ALLEZ HOP! is a fiction short film of around 13 minutes, produced in the Netherlands. Directed by Teddy Cherim, it tells a story intertwined with the world of professional cycling, taking the viewer into the heart of one of the world's most widely followed sporting events: the Tour de France.
The film's central theme revolves around cycling and unfolds along the roads of the famous French race. Through an original, personal perspective, ALLEZ HOP! explores the emotional dynamics of an ordinary woman who, driven by a deep desire to communicate with her ill father, accidentally becomes the protagonist of a media and sporting incident with far-reaching consequences.
The protagonist, Karina (played by Els Dottermans), is a 55-year-old woman who decides to make a dramatic gesture to attract the television cameras during the passing of the cycling race. The scene takes place at a key moment of the Tour, when the riders pass through the crowd. In an attempt to show an encouragement sign to her father, who has dementia, Karina ends up obstructing the cyclists, causing a spectacular crash in the peloton.
The film shows Karina not only as a spectator but also, unintentionally, as a disruptive element in a highly regulated and competitive sporting context. The narrative develops between the chaos of the accident and her improvised escape, culminating in her arrest by the police.
ALLEZ HOP! conveys a profound message about family love, loneliness and the unexpected consequences of our actions, even when driven by good intentions. Its tone is ironic yet touching, raising questions about the relationship between the public and sport, spectacle and private life.
The short film was made with a budget of EUR 65,000 and is a professional, non-student production. Marten van Warmerdam, Marc van Warmerdam, Mireille Lampe and Niels Visser collaborated on the production. It is not the director's first film. Filming took place between Belgium and the Netherlands.
The completion date is 1 April 2024.
Film Information
Title: ALLEZ HOP!
Original title: ALLEZ HOP!
Direction: Teddy Cherim
Production: Marten van Warmerdam, Marc van Warmerdam, Mireille Lampe, Niels Visser
Country: Netherlands
Language: Dutch
Running time: 12 minutes and 57 seconds
Genre: Fiction
Sport featured: Cycling
Main subject(s): Els Dottermans
Completion date: 1 April 2024
Premiere: [Not specified]
Distributor: [Not specified]
Shooting format: HD, 3:2, colour
Director's first film: No
Student project: No