Spielen oder Sterben

"To Play Or Die" is an intense story about loneliness.

It is about Kees, an introverted boy who is constantly being picked on at school. Knowing his parents will be away for the day he has decided to invite Charel, one of the bullies to visit him at home after school. The DVD packaging says he is searching for revenge by doing this, but it's clear to me that Kees actually likes Charel.

During the day Kees endures a particularly humiliating experience in the school gymnasium locker room. Still, Charel does show up at Kees' home later on. It goes badly from the start and soon they get into a fist fight because Charel thinks Kees isn't manly enough.

After that, Kees goes completely berserk and self-destructs. I think that the reason for this is a combination of loneliness, self-hatred and frustration. It's a powerful film. I can't bring myself to watch it again. And I can't help thinking about it either.

It is a great film. Honest, direct, powerful, cold . A film about things easy remain unspoken. Because are too bitter, cruel, sharp, too often present in near reality.

It is the film of admirable young Geert Hunaerts. His work is just impressive, served, off course, by inspired cinematography and wise used details.

In same measure,Tjebbo Gerritsa offers a beautiful portrait of a sort of vulnerability, powerful fears, covered in rude brutality , the suspicion being more about his Charel than Kees.

The final is perfect , and you can feel this.

The theme of film is profound personal. Sure, bullying, sensitivity, gay desire, indifference of teachers or indifferent parents, a teenager living in his universe are fair definitions but none works too well.

Indeed, it is a film about specific of an age but, in same measure, it is more that. A pledge , a warning, a manifesto ? Maybe ! But it is a magnificent exploration of old and hidden things living, decade by decade, maybe entire life, in us.

A very beautiful movie, very intense. The two boys were 18 at the time of filming (1990, both born in 1972). They both did a very excelling performance.

The colors are beautiful, the filming is excellent. The "light" is superb…

Some situations are so recognizable, and so understandable.

The issue of the situation is shocking, but that is what movies are made for…

This 45 minutes short is like watching a "full" movie", and raises many questions.

I enjoyed it very much. PS, If ever there was a question of "revenge": do a "google pictures" for both actors… :-)

A gay film from 1990 made in the Netherlands that was one of the first gay films I have seen. I don't see it on many watchlists or talked about much so I consider it obscure. Fairly short film but very intense and very well made. Illustrates the loneliness and victimization of gay teen, especially prior to the 2000s. Story involves Kees who attends an all-boys school where bullying is the norm. Kees has a secret crush on Charel, one of the bullies. The bullies torment Kees in the lockerroom at school one afternoon, forcibly stripping him of his underwear as they mock him. Kees later devises a plan of revenge (or is it?) in which he invites Charel over. A fairly intense ending to a glimpse into the life of an introverted gay teen male. Parental advisory: full frontal of Kees in the locker room scene where he is stripped by bullies. Geert Hunaerts does an outstanding job as the tormented youth Kees. Worth a watch.

This film is fascinating. I kept expecting the little hero to stand for himself and I wanted the little hero to teach the bully a lesson. But it is way deeper than that. Kees tries. The world is full of bullies and he is just a little guy who is trying to understand and does not know what to say or do in these situations. Kees can't defend himself. I wish his parents would teach him how to defend himself. Film is very deep and makes you think abut emotions and feelings and touches you inside. This film took me back into my own childhood for a moment to relive the memories. Emotions and feelings are so complicated and it takes us years to understand ourselves. This film is a beautiful cinematic poem and its so heartbreaking.