De Bal (1999): reparto, argumento y streaming

Released in 1999, De Bal is a familia film directed by Danny Deprez, running about 90 minutes. “Magic still exists ...” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Besides the stray dog Mingus, 11 year old Sophia has no real friends. She is pushed around by the "Beastie boys", a gang of street kids who have built an entire camp in the trees of a junk yard. One day Sophia hears that the yard is ordered to be cut down by Carlow, the mayor. Mingus, who lives in the yard, will be taken away and put to sleep. Sophia is shocked but just then she meets a gypsy, who lends her an old leather ball. For five days only. The ball is alive and may just be able to help her saving the yard. And indeed the ball proves being an amazing character. It makes objects fly and communicates with Sophia through whistling, and successfully attacks Carlow's bodyguard "Sweetlove". Sophia is accepted in the gang. She realises that the ball might chase the mayor's men off the yard. Yet, Sophia discovers that even great magic sometimes has dark sides: when Sophia's new friend Romeo tries to kiss her, the ball grows jealous and turns vicious...

Who’s in it. De Bal stars Martje Ceulemans as Sophia, Ernst Löw as Sweetlove, Jonas De Ro as Romeo and Michaël Pas as Vermeer.

How it landed. With an audience score of 4.0/10, De Bal has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch De Bal page.

If you liked it. Fans of De Bal tend to enjoy El viaje de Chihiro, Regreso al futuro, El rey león and Coco.