Regret!

David, a high school student, watches his classmate Jochem endure taunts from three bullies. No adult intervenes and the hallways fill with whispers, fear, and a chilling lid on what anyone is willing to do. The moment of cruelty chains the mood of the entire school, making ordinary conversations feel loaded and fragile. Guilt gnaws at David for his own inaction, colouring every interaction with friends, teachers, and family. He questions whether silence itself is a form of complicity, and the longer the harassment lasts, the more the consequences extend beyond the classroom. The film keeps the focus tight on character and choice, using restrained performances to reveal how easily a community can tolerate cruelty when fear holds sway.

Directed by Dave Schram, Regret adapts material from Dutch writers Dick van den Heuvel, Maria Peters and Carry Slee. Released in 2013, the drama pairs intimate character work with a socially aware premise, reflecting on bystander behavior in a school setting. The cast includes Robin Boissevain as David, Stefan Collier as Jochem, Dorus Witte as Vera, Charlotte Bakker as Sanne, and Nils Verkooijen as Justin.

Budget 1.2 million dollars and a box office gross of about 3.995 million dollars show a solid return for a drama of this scale. The film found a modest but engaged audience, particularly in markets where social issue cinema performs well, and its production values lean into a crisp naturalistic aesthetic.

Critics praised the film for its restrained approach to guilt and responsibility, avoiding melodrama while asking tough questions about intervention and peer pressure. The central themes include moral courage, accountability, and the long shadow of silence in a school community. Performances by Boissevain and Witte lend authenticity to the emotional weight, while Schram's direction keeps the focus on small moments that reveal bigger problems.

Not a blockbuster, Regret contributed to discussions about bullying and bystander behavior in Dutch schools. It has been cited in national conversations about responsibility and the ethics of witness in everyday life, and it is often recommended as a starting point for classroom discussions on prevention and intervention.