North Sea, Texas (2011)

Directed by: Bavo Defurne | 96 minutes | drama | Actors: Jelle Florizoone, Mathias Vergels, Nina Marie Kortekaas, Eva van der Gucht, Luk Wyns, Thomas Coumans, Katelijne Damen, Ben van den Heuvel, Nathan Naenen, Noor Ben Taouet, Mickey, Patricia Goemaere, Daniel Sikora, Victor Zaidi

Although homosexuality is now largely accepted in the western world, it still has something uncomfortable for many people. Bavo Defurne, the Flemish director who became known for his short films in which homosexuality plays a central role, experienced this firsthand when he was looking for protagonists for his first feature film ‘North Sea, Texas’ (2011). The casting of the two young gays was not without a struggle: many parents did not allow their child to kiss passionately with another boy in the film. “Of course I’m not allowed to interfere in the relationship between parents and their children, but I do find it sad that young people who are passionate are not allowed to play even a fictional character,” said the director. In the credits, Defurne lashes out at all those parents who didn’t let their child audition. ‘This film is dedicated to all young people who were not given a chance by their parents to act. It gets better,” it reads. “By that last sentence I mean that anyone who didn’t get a chance now may still live at home and should listen to their parents. But in about five years they will be of age and they will do what they want,” said Defurne.

‘North Sea, Texas’, after the book ‘Never will this end’ by André Sollie, is not so much a film about homosexuality, but a film about falling in love. And coincidentally, they are two guys who are in love with each other. The story takes place in the early 1970s. The main character is Pim (Jelle Florizoone), an introverted boy who lives with his mother Yvette (Eva van der Gucht) in a desolate Flemish coastal village. Once a beauty queen, Yvette has fallen into disrepair over the years and earns a living performing with her accordion at Hotel Texas or brown cafes. She does not look up or back at the dreamy Pim; she is more concerned with herself and her free-range friends Etienne (Luk Wyns) and Zoltan (Thomas Coumans). Pim spends a lot of time with neighbor children Gino (Mathias Vergels) and Sabrina (Nina Marie Kortekaas). While Sabrina has a crush on him, Pim sees more in her older brother. That love is initially reciprocated, but when Gino leaves for Dunkirk at the age of eighteen with a French girl, Pim is left distraught.
‘North Sea, Texas’ excels in atmospheric setting. The camera work by Anton Mertens has a nice retro sauce and the decoration is taken care of down to the last detail. In addition, the characters are well developed, although Pim’s mother remains a one-dimensional type. The inexperienced young actors in the central roles (Florizoone, Vergels and Kortekaas) put on excellent performances. The performance of Jelle Florizoone is especially remarkable, since Pim is a quiet, modest boy who does not easily show the back of his tongue. While burgeoning homosexuality is accompanied by major doubts and identity crises in many films, Pim seems confident. Gino has many more doubts and does not dare to give in to his feelings. He is restless and as soon as he is eighteen he flees into the wide world, probably looking for himself. Pim has long since found himself, although he can’t share that with anyone. The one with whom he still develops the closest bond is the mother of Gino and Sabrina (beautiful role by Kathelijne Damen), who herself seems to live in a dream world and hopes that the past will return one day. Of course, that also applies to Yvette, who is so preoccupied with herself that she has no eye for her son at all.

‘North Sea, Texas’ has many beautiful, tranquil scenes and passes the viewer quite slowly. Mertens’ camera work is wonderful. Understated is the magic word here. It is impressive that Defurne largely avoids the clichés in his first full-length film and manages to push his predominantly inexperienced cast to great heights. The coming-of-age story is recognizable, but still fresh thanks to Defurne’s approach. The dialogues may be a bit wooden here and there, but that doesn’t detract from the charm of ‘North Sea, Texas’. Bavo Defurne is definitely a director to keep an eye on.