The title Whitey refers to the nickname of the main character: Louis Verheyden, a naughty blond boy of eleven years old.

Corporal punishment was not yet forbidden in those days and the children are cuffed on the ears or put into the coal chamber by the teachers.

He gives others incorrect directions, tries to haggle of money from his brothers, ties people to their chairs during church service, steals smoking materials from Coene, gives his family members instructions to put salt onto the potatoes (resulting they are salted three times), chases off the Coene's horses, ... Louis is almost caught every time which results in another punishment.

There he is impressed by the beautiful interior, the Gregorian singing, the garden full of flowers and the printing establishment.

His attention goes to the book De Leeuw van Vlaanderen (translated as 'The Lion of Flanders') and is fascinated by the Battle of the Golden Spurs.

Louis, wholly engrossed in his role as warrior Jan Breydel, is not at all aware that he has just started a "sword fight" with the priest.

It's the annual fair and Louis deceives his brother by telling him his mother has promised to give 15 Belgian Cents.

Meanwhile, two incidents happen: Louis tries to commit suicide in the river Demer whilst Liza ends her relationship with Heinke.

The film is then set to 1980 where a blond student, resembling Louis (it is actually actor Eric Clerckx with another haircut), is working in the printing establishment of Averbode Abbay.

Nominated at the film festivals of Montreal, Dublin, Berlin, Miami, New Delhi, Moskow, Tel-Aviv and Mannheim.