Boys [Jongens] **** (2014, Gijs Blom, Ko Zandvliet, Jonas Smulders, Ton Kas) – Classic Movie Review 12,337

Gijs Blom stars in the 2014 film Boys [Jongens].

Gijs Blom stars in the exceptional 2014 coming-of-age teen romantic drama film Boys [Jongens] as Dutch gay teen athlete Sieg [Sieger], who finds an unexpected sexual awakening with his mutually attracted relay race teammate Marc (Ko Zandvliet). Sieg’s ever increasing longing and desire are mixed with reluctance, hesitance, doubt, fear and inner self-repression.

Sieg is in self denial. ‘I am not gay,’ he tells a very puzzled Marc. But the kids are going to be alright. Sieg’s dad (Ton Kas) is too, though he is having a hard time to handle two teenage sons, both nice but both troubled after the accidental death of their mother.

The quietly intense Sieg is training in the new athletics team for the Dutch national relay race championships. He’s a bit of a dreamer for an athlete. Older brother Eddy (Jonas Smulders) wants to break free of parental restrictions, and go bike riding at a motocross track outside their town. He’s a bit more of a rebel and rough diamond. That puts him full on at odds with the dad. That’s one trouble but trouble comes for Sieg when he becomes involved with Jessica (Lotte Razoux Schultz). Marc doesn’t like this at all.

A sensitive sincere but realistic love story, all is good here. The film is subtly, sweetly and convincingly handled, with just enough heartache and no more, as well as a nuanced screenplay, and there are delicate, winning performances all round. Gijs Blom and Ko Zandvliet provide great role models for gay youth. These boys don’t have one single bad gene or atom in their whole body.

It is the kind of film that wins friends and influences people.

There’s a super soundtrack too, with sound design and mixing by Marco Vermaas and some music produced by Rutger Reinders.

The film has a very good history, entirely propelled by its quality and popularity. After being screened to acclaim on 9 February 2014 on NPO Zapp, a Dutch channel for young teens, distributor ABC Cinemien released it in Dutch cinemas. It was then sold in the US, UK, Taiwan, Poland, France and Germany, and also shown at the Seattle International Film Festival, the Vancouver Queer Film Festival, the Out-on-Film-Festival in Atlanta and Frameline Film Festival.

Finally it was picked up by Netflix and later by other streaming services including Prime Video.

The cast are Gijs Blom as Sieger, Ko Zandvliet as Marc, Jonas Smulders. as Eddy, Ton Kas as Theo, Stijn Taverne as Stef, Myron Wouts as Tom, Ferdi Stofmeel as Coach, Lotte Razoux Schultz as Jessica, Rachelle Verdel as Kim, Julia Akkermans as Eddy’s girlfriend, Jeffrey Hamilton as Niclas, Rifka Lodeizen as Marc’s mother, Micha Hulshof as snack bar owner, Caroline Olde Rikkert as perfume shop owner, and Roosmarijn van der Hoek as Neeltje.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,337

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