North Sea Texas

    North Sea Texas
    2011

    Synopsis

    Pim lives in a run-down house in a dead-end street somewhere on the Flanders coast, together with his mother Yvette Bulteel. Life here smells of cold French fries, cheap cigarettes, vermouth and stale beer. As a kid, Pim dreams of a better life, imagining princesses and beauty queens. But when Pim turns sixteen, he begins dreaming of Gino, the handsome boy next door, instead.

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    Cast

    • Jelle FlorizoonePim
    • Mathias VergelsGino
    • Eva van der GuchtYvette
    • Thomas CoumansZoltan
    • Ben Van den HeuvelYoung Pim
    • Nathan NaenenYoung Gino
    • Nina Marie KortekaasSabrina
    • Noor Ben TaouetYoung Sabrina
    • Katelijne DamenMarcella
    • MickeyMirza

    Recommendations

    • 80

      Total Film

      Drawing affecting performances from a fledgling cast, Defurne's film is a poignant snapshot of square-peg adolescent desire, vibrantly set against a colourful backdrop.
    • 75

      San Francisco Chronicle

      A pleasure to watch - a spot-on story about the agony and ecstasy of adolescent first love.
    • 70

      The New York Times

      Pim's withdrawn demeanor and inability to verbalize his emotions - the character is basically one big ache - make it more challenging than it should be to immerse ourselves in his journey.
    • 70

      Village Voice

      Director Bavo Defurne fills the frame with warm, bright color and the lovely austerity of the Belgian seaside, angling for a soulful, slightly hyperreal comedy rather than the pursuit of a political agenda or a boring awareness-raising endeavor.
    • 70

      Los Angeles Times

      Though not without its mini-heartbreaks and melancholic turns, North Sea Texas explores emergent sexuality and first love with a refreshing optimism.
    • 63

      Slant Magazine

      While the film succeeds in creating a beautiful setting and portends of things to come from Defurne, it ultimately fails to give life to its main character - and no tale of pent-up teenage frustration should be as subdued and pretty as this.
    • 60

      Empire

      Tender and touching, this gay coming-of-ages story is underpinned by a terrific, subtle turn from newcomer Florizoone.
    • 40

      Time Out

      There are a million coming-out stories in various naked cities, and filmmaker Bavo Defume's contribution to the genre initially differentiates itself with a vibrant, creatively campy color scheme. Once the visual touches fade away, however, there's nothing to stop the parade of clichés.

    Liked by

    • frumps