Fourteen-year-old Sharonio “Shabu” Abisoina lives in a housing project in the south of Rotterdam. He is a happy-go-lucky, aspiring rapper who, according to himself, is on the brink of stardom. He intends to spend his summer making music and playing video games, but things don’t go to plan when he crashes his grandmother’s car during a joyride. Shabu now has to try to earn enough money to pay for the damage before his grandmother returns from vacation …
Documentary filmmaker Shamira Raphaëla makes the most of her unique protagonist and his larger-than-life personality to create a vibrant story, which often seems to blur the lines of fact and fiction. Shabu, much like its leading man, is charming, funny and touching.
“★ ★ ★ ★ … in the irrepressible Shabu, Shamira Raphaëla’s charming film finds an immensely likable and charismatic subject.”
– Wendy Ide, The Observer UK
“★ ★ ★ ★ … vivid, magical celebration of an irrepressible teen hustler.”
– Ryan Gilbey, The Guardian
