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a short film by Lazlo and Dylan Tonk.

2013 | 13 mins | Netherlands.

the put to the test friendship between two teens of differing sexuality.

Dave says:

Written and directed by twin brothers Lazlo and Dylan Tonk, this engaging short film vividly depicts the emotional turmoil of two close friends, who come to find their differing sexuality puts their friendship to the test.

For David (Joël Mellenberg) and Niels (Josha Stradowski of Just Friends fame) are those two teens; spending most of their time together running track in the local sports ground, only for their so-called friends to delight in harassing local boy Tim (Leendert de Ridder) just for being gay. Yet what's worse for David is that his girlfriend Stella (Yldau de Boer) is totally at ease in Tim's company, considering him a friend, an association that prompts David to state that he "could never be friends with a fag," a comment that finds Stella reply with the telling words "maybe you already are." And sure enough this is a girl in the know, given Niels and Tim are more than just friends, as David is set to discover when sick of the homophobic attitude of those around him, Niels' deliberately outs himself to one and all, an act that forces David to finally choose between his friendship with a group of bigoted teens, or that of his - to be or not to be, best friend.

Nicely shot and staged, this is a short whose heartfelt theme of love and friendship is beautifully delivered by a youthful cast who play the story with an achingly natural sense of realism. Yet this is not just a work that strikingly juxtaposes outright prejudice with the open arms of sexual acceptance, but moreover is one that proudly has Niels publicly coming out in support of the young man he clearly loves.

Wonderfully played from start to finish, frankly there's a lot to like here, in particular its compelling message of being true not only to your sexual self, but of being a true friend to those around you. Simply wondrous.

›› available as part of the Peccadillo Pictures shorts compilation BOYS ON FILM #13 - Trick and Treat.

›› also available as part of the Peccadillo Pictures JUST FRIENDS release - Bonus Features.

›› revised: Wednesday, 8th December, 2021.

Gay Visibility - overt.
Nudity - none.
Overall - file under ... 3+ stars.

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archive reference #2016022 - revised.

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