No pun intended - this feels like a documentary. The way it is shot (handheld and in your face), the story itself ... which is based on real stories ... I assume they took a few of those and made one character out of them. So maybe this didn't all happen to one individual ... but to a few ... that said, I can see how stuff like this happened ... and may still happen.

The young actor (both but the teenage version is or has more screen time) is really amazing in his role ... as is the whole cast. So many things happen - a lot of foreboding and foreshadowing happens too. And yet the movie is able to always kick and punch you out of the blue ... no pun intended with this either.

Not an easy movie at all ... quite the opposite ... violent in many senses and to many senses too. Watch at your own peril.

Saw the preview on Sunday afternoon during Youth Care Day in the Grote Post, as part of the Ostend Film Festival.

Afterwards there was the opportunity to attend a panel discussion about the problems in the sector with, among others, director Koen Mortier and Geert Taghon, author of the book.

In the evening there was an acoustic concert by the Belgian metal band Amenra, which provided the soundtrack for the film.

Frontman Colin Van Eeckhout also plays Liam's father in Skunk.

Mortier previously convinced with the wonderful Ex-Drummer and the equally great 22 Mei.

He goes all out again with Skunk. And how.

The film is harsh, raw and offers little to no room for hope.

The gloomy, melancholic atmosphere contributes to the controversial theme.

Supported by smaller and larger roles, Thibaud Dooms carries the film as a tormented soul (that hopeless look!). Very impressive performance for a first major role.

Amenra's largely instrumental ambient music was carefully chosen.

Although the audiovisual highlight of the film only comes at the very end when Song to the Siren, a cover of This Mortal Coil's version (original song by Tim Buckley) is introduced.

For the second day in a row, Mortier, cast and crew received a more than deserved standing ovation from the audience during the closing credits.

An extra half point, partly thanks to the fantastic and correct ending.