How to be young (2021)
Margriet van der Linden sketches the often shocking and moving world of European young people. We live in an era rife with concerns: polarization, political instability and oppression. What do young Turkish women do when they are assaulted, raped or shot? What is the situation with the enormous group of Belarusian students in Lithuania who fled the violence of dictator Lukashenko? What inspires the thousands of Moroccan boys who illegally cross the border with Spain every year and for whom hardly anyone is waiting? And how are the Hungarian youth doing, who have to deal with a leader who is slowly but surely throwing democracy overboard?
Seasons & Episode
Turkey left the Istanbul Convention last year, a treaty to protect women and girls from violence. And it is precisely in Turkey that violence is most common. Margriet meets 23-year-old Ilay, who has been abused by her boss and now wants to file a, according to many, hopeless lawsuit against him. And the shocking story of Mutlu. When she was 19, she took part in Turkey's Got Talent and was shot in the head by a jealous boyfriend.
Following massive demonstrations in neighboring Belarus, the Lithuanian border has been flooded with Belarusian students fleeing Europe's longest-serving dictator Lukashenko. Some of them are severely traumatized, but 19-year-old Sabina works non-stop on the resistance's YouTube channel. In a Lithuanian army base she meets the young Petrus, who volunteered out of fear of the Russians.
Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán is frequently in the news with new measures that restrict freedom and equality. How do young people deal with this? Margriet buys the now banned fairy tale book for children, in which all fairy tales are included. Young teacher Adam struggles with the new history books, in which there is no longer room for the old Middle East. Transgender Erik is no longer allowed to officially register his new gender and remains a woman on paper.
The Spanish city of Ceuta was flooded by thousands of Moroccan boys in May. Climbing over the fence and swimming they entered Spain. What is it like to enter illegality with often unrealistic dreams, looking for a visa? Margriet hangs out with one of them, Oussama. He is determined to go to Barcelona but has no money and no papers. He sleeps in an abandoned car. In Barcelona Margriet meets Husein, also illegally. He does his best to get his residence permit by working a lot and not being noticed.
Of all European young people, the British are the least happy. Parents and schools can request a self-harm kit, a small box with information and tips that should help if a child wants to harm themselves. Margriet talks to Mia, a young ambulance worker in training. She herself was taken away by ambulance a few years ago, completely freaked out. The work helps her fight her own demons. The young student Harrison committed suicide ten months ago because he could no longer handle the pressure. Margriet meets his sister and his best friend.