A Butcher’s Heart

By the entrance to Ter Weele Butcher’s Shop, there are two cute model pigs and a classic advertising chalkboard emblazoned with a laughing hog. Inside, Wessel is learning the tricks of the butcher trade from his patient grandfather, who assumes that his grandson will take over the family business. Wessel isn’t convinced—sure it’s a fine profession, but maybe he’d prefer to work with living animals. Through his talks with friends and the questions he asks his grandfather, we learn that Wessel is bothered by the fact that his classmates disapprove of the butcher profession. At the same time he questions their hypocrisy—do they think meat grows on trees?

While the scenes at the butcher’s focus on the artisanal side of the business, the film also emphasizes the enormous freedom given to teenagers living in the countryside—we watch as Wessel races around on his four-wheeler and breeds rabbits for slaughter with a friend.