Kankerlijers

In the children’s oncology ward on the fourth floor of a large hospital, three teenagers seem to be having a great time. Nick, 14, and Iwan, 15, have both lost a leg due to bone cancer, while their friend Olivier, 16, might face amputation next. The fourth member of their group, Pepijn, 15, is so ill and frail that he often remains in his room. Their friendship and strong will to live help them maintain their mental stability. Naturally, their interest in attractive girls leads them to behave like typical teenagers. They joke about their condition, calling each other “sickos.” Although they can’t walk, they perform daring stunts in their wheelchairs and organize joyrides through the hospital corridors. The dynamics of their friendship shift when Gina, 16, arrives. Initially, she isn’t interested in their advances, but she soon realizes that having friends will make her hospital stay much less depressing. “Sickos” is a comedic drama that explores the themes of adolescence and chemotherapy.