Ciske the Rat () is a 1955 Dutch drama film directed by Wolfgang Staudte, based on the Ciske trilogy by Piet Bakker. The film was remade in 1984 and turned into a popular musical in 2007.
With 2,433,000 viewers it was the most popular Dutch film of all-time until surpassed a few years later by Fanfare. The film was shown at the Venice Film Festival, where it won a Silver Lion of San Marco. It has also received an honorable mention from the Office Catholique Internationale du Cinéma.
A German version has been made with other actors, titled Ciske: Ein Kind braucht Liebe (Ciske: A Child Needs Love).
The story is set in the Amsterdam of the 30s, and told from the perspective of a teacher named Bruis. The narrative is centered around Cis Vrijmoeth, an oaf who never sees his father, because he is a sailor, and who is neglected by his mother. Time after time he is expelled from school. Only teacher Bruis can really handle and restrain the boy. In n fit of rage and fear, Ciske kills his mother with a knife and is sent to a youth detention center. In the end, his father returns from the sea and decides to take care of him, together with his wife Aunt Jans.