Nelson the Piglet

Nelson is a miniature pig—at least, that’s what the Verbeek family were told when they bought him as a cute little piglet. But seven years and 500 kilos later, Nelson has become a big problem. The neighbors and the housing association think it’s unacceptable to have such a large and smelly animal in a residential neighborhood. Son Brandon is being bullied at school because of his pet.

But everything changes when the media get wind of Nelson: the family becomes an internet sensation, and is famous all over the Netherlands. Filmmaker Anneke de Lind van Wijngaarden (How Nikita Got Herself a Horse) follows the family through all their ups and downs, with affectionate close-ups of Nelson, who is befuddled at all the commotion he is causing.

At times this upbeat documentary is more like a short feature film, because of the way it builds tension and introduces the various characters—including the police officer who comes to check on whether the neighbors’ complaints about offensive smells are justified.