This is a disturbing portrayal of a predatory relationship between a middle aged adult and a 14 year old minor. It was sickening to watch the minor get close to the adult and the adult encouraging it. Deeply maddening and disgusting.
4 Reviews
A Moving Story
jean-suchard16 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This is a well-crafted little film with all the right touches to give us an understanding of how the characters feel about themselves and their circumstances in life. At the beginning we see the Gentle Man visiting a grave. Later we understand by a photograph that it was where his partner was buried. We know this man is lonely and is looking for sexual intimacy with another man. Thomas is a boy who has discovered at the age of 14 going on 15 that he is gay. He too wants sex and by chance they meet on a website. The man is honorable and does not want to take advantage of the young teenager but agrees to be his friend. Soon the boy will reach the age of consent and on that evening the man invites the boy for a celebration, just the two of them. The boy is hoping that the evening will become a sexual encounter and as the man helps him tie his necktie he tells him he is a real gentleman ... Gentle Man. Perhaps the man did find company after all and maybe the boy got to have sex too. We are left to wonder. The use of music helped in the different scenes when there was no dialog. The script is laconic but everything is explained. Of course, as we have come to expect from small European art films, the acting is flawless. I found it to be a moving story and give it 10 stars.
Lasse Nielsen's best film
ostbylloyd4 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I agree that this film is a little gem. Lasse Nielsen has done several excellent films on the subject of a boy's coming of age experiences involving love. The excellent music that one reviewer mentioned is from the Bournenville ballet the Flower Festival...It is the pas de deux of the two innocent young lovers in the ballet. This adds a nice subtle emotional background to the film.
The older man never takes advantage of the boy. He seems to understand the importance of making the boy feel accepted and validating the worthiness of gay feelings. In my imagination the man and the boy don't have a sexual relationship. They will form a father-son relationship that neither has had before.
The older man never takes advantage of the boy. He seems to understand the importance of making the boy feel accepted and validating the worthiness of gay feelings. In my imagination the man and the boy don't have a sexual relationship. They will form a father-son relationship that neither has had before.
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