De Jacht op Meral Ö is a Dutch drama film from 2024 about the Dutch childcare benefits scandal, directed by Stijn Bouma in his fiction directorial debut. Bouma previously directed two documentaries about the victims of the scandal, "Alleen tegen de Staat" from 2021 and "Sheila versus de Staat" from 2023. The film premiered on the 2nd of September 2024 in De Balie in Amsterdam. The film also played at the Film by the Sea film festival in Vlissingen.
Premise.
The Turkish-Dutch Meral tries to keep afloat with her two young daughters in Almere when the tax authorities unjustly demand an enormous repayment of €34,000 in child benefits.
Reception.
The film was received mixed-to-positive by Dutch critics. Trouw called it "a compelling drama about the childcare benefits scandal".De Volkskrant gave the film four out of five stars. While Dagblad van het Noorden gave it three stars out of four. Renske Leijten, one of the whistleblowers of the childcare benefits scandal, praised how the film realistically it depicted the scandal.