This coming of age tale works on so many levels. It is poignant, at times funny, at times it will make you angry but it is never boring.
Young Bram van Schie plays Bart, the protagonist of this tale. Bart is in his early teens and is discovering love - and sex. He has a lot to deal with as he struggles to make sense of life - a restrictively religious mother and uncle (who is also the town priest), a father who is facing his own crisis of confidence, a new boy in his town who is everything deeply religious and respressed Bram is not and this is "a bad influence". On top of that, he falls in love with the new boy's older, seductive sister who shows an interest in teaching Bart about the more sensual aspects of life. He also has his own religious beliefs to try and reconcile with the changes in his life. That's a lot for one young man to deal with and how Bart does so and grows is the basis of this movie.
Everything about this movie is done well - the acting, the sets, the struggles Bart goes through. Some may think that this is a bit over the top in its portrayal of the religious mother and uncle. Sadly, that's not the case. I have met people like that. I note that IMDB reports that this is Bram van Schie's first acting gig. He does astonishingly well and is sympathetic and intelligent in his portrayal of young Bart. Sadly, it seems that this is also Bram van Schie's last acting role (that is to say, his ONLY acting role) and that is sad. I would love to have seen what he went on to do. Oh well....
I can't say that this movie touched me deeply, although that's not a criticism. I didn't ponder over it after it was over or feel any nostalgia for the characters. I enjoyed it while it ran through its 100 odd minutes though and you probably will too.
