North Sea Texas

This debut feature by noted short-film director Bavo Defurne emphasizes ambiance over storytelling, but that ambiance is so flavorsome you might not mind.

It's not just that film is underdeveloped - it's that it feels unwilling to develop, preferring to leave its characters and plot points static. The result feels stunted.

It's a story that's been told countless times, but first-time director Bavo Defurne has such an assured hand and visual flair (much credit also belongs to cinematographer Anton Mertens) that everything seems fresh and new.

Splendidly acted, especially by Florizoone, whose every thought appears to register on his wide-open features, it's more than promising.

"North Sea Texas" explores emergent sexuality and first love with a refreshing optimism.

A simmering drama powered by fully drawn characters and fine performances.

There's a chilly, wistful and rather matter-of-fact tone to the proceedings and this helps separate the rather run-of-the-mill aspects of the plot from the herd of teenager-in-love movies.

Thematically, this Dutsch tale of coming of age and first love is extremely familar. but it's sincerely treated and well acted by the two central boys.

A reasonably realistic slice of lower-middle-class European life with a repressed protagonist named Pim.

A small but quite lovely and wonderful film, gorgeous to look at, which tackles an age-old subject with radiant freshness.

In the annals of gay cinema about growing up, "North Sea Texas" is, regrettably, an unoriginal and rather disposable take on a subject that's been done much better in the past.

The film succeeds in creating a dense atmospheric feel and avoids generic tropes, but it does so somewhat at the neglect of its characters and narrative.