Kiddo

Lying on the bunk bed in the children’s home, eleven-year-old Lu talks dreamy-eyed about her mother. Karina, she says, is a famous Hollywood actor who smells of oranges, talks to the stars and does her own stunts. One more sleep, then she finally comes to visit. But instead of an orderly meeting in the Dutch hometown, Lu unexpectedly finds herself in a rusty old Chevrolet – with cowboy boots and wigs in tow. The destination: Poland, where Lu’s grandmother is said to have hidden a lot of money. With this, mother and daughter aka Bonnie and Clyde plan on finally staying together forever. On their Hollywood-like road trip towards the east, always a car length ahead of reality, they attempt to get closer to their dream.

Why we like it: Sometimes, a child must take their parent’s by the hand and emerge stronger from this role reversal. The film understands this without passing judgment. Through Lou’s eyes, the challenges of coexisting with an eccentric parent transform into a journey of empathy and mutual understanding.