Jongens

{{Infobox television

| image = Jongens.jpg

| image_upright = 1.0

| image_alt =

| caption = Dutch theatrical poster

| genre =

| creator =

| based_on =

| writer = Chris Westendorp
Jaap-Peter Enderle

| screenplay =

| story =

| director = Mischa Kamp

| starring = Gijs Blom
Ko Zandvliet
Jonas Smulders
Ton Kas

| narrated =

| music = Rutger Reinders

| country = Netherlands

| language = Dutch

| num_episodes =

| producer = Iris Otten
Sander van Meurs
Pieter Kuijpers

| editor = Katarina Türler

| cinematography = Melle van Essen

| runtime = 76 minutes{{cite web|url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/boys-video|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721165435/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/boys-video|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 21, 2015|title=BOYS (PG)|website=British Board of Film Classification|access-date=17 July 2015}}

| company = Pupkin Film

| budget =

| network =

| released = {{Start date|2014|02|09|df=yes}}

}}

Jongens (English title: Boys) is a 2014 Dutch made-for-television coming-of-age romantic drama film directed by Mischa Kamp and featuring Gijs Blom, Ko Zandvliet and Stijn Taverne. The film was released on 9 February 2014.

Plot

Sieger is a fifteen-year-old boy, living with his widowed father, Theo, and his brother, Eddy, who, burdened with his mother's death, clashes with and acts out against his father. Along with his best friend (Stef), Sieger is a member of the local athletics team. They—and two other boys, Tom and Marc—are chosen to represent the team at the national championship relay race. In order to win, they must train intensively.

One day, they decide to go swimming in a nearby river. After Stef and Tom leave, Sieger and Marc share two kisses. Confused, Sieger insists that he is not gay, to which Marc responds, "Of course you're not," before Sieger heads home. Despite the incident, the boys remain close friends. When Stef meets and begins dating a local girl named Kim, Sieger feels pressured to romance Kim's best friend, Jessica, and suppress his feelings for Marc.

One weekend, the athletics team goes on a training trip. On the first night, Sieger sneaks out, and Marc follows him to the beach, where they spend the rest of the night kissing and resting in each other's arms. When they return home, Sieger, Jessica, Stef, and Kim attend a fair. Also at the fair, Marc sees them and wants to join up. However, afraid that the truth will come out, Sieger tries to ignore Marc. He manages to distract and appease Jessica by winning her a stuffed animal; and after, Jessica kisses Sieger, stirring feelings of confusion and pain for Marc.

Some days later, Sieger attempts to make up with Marc, and they agree to go swimming that evening. However, Theo and Eddy get into a fight after Theo learns Eddy was fired from his job a while ago and has been spending the time riding motorbikes with his friends. Theo locks up the motorbike. Instead of going to the river, Sieger tries to convince his brother to come home. Eddy will not heed his pleas but offers him a ride in a car he is driving. On the way, they almost hit Marc while he is riding his bike. Marc gets the chance to ask Sieger why he did not turn up at their appointment, and Sieger, afraid to be caught speaking to Marc, does not answer him and walks off.

On the day of the relay race, Sieger offers Marc a simple "sorry" which Marc, waiting for an explanation that does not come, tells Sieger to go back to his "charade". Despite this, the team wins. Sieger, Eddy, Theo, and Stef celebrate with dinner at Sieger's house, where Theo gives Eddy back his motorbike. Stef reveals that he knows about Sieger and Marc, telling Sieger "that they make a good team". At dinner, Theo notices Sieger acting rather introverted and asks if he is okay. Sieger answers "no" and jumps on the motorbike, and drives away.

The final scene shows Sieger driving Eddy's motorbike with Marc on the back, embracing him. Perhaps to the beach, but as the words of the final song indicates, Sieger is on a journey of self-acceptance. They are finally together and appear to be happy.

Cast

Gijs Blom as Sieger
Ko Zandvliet as Marc
Jonas Smulders. as Eddy
Ton Kas as Theo
Stijn Taverne as Stef
Myron Wouts as Tom
Ferdi Stofmeel as Coach
Lotte Razoux Schultz as Jessica
Rachelle Verdel as Kim
Julia Akkermans as Eddy's girlfriend
Jeffrey Hamilton as Niclas
Rifka Lodeizen as Marc's mother
Micha Hulshof as snack bar owner
Caroline Olde Rikkert as perfume shop owner
Roosmarijn van der Hoek as Neeltje

Background

On 9 February 2014, the movie was first screened on NPO Zapp, a Dutch channel for children and young teens. The movie was a success, so film distributor ABC Cinemien/ABC Distribution decided to release the movie in Dutch theatres.{{cite web |url=http://www.nu.nl/film/3754072/telefilm-jongens-gaat-toch-bioscoop.html |title=Telefilm jongens gaat toch bioscioop |last= |first= |date=17 April 2014 |accessdate=24 September 2014 |language=Dutch |trans-title=Television movie "Jongens" to theatres}} This release was also a success so the film was sold to the United States, United Kingdom, Taiwan, Poland, France and Germany.{{cite web |url=http://www.nu.nl/film/3794035/jongens-grote-winnaar-jeugdfilmfestival-tsjechie.html|title=Jongens grote winnaar jeugdfilmfestival Tsjechie |last= |first= |date=4 June 2014 |accessdate=24 September 2014 |language=Dutch |trans-title="Jongens" big winner at the youth film festival Czech Republic}}{{cite web |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/boys-jongens-film-review-699129 |title=Boys film review |last=van Hoeij|first=Boyd |date=5 May 2014 |website=Hollywood Reporter |accessdate=24 September 2014}}. Furthermore, the movie was shown at the Seattle International Film Festival,{{cite web|url=http://www.siff.net/festival-2014/boys|title=Boys|website=SIFF|accessdate=24 September 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140917204442/http://www.siff.net/festival-2014/boys|archivedate=17 September 2014}} the Vancouver Queer Film Festival,{{cite web |url=http://www.queerfilmfestival.ca/viewshowtime.php?stid=708 |title=Boys (Jongens) |website=QueerFilmFestival |accessdate=24 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913055847/http://www.queerfilmfestival.ca/viewshowtime.php?stid=708 |archivedate=13 September 2014 }} the Out-on-Film-Festival in Atlanta{{cite web |url=http://www.outonfilm.org/2014Boys.html |title=Boys |website=Out on Film |accessdate=24 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140928085429/http://www.outonfilm.org/2014Boys.html |archivedate=28 September 2014 }} and Frameline Film Festival.{{cite web |url=http://ticketing.frameline.org/festival/film/detail.aspx?id=3335&FID=51 |title=Boys |website=Frameline |accessdate=14 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053715/http://ticketing.frameline.org/festival/film/detail.aspx?id=3335&FID=51 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }} The film was also picked up by Netflix and later by other streaming services such as Prime Video.{{cite web |url=https://www.pghlesbian.com/2015/04/a-reel-take-boys-jongens |title=A Reel Take: Boys (Jongens)|website=Pgh Lesbian Correspondents |last= |first= |date=2 April 2015 |accessdate=22 May 2022 |language=English}}{{cite web |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/coming-of-age-movies-tv-shows|last= |title=Heartstopper: 10 more queer coming-of-age movies and shows to watch |website=GQ Magazine |first= |date=11 May 2022|accessdate=22 May 2022 |language=English}}

Soundtrack

Sound design and mixing was done by Marco Vermaas and some{{which|date=July 2015}} music was produced by Rutger Reinders.

"I Apologize (Dear Simon)" by Moss (Intro & Closing Song)
"Love Like This" by Kodaline
"Just a Boy" by Angus & Julia Stone
"Princes" by Oscar & The Wolf
"Midnight City" by M83

Awards

The movie won four awards at the Zlín-Jugendfilmfestival 2014 in the Czech Republic:{{cite web |url=http://www.zlinfest.cz/wcd/docs/tiskove-zpravy/en/2014/54.zff_vysledkysouteznichkategorii_eng.pdf |title=54th Zlín Film Festival Awards |accessdate=24 September 2014 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305001459/http://www.zlinfest.cz/wcd/docs/tiskove-zpravy/en/2014/54.zff_vysledkysouteznichkategorii_eng.pdf |url-status=dead }}