Sur le chemin des dunes

First things first, its photography is stunning and there are many memorable sequences for which I'm going to search lots of gifs. Apart from that it is obviously a film based on a book. And how can you tell? Because it is not your average gay movie packed with clichés and lame stories. It is a story about a gay boy (Pim) living with a negligent mother that is still trying to be young and free. The boy develops a crush on this neighbor (Gino) who looks a lot like Harold from "Harold and Maude". We witness how the relationship between Pim and Gino unfolds. But there is more to it, we can see the relationship between Pim and Gino's sister, who has a crush on him and with his mother, who is the mother figure he does not have at home. In a place where there are not a lot of opportunities Pim is trying to find his place and his silence fills a big void.

For some people i can expect that this wouldn't be so perfect to them , but damn this is perfect to me. i can say that i've cried about 3 times while watching this specially at the end , which is satisfying compared with other German gay movies i have seen such as : summer storm , land of storms , free fall , sasha , beach rats .... as if Germans have this kind of love or relationship issues , but that one broke the rule . i loved how the story began with his childhood and then he met Gino and fell in love with him , oh poor pim . also want to add that i liked the song at the end very much . i really got attached to that movie .

You know you are in for a sensitive, perhaps even hyper-sensitive, treatment of homosexuality from the start. A young boy of maybe 10 or so, Pim, dresses up as a beauty queen, naked all but for a sash, his mother's jewelry and perfume. His single mother, who likes men, maybe a bit too much, and to hang out in the local bar, Texas, doesn't scold him nor do the friendly neighbours he spends so much time with. It is clear they, like us, can see the man the boy will become.

When we next see Pim he's just turned 15 and is infatuated with the neighbour's 18 year old son, Gino, and we know his future is already mapped out. The only thing is will director Bavo Defurne give us a picture of suicidal teenage angst or something more along the lines of "Beautiful Thing"? Well, let's just say there are plenty of bumps along the way in his film "North Sea, Texas".

In this country, of course, such stories of gay teenage sexuality would be virtually taboo where almost any depiction of sex in which either of the parties involved is under the age of consent is considered child abuse but those pesky foreigners have always lead the way in matters of the flesh, (remember Louis Malle's "Les Amants"?). Here, we might describe this film as brave, even daring, but it's probably quite commonplace in its native Belgium.

All the performances are good with Jelle Florizoone and Mathias Vergels as the teenage lovers, Pim and Gino respectively, slipping into their roles with remarkable ease while Nina Marie Kortekaas as Gino's younger sister, who has more than a crush on Pim, is also excellent. Only the most prurient of minds could take offence at this most bitter-sweet of teenage romances.

I'm so glad I took a chance and watched this movie. It was a very sweet gay coming of age film. I think just about every gay man can relate to this movie, and remembers what it was like to have that first crush on someone. I liked the fact that there was no violence in this movie. No one gets bashed or bullied. And it even had a nice ending! The lead character (Pim) was really quite excellent in the role. I really enjoyed the fact that, often, he didn't even have to say much and could convey everything he was thinking with a look. I wish there were more movies like this one. The kind that you watch, and want to see more after it's over. Check it out. You won't regret it.

If you are down, try this movie.

It's excellent creation of time and space. The actors are all believable.and this movie should have gone to the Oscars instead !

It would be nominated for best soundtrack, best picture, best actors, best photography.

Suited from 12 years old.

No violence.

Compare it with 'Get Real', and 'A beautiful Thing' but better.

It give an excellent idea how gay's explore their world in the 1950-1960's in Belgium.