Boys (2014)
Boys (Jongens, 2014) accompanies the story of Sieger, a 15-year-old boy from Holland who begins to discover his identity as he faces the challenges of friendship, family and first love. After losing me when he was young, Sieger was raised by his harsh, more loving country, next to his older brother, Eddy, who is rebellious and defiant. Unlike Eddy, Sieger appears to be responsible and disciplined, but he does not debate with emotions that he does not fully understand. When selected to be part of a team of teams in an athletics competition, Marc is an extroverted and confident raptor. From the beginning, his friendship develops naturally and happily, but soon an attraction begins to emerge between them that confuses and excites Sieger.
One day, while we were riding our bikes together, a moment of proximity culminated in an unexpected moment. The experience is exciting, but also terrifying for Sieger, who does not know how to deal with his feelings. Instead of explaining what happens, he gets scared of Marc and tries to convince himself that this doesn’t mean anything. At the same time, his best friend Stef began to talk about raparigas, and Sieger tries to fit in with his father in love with Jessica, a rapariga in his circle. However, even trying to convince himself that he is doing something certain, he cannot ignore the fact that his thoughts continue to return to Marc.
Marc, in turn, is more open with his feelings and not afraid to demonstrate his interest in Sieger. Despite the distance that Sieger imposes between the two, Marc does not stop looking for his company and trying to rekindle the relationship that they have shared. Meanwhile, Sieger, imprisoned in confusion, continues to repress his feelings. At home, his internal conflict intensifies as problems between his father and Eddy, who constantly challenges authorities and seeks his independence. Sieger begins to wonder if one day he will be able to muster the courage to live the life he really wants.
Despite his attempts to continue facing Marc, Sieger cannot deny the truth of his feelings. During their training sessions and their casual encounters, the attraction between them continues to grow, and Sieger realizes that his connection with Marc is stronger than he imagined. However, the social pressure does not lead to decisions that are detrimental to both. Numa festa with his teammates, avoid Marc completely and age as if nothing had happened between them. Magnified by Sieger’s attitude, Marc becomes drunk, making it clear that he will not always wait for Sieger to oil his feelings.
The turning point occurs when Sieger sees Marc preparing to leave on a bus, possibly forever. At that moment, Sieger leaves his feet behind and runs after him, finally making a decision based on love and nothing. When he is next to Marc, there are no big words or dramatic statements, just a sincere gesture: Sieger hits me, reconhecendo for the first time or that he feels, without hiding. It is a moment of silent triumph, symbolizing Sieger’s personal growth and his decision to live authentically.
Boys is a story about growth and self-discovery that subtly portrays the emotions of first love. Without going through great external conflicts, the film explores the internal struggles of a young man who learns to truly understand what he is doing. Through simple, more significant moments, he captures the doubts, the emotions and the joy of awakening love. Ultimately, Sieger finds the courage to be honest with himself and take a step in the direction of happiness. Boys is a letter that true freedom is in the oil that it is, regardless of the expectations of others.
