Campfire (2000)

Directed by: Bavo Defurne | 21 minutes | short film, drama | Actors: Joram Schurmans, Koen Van Heule, Circé Lethem, Maarten Verbeuren

Bavo Defurne’s work is often short-sighted in the corner of gay & lesbian cinema, but this really does the Flemish filmmaker a disservice. Take his most complete short film (to date), ‘Kampvuur’ (2000), in which a boy experiences his coming out during a camping trip with the Boy Scouts. Unlike his previous short films, Campfire has plenty of dialogue, making the characters more than pretty boys in a dreamy environment. It makes the film less distant than his earlier work. The addition of a female character also gives an extra dimension to ‘Campfire’ and makes the film more complete.

Tijl (Joram Schurmans) is in love with his buddy Wout (Koen van Heule). During the scouting’s summer camp, both Wout and Tijl’s girlfriend Ineke (Circé Lethem) find out. When the two boys end up together in a tent late at night, Wout turns out to be unable to suppress his (sexual) curiosity completely. The next day, during a game of ‘do, dare, share’ with the others, the boys come up against each other.

‘Campfire’ is full of the familiar symbols we know from Defurne’s earlier films: half-naked boys’ bodies diving into the water, clear starry nights and untouched nature. Especially the flora and fauna has a striking role in the film; we regularly get to see beautiful close-ups of insects and other animals and plants. With this he knows how to emphasize the innocence and purity of the young boys. But above all, they are beautifully shot images – rich, warm and lively – that complement the small but urgent story of a boy who not only discovers his sexuality, but also learns to accept himself. It’s great that Defurne can reveal that in just 21 minutes – because this film is so short.

Joram Schurmans, who often appears in Defurne’s work, is a pleasant and believable figure who wins our sympathy without hesitation. There is dialogue, but it remains sparse. The body language speaks volumes. After ‘Campfire’, Bavo Defurne remained silent for eleven years, during which time he worked on his feature film debut ‘North Sea, Texas’ (2011). Anyone who has seen the captivating ‘Campfire’ will understand why Defurne was then ready for the big work.