Danny's Parade

If you are fourteen years old - and gay - life can be boring. It drives Danny Hoekzema from Bovenkarspel up the wall. Many of his friends are still in the closet and meeting someone in a pub is out of the question. So Danny, who no longer makes his sexual inclination a secret, bends things to his own will. He plans to participate in the annual gay event in Amsterdam, the Canal Parade. For this purpose, he arranges a gay boat for teenagers. But while searching for people who want to sail along, he is approached by journalists. The media tumble over each other in an attempt to interview the young homosexual. Current affairs programmes meanwhile discuss the question of whether an initiative like this is acceptable. "The entire Dutch society jumps on you!" Danny smiles, still somewhat amazed. "It's such a small part of my personality, but people make quite an issue of it." No, Danny lets nobody stand in his way. Although many boys stay home because their parents will not let them go or they are still in the closet, the go-getter keeps calling people. While many camera crews follow Danny, this film acts as a diary of this busy period. Including archive footage and interviews with people involved. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)