Spel

Synopsis

Spel is a character-driven drama about Mélie, a 34-year-old primary school teacher in Amsterdam who maintains control and composure in the classroom, but lives a disconnected, adolescent-like existence outside of it. When a personal setback unsettles her carefully managed world, Mélie spirals into overanalysis and self-protective storytelling. At school, she begins tutoring a withdrawn student whose messy handwriting and daydreaming initially appear as problems—until she realizes his imagination is a vital form of agency in an unpredictable world. Through unexpected encounters—a pigeon racing club, a spontaneous classroom game, and revisiting her childhood writing—Mélie reconnects with play, creativity, and a deeper sense of self. Spel explores the various ways we seek for connection. How sometimes, the best way to reach someone isn’t through analysis or confrontation, but through the sharing of play and imagination.