The Sad Champion

Ten-time ping pong champion, womaniser and successfulentrepreneur Robert Hosé became the role model of anew, self-aware generation of black Antilleans in the early1970s on Curaçao. Through interviews, archive footageand re-enacted scenes, the viewer gains insight into themyth and the turbulent life of Hosé that leads past highsand lows of his life and the island and its relation with theNetherlands, which are closely intertwined. The threepartdocu-drama series was inspired by the book of thesame name by Jan Brokken. His novel about Riki Marchenais based on the true life story of Robert Hosé, tabletennis legend from Curaçao. Brokken, who himself livedon Curaçao for many years, met Hosé when he wanted towash his car. Over 400 hours of interviews with the nowdrug-addicted Hosé, who has been living on the streets forover 40 years, as well as many conversations with peoplewho knew him from his heyday, provided its basis. Themain character Marchena shows obvious parallels with thecharismatic sports hero and womaniser Hosé, who readsNietzsche. In the series, the post-war history of Curaçaois also told on the basis of Hosé’s life. In the first episodethe dramatic death of his father ends the carefree andhappy childhood of 7-year old Robert Hosé. To forget allthe misery, he throws himself wholeheartedly into tabletennis. Successfully, as it turns out!