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.]

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