Eagerly anticipating this week ... (14-24)

Eagerly anticipating this week ... (14-24)
Ali Abassi's The Apprentice (2024)

11/18/2021

North Sea Texas/Noordzee, Texas (2011) - Young love in Defurne's distinguished debut

 

Two adorable youngsters stand closely together by the sea on this poster for Bavo Defurne's North Sea Texas

Pim is 14 years old and lives with his harmonica-playing mother in the Belgian countryside. He is an introverted dreamer, who falls for a slightly older guy from the neighborhood, - but nothing lasts forever, and the grownups around him are also not rock solid.

 

North Sea Texas is written by co-writer/producer Yves Verbraeken (Souvenir (2016)) and debuting co-writer/director Bavo Defurne (Atlantis (1990, short)), adapting the novel Nooit gaat dit over (2005) by André Sollie (Wachten op Matroos (2000)).

It is a sweet and optimistic film with a strong eye for visual details; sensuality, colors, nature and lovely compositions, (cinematography by Anton Mertens (The Spy (2019)). The plot is very one-sided at times, more like a short, - also the art form that Defurne had worked in for two decades prior the the film's release, - and it is a shame that there isn't a bit of school life and the time's passing included here, which is conspicuous by its omission. 

The young actors are great across the board here. North Sea Texas is a delightful pleasure, - though perhaps not a very deep experience.

 





Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: Unknown
Box office: 58k $

= Uncertain, but likely a box office disaster

[North Sea Texas was released 16 March (Belgium) and runs 98 minutes. Shooting took place in Belgium. The film grossed 30k $ (51.7 % of the total gross) in two week's release in Belgium and 28k $ (48.3 %) in North America, its only 2 recorded gross markets. It also was released in the Netherlands, UK, Germany and France. If made on a scant 1 mil. € budget, the film would rank as a box office disaster. Defurne returned with Souvenir (2016). Jelle Florizoone (Mega Mindy (2010, TV-series)), who plays the older Pim, returned in Allez, Eddy! (2012); Mathias Vergels (Bo  (2010)), who plays the older Gino, in Aspe (2011, TV-series) and theatrically in Mixed Kebab (2012). North Sea Texas is fresh at 83 % with a 6.80/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]


What do you think of North Sea Texas?

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