If you’re looking to add some queer films to your entertainment options, The Dutch Boys is a collection of five short films from the Netherlands.
The films
BRICK (Steen), directed by Viktor van der Valk
Jeffrey lives in a small Dutch town with his father and his pregnant girlfriend, his life seemingly mapped out with certainty. Working at the local brick factory, he is instructed to supervise new arrival Kevin. Everything Jeffrey was certain about suddenly doesn’t seem so concrete.
CAST: Reinout Scholten van Aschat, Lourens van den Akker, Coosje Smid, and Manou Kersting.
SOUTH OF HEAVEN (Ten Zuiden van de Hemel), directed by Marco van Bergen
Elias, a student at the Amsterdam conservatory of musical arts, returns to his family in his religious hometown to celebrate his birthday. When he finds his boyfriend Jasper at the family home as a birthday surprise, Elias appears to have hidden the truth about himself from his boyfriend, as well as from his god-fearing mother and brother.
CAST: Tom van Kessel, Tine Joustra, Julian Moon Snijder, and Milan Boele van Hensbroek.
LUKAS BY THE SEA (Lukas aan Zee), directed by Jordi Wijnalda
During a seemingly endless night, Lukas attempts to find a connection with whomever he encounters, from online porn cams to empty streets to seedy bars. As we follow him from one state of mind and night partner to the next, the night seems almost never-ending, until the sun rises and Lukas realises the true value of companionship.
CAST: Matthijs van de Sande Bakhuyzen, Kay Greidanus, Tamar van den Dop, and Julia Akkermans.
DANTE VS. MOHAMMED ALI, directed by Marc Wagenaar
When Wolf refuses to fight his best friend Alexander during a weekly boxing match, the whole village turns against him. He tries to convince Alexander to join him in leaving the village, but his overly romantic message runs into a wall.
CAST: Bas Keizer, and Gijs Blom.
BEAUTIFUL ALEXANDER (Mooie Alexander), directed by Marc Wagenaar
One sweltering summer, from his window Alexander spies a boy on a diving board in the distance. Lacking the courage to go to him, he dances alone in his room, until his steps draw him across the sands outside, and eventually, to the boy on high. Climbing the ladder, he asks the boy: “Would you dare to jump if there were water?”
CAST: Florian Regtien, and Dimitar Nikolov.
