Clenched Fists

Lucien lives with his mother and older brother in Belgium. At his grandmotherʼs funeral, the withdrawn eleven-year-old boy unexpectedly meets Alain. This is a traumatic experience for the boy, as his own father appears in handcuffs and is guarded by the police. It is obvious that Alain is on prison leave and needs to be shielded from angry people. Lucien then vehemently demands to know the reasons behind this procedure. What guilt has his father incurred, what is he allowed to know as a son, how can he talk to his father?
Against his motherʼs wishes, the eleven-year-old manages to visit his father, prisoner Alain Vandernoot, in the detention centre and to talk to him. At the same time, Lucien and his family are subject to harassment and bullying by pupils and neighbours at school and in their neighbourhood – hatred and disgust towards a convicted criminal are too deep-seated. Without finally discovering his fatherʼs real offence and guilt, Lucien soon feels and realises that Alain is shamelessly exploiting his sonʼs trust and love.