-
DEBORAH (‘BO’) / ELLA-JUNE HENRARD
Deborah (15) lives on Antwerp’s Left Bank, with her brother Junior, mother Chantal and her grandfather. Life is tough in their household and money is scarce. Deborah has a hard time coping with this and would rather spend money on clothes and going out, like her friends do. She has a bad relationship with her mother and blames her for their situation and her hysterical behaviour. She ignores her grandfather, who spends his time watching television yet is very aware of what is happening in the household. Deborah has learned to manage her own affairs. She’s emotionally very intelligent, yet sometimes still naïve and is easily influenced. She evolves from a revolting and questioning teenager to a responsible young woman.
Ella-June Henrard was born in Antwerp and is 16 years old. She studies drama at the Antwerp Art School and was discovered by Hans Herbots in February 2009 when she played a role in one of his student’s short films. ‘Bo’ is Ella-June’s first feature film, and immediately, she plays the leading role.
-
Chantal / INA GEERTS
Deborah’s mom Chantal (34) loves men a lot. Too much,even. Her husband kicked her out and she found herself on the streets with two kids. Her father decided to take them into his house, just for now. Chantal is tired of it all. Her kids think she’s a nag and her father can’t stop bossing her around. She struggles with raising her kids and talks down to them every now and then, especially to Deborah. She just can’t help it. Her reactions are very impulsive and she often regrets her actions. Like the time she reports her daughter to the police ...
Ina Geerts (1965) graduated from the Herman Teirlinck Acting School in 1988. In all the years since, she has played in various theatre and dance performances. With dance company Ultima Vez of Wim Vandekeybus she performed in “Blush”, which toured around the world for three years. In 2005 she played her first leading role on the silver screen in “Een Ander Zijn Geluk” by Fien Troch, and received the award for Best Actress in the Film Festival of Thessaloniki in 2005.
-
JENNIFER / KALINA MALEHOUNOVA
Jennifer (18) grows up in the same neighbourhood as Deborah. Her parents prefer not having her around and are not interested in what she does or doesn’t do. She’s pretty and very charming, and girls look up to her for being sexy, wearing nice clothes and telling people off.. When she’s 17 she meets Vincent, who suggests that she work for him and earn money and protection through his escorting service. Realizing that this could make her a lot of money, Jennifer takes the job. Her parents have no idea and she keeps it all a secret, afraid of losing the money.
Deborah makes her feel good, and she can be herself around her: a girl of 18, but sometimes very playful like a child. However, she does not know that she inflicts on Deborah the same things that she has inflicted on herself. For Jennifer, there is no way back.Kalina Malehounova (1985) (1985) is studying word at the Herman Teirlinck Institute in Antwerp. She played in the popular teen-soap ‘W817’ and starred in the musical ‘West Side Story’ by Frank Van Laecke.
-
VINCENT / THOMAS RYCKEWAERT
Vincent (27) is a very slick guy. He’s quite good looking, sexy and a real charmer. The fact that he has money makes him even more attractive. With his colleague Zahrin he runs an escort service, making profit by ‘renting’ underage girls to customers for a lot of money. He has relationships with most of his girls, controlling them as they fall in love with him. His tactics of talking the girls into feeling guilty makes them work harder and even more. Although he is motivated by pride and revenge, people think he’s smooth and likeable; he’s a good actor.
Thomas Ryckewaert studied acting at Dora van der Groen Acting School and graduated in 2006. He has played in various theatre groups and creates his own plays with his collective Wolff (www.wolffvzw.be). Thomas makes his debut on the silver screen with ‘Bo’, after his roles in television series ‘The Kavijaks’ (Stijn Coninx) and short film ‘Inverse’ (Martijn Maria Smits).
-
YASMIEN / ANEMONE VALCKE
Yasmien (17) has a history of being in open institutions. She’s a tough lady and a leading figure. All the girls in Beernem look up to her and she controls the girls in her living community. Only the attendants of the institution don’t play along with her games, and she ends up in the isolation cell frequently. She’s loud and extraverted.
Anemone Valcke (1990) studies drama at the Conservatorium of Ghent. After various roles in amateur theatre, she made her debut as the oldest daughter of Barbara Sarafian in the praised “Aanrijding in Moscou”.