The League Against Swearing

Documentary

2015 “De Bond tegen vloeken” – Documentary, 52 min, Doc.Eye / EO (Dutch national broadcaster). In cooperation with Maurice Trouwborst. Supported by Mediafonds.

The League Against Swearing is a Dutch organization that has existed for nearly a hundred years. Its Protestant founders wanted to warn the Dutch people about the dangers of blasphemy. With funding for the organization on the decrease, the new director and PR-man of the League think up a new strategy to ‘confront The Netherlands with its own language’. To communicate with a bigger audience the organization’s mission is broadened from a focus on blasphemy to respectful language in general. Employees of the organization travel around the country to talk with people about foul language. They visit city centres and schools and are confronted with disinterest and derision. But also new, unexpected allies present themselves. In multi-cultural Holland, the League is enthusiastically welcomed by Islamic schools. In ‘fly-on-the-wall’ scenes the documentary shows an organization that is trying to redefine its existence.

 

BTV-poster

BTV-BordPapegaai

BTV-IslamitischeSchool

Press: NTR Kunststof, Jinek, TrouwLibelleMetroVolkskrantReformatorisch DagbladGroene AmsterdammerRadio 5, NRC