I have to say I found this movie touching, insightful, and refreshingly reminiscent of the innocence of the late 1960's and early 1970's. It seemed a bit choppy, but I think that is because it was much longer originally and was edited significantly for various reasons. It is a sweet movie about a sensitive topic, done tastefully with sincerity and without pretensions. I'd recommend this for viewing in health classes if our society wasn't so hung up about sex, homosexuality and the possibility it might be viewed as pedophilia because of the brief nudity in the shower scenes and the "revealing" clothing worn during the era. Some responses to other comments I saw here:
Bo, the older boy, is shown in a constant state of conflict because of the emotions his unusual desires are creating. He wants to be a regular kid and have typical relationships with other boys, but finds himself attracted to some boys in a sexual way. That is why you see him acting so hesitantly in his overtures towards Kim. He is attracted to Kim, but is concerned about the difference in age and uncertain how to deal with Kim's own innocent interest. As for the younger kid, Kim, he is just happy to be there. Try to remember what it was like to be 12 or 13, still innocent about sexual things, but wanting desperately to be accepted and included by the older kids. Then imagine a kid like that having a Bo come along in his life. It's very easy to convert that kind of hero worship into a sexual thing, and I think Bo is being cautious because he really likes Kim and doesn't want to take advantage. Besides, he isn't that much more knowledgeable than Kim, he's just slightly older, and also pretty confused about what to do himself.
Keep in mind that this is filmed in Denmark around 1977-78. I noted several comments concerning the apparent lack of interest on the part of the other boys in the school to Kim and Bo's obvious physical closeness. In the first place, many European cultures are not so concerned about physical displays of affection between same-sex friends which stop short of actual sexual play. This is especially true of Scandinavian cultures such as Denmark, where nudity is not a big deal and sharing showers like the scene between Bo and Kim is quite innocent and playful. The other bathroom scene between the Lars character and some random kid that Bo walks in on is another story, and Lars was extremely lucky it was Bo who caught them and not some other less tolerant character, like Ole or a teacher.
In the second place it's typically in restrictive, Victorian cultures like the USA and the UK where boys have a heightened sense of concern for inappropriate touching. As we become teens we worry more and more about being labeled geeks and fags and so we try as hard as possible to be the opposite. Since the USA is the main "superpower" now, this Victorian attitude is slowly integrating into other societies and is starting to be a major problem. However, in the film's 1970's culture, the kids are not so concerned about each other that way, although Ole does show some about one of the teachers who touches him. Still, its obvious from Aske's (the intelligent, sensitive group leader) diplomatic response to Ole's comment, supported by the other kids, that this is something most don't seem very worried about. I think Ole's concern is shown to be based on his own insecurities, which is a truly insightful point the film is trying to make about why anyone would have such negative feelings about these relationships.
Finally, one guy said he was made uncomfortable about a "female teacher taking advantage" of one of the kids. This is Lars, the same kid Bo catches with another boy in the bathroom. The older girl was not a teacher, it was a girl a year or two older than the boys who was working as a cook in the school kitchen. Lars would be about 15 and the girl might have been 16 or 17. Take another look carefully and you will see this is the same girl they go to the picnic with. It's not a scene supporting pedophilia, it is a scene showing how an older teen might explain to a less knowledgeable partner how to perform. I think that is something ALL of us have experienced at some point in our own teen-aged lives.
This is a good movie and I enjoyed watching it. Makes me wish I was a kid again, but only in a more open and accepting society like the one in the film.
Bo, the older boy, is shown in a constant state of conflict because of the emotions his unusual desires are creating. He wants to be a regular kid and have typical relationships with other boys, but finds himself attracted to some boys in a sexual way. That is why you see him acting so hesitantly in his overtures towards Kim. He is attracted to Kim, but is concerned about the difference in age and uncertain how to deal with Kim's own innocent interest. As for the younger kid, Kim, he is just happy to be there. Try to remember what it was like to be 12 or 13, still innocent about sexual things, but wanting desperately to be accepted and included by the older kids. Then imagine a kid like that having a Bo come along in his life. It's very easy to convert that kind of hero worship into a sexual thing, and I think Bo is being cautious because he really likes Kim and doesn't want to take advantage. Besides, he isn't that much more knowledgeable than Kim, he's just slightly older, and also pretty confused about what to do himself.
Keep in mind that this is filmed in Denmark around 1977-78. I noted several comments concerning the apparent lack of interest on the part of the other boys in the school to Kim and Bo's obvious physical closeness. In the first place, many European cultures are not so concerned about physical displays of affection between same-sex friends which stop short of actual sexual play. This is especially true of Scandinavian cultures such as Denmark, where nudity is not a big deal and sharing showers like the scene between Bo and Kim is quite innocent and playful. The other bathroom scene between the Lars character and some random kid that Bo walks in on is another story, and Lars was extremely lucky it was Bo who caught them and not some other less tolerant character, like Ole or a teacher.
In the second place it's typically in restrictive, Victorian cultures like the USA and the UK where boys have a heightened sense of concern for inappropriate touching. As we become teens we worry more and more about being labeled geeks and fags and so we try as hard as possible to be the opposite. Since the USA is the main "superpower" now, this Victorian attitude is slowly integrating into other societies and is starting to be a major problem. However, in the film's 1970's culture, the kids are not so concerned about each other that way, although Ole does show some about one of the teachers who touches him. Still, its obvious from Aske's (the intelligent, sensitive group leader) diplomatic response to Ole's comment, supported by the other kids, that this is something most don't seem very worried about. I think Ole's concern is shown to be based on his own insecurities, which is a truly insightful point the film is trying to make about why anyone would have such negative feelings about these relationships.
Finally, one guy said he was made uncomfortable about a "female teacher taking advantage" of one of the kids. This is Lars, the same kid Bo catches with another boy in the bathroom. The older girl was not a teacher, it was a girl a year or two older than the boys who was working as a cook in the school kitchen. Lars would be about 15 and the girl might have been 16 or 17. Take another look carefully and you will see this is the same girl they go to the picnic with. It's not a scene supporting pedophilia, it is a scene showing how an older teen might explain to a less knowledgeable partner how to perform. I think that is something ALL of us have experienced at some point in our own teen-aged lives.
This is a good movie and I enjoyed watching it. Makes me wish I was a kid again, but only in a more open and accepting society like the one in the film.