Plank

Nassim loves the freedom of skateboarding: “There are no rules in skateboarding. No matter what you do, it’s always cool.” He hopes one day to make a living from it, so he gives everything he’s got to become the best. In his hometown of Spijkenisse, just south of Rotterdam, not everyone understands. His Moroccan father thinks he’d be better off focusing on school so he can get a good job. To his football-playing friends, skating isn’t cool—they think it’s just for goths dressed in black.

Director Billy Pols meets his protagonist at a crossroads in life: will Nassim follow his father’s wishes or take the leap toward his potential future as a professional skateboarder? And in the meantime, the director does his best to keep up as he films the undeniably gifted athlete.

This award-winning film shows how much courage, determination, and self-confidence it takes to follow your own path—especially when there’s no guarantee of success.