Well, I'll leave you now with your new teacher for the next few weeks.
Teacher Mark.
- Okay? - Okay.
- Have fun. - Yes.
- Yes? - When will our own teacher get back?
Well, teacher Fish, he is in plaster up to here,
so it will definitely take a while. I think at least 6 more weeks.
And I went to visit him. To hear everything about you all.
For example, who's peeking, and...
Who can write very neatly. And who suffers from wobbly legs,
I know almost everything about you. But he's still in pain, your teacher.
Hey, I really want to know much more about you.
So let's sit in a circle. Move the tables and chairs to the side. Yes?
- Okay, who has a question? Isabella. - What is your favorite food?
I think Italian food. Pasta or lasagna, which I find very tasty.
- What do you want to ask, Sabien? - Are you married?
No, I'm not married yet, but um...
you never know. Maybe there's a nice teacher at this school.
- Everything under control? - Yeah.
Okay okay.
Does anyone else have a question?
- Bren. - Do you have a dog?
Bram?
Brammetje!
- Why are you here? - I better go to another school.
Why? Would you be able to sit still there?
Because of me, the teacher has a complicated fracture.
It's his own fault. He knew what he was doing, you didn't.
You are who you are.
And I find that so funny.
Oooohhhhhhhhhhh.
Sit down quickly.
We are doing math. Worksheet 18, sums 10 to 20.
Okay guys. Put down your pens.
Bram.
Okay, get off your seats, we're going to run, jump and run around. Go ahead.
Come on! You're children, not pensioners. Let go, go ahead.
And add a little sound, bbbrrrr.
Now we mix up, but don't bump into each other.
Now from the hips like this.
Then I say Cowabunga!
And now we're Indians.
Now we're cowboys.
Three. You sit down at one. Two.
Aaanndddd...
One!
Teun. Sit down.
So. Well, I just needed that.
It must be pretty right?
And sweet.
Nice.
Because of course we want to teacher Fish to get better as quickly as possible.
Here he comes. That's beautiful.
I need to talk with Bram for a minute.
Bram.
Is it true that you didn't make a card for teacher Fish?
What a pity.
Actually, I think you have to apologize.
Say you're sorry.
- I haven't done anything bad. - No, I know,
but... don't you think it's awful?
Listen to what poor teacher Fish has written.
"Thanks for all the beautiful cards. I was very happy with them.
Work hard, guys. Before you know it, I'll be back.
See you soon. Teacher Fish."
Well, so much for the post. Put all your food and drinks to the side.
Because we are going to use our brains. Everyone get his math book.
Why can't you say sorry?
I won't say sorry if I haven't done anything.
Sometimes you do something not on purpose, but still you hurt the other.
You know, you can change. At first I thought you were just a weird boy.
- And now? - I still do.
Well, so this is the kitchen, this is the kitchen...
sink, this is the cooker and this is the refrigerator
I know, I know.
Mom, are you going to bake something?
- Something? - A cake.
No, no cake.
An apple pie. Teacher Fish loves apple pie.
- A pie for the teacher? - To make up.
That's a good idea. How very sweet.
- Two eggs. - In the fridge.
Maybe raisins would be tasty.
I like to put in tasty nuts.
- That is nice. But I don't think I have any. - Almonds?
Liselore look. Liselore came to visit me.
So she should talk with me. And not with mom.
Look Liselore. Look, I can do a trick with an egg. Liselore look!
Over there. That's the house. Come on.
I would do e7. Oh, but.
- Mother. - Yeah, I'm coming.
- Here, there. - Look, here it is, your pawn.
Hello.
Hello. Are you here already? How fast!
- Did you find it easily? - Yes, I've been here before.
- Hello, I'm Mark. - Marja Fish.
Pear. The teacher is called Pear Fish.
Pear Fish. That's a good name.
- And you? - Liselore.
Bram!
So you are Bram.
- We made a pie for you. - Oh, apple pie!
That's a pity darling. You don't like it that much?
Sorry.
So. And now I would like a piece of that delicious apple pie.
So would I. Get that apple pie over here.
By golly, you've made this for teacher?
And finally: Indian.
Hey Bram. Come here.
Sorry.
No trespassing. People thiinking. (7-year-old spelling error)
Hey Bram. Are you going outside for a walk?
So.
Teacher Fish, We are all very glad that you're back.
Therefore Brammetje wants to say something.
Dear teacher Fish. I'm sorry about your leg. I'm not mean.
I think a lot in my head. I hope you believe me.
I am the way I am, sometimes that isn't so nice.
But very often it is. And I can't be someone else.
Sorry, I'm really sorry, Bram.
- But... - No "but".
I really mean it.
I think it's really beautiful.
I always thought when I'm in first grade, I'm going to learn a lot.
And that's what I did.
It wasn't everything I had hoped for.
No Chinese, no Egyptian characters. Nor how to build a rocket.
But I did learn other things.
I learned that I am who I am.
Sometimes very zappy.
But not stupid. And certainly not boring.
And that everyone is different. That's what's fun.
Why would the animal be wild?
Well, I still don't know.
I may find out. Maybe.
Monday-Tuesday: teacher Fish Wednesday-Thursday-Friday: teacher Mark.
I only know I'm very happy that I exist.
I'm Brammetje. Brammetje Baas.
- Director - Anna van der Heide
- Script - Tamara Bos
English Subtitle Translation by Subransu & Zaphod