You know you are in for a sensitive, perhaps even hyper-sensitive, treatment of homosexuality from the start. A young boy of maybe 10 or so, Pim, dresses up as a beauty queen, naked all but for a sash, his mother's jewelry and perfume. His single mother, who likes men, maybe a bit too much, and to hang out in the local bar, Texas, doesn't scold him nor do the friendly neighbours he spends so much time with. It is clear they, like us, can see the man the boy will become.When we next see Pim he's just turned 15 and is infatuated with the neighbour's 18 year old son, Gino, and we know his future is already mapped out. The only thing is will director Bavo Defurne give us a picture of suicidal teenage angst or something more along the lines of "Beautiful Thing"? Well, let's just say there are plenty of bumps along the way in his film "North Sea, Texas".In this country, of course, such stories of gay teenage sexuality would be virtually taboo where almost any depiction of sex in which either of the parties involved is under the age of consent is considered child abuse but those pesky foreigners have always lead the way in matters of the flesh, (remember Louis Malle's "Les Amants"?). Here, we might describe this film as brave, even daring, but it's probably quite commonplace in its native Belgium.All the performances are good with Jelle Florizoone and Mathias Vergels as the teenage lovers, Pim and Gino respectively, slipping into their roles with remarkable ease while Nina Marie Kortekaas as Gino's younger sister, who has more than a crush on Pim, is also excellent. Only the most prurient of minds could take offence at this most bitter-sweet of teenage romances.

Belgian/Flemish films are not shown too often, but it is always interesting to broaden mental outlook and obtain information about different cultures and approaches. Noordzee, Texas includes multiple topics uncommon in most films: gay coming of age, life in the middle of nowhere governed by winds, dunes and tides, irresponsible way of living in a closed community, for example. Life is monotonous, with any arrival or departure creating an event, but children grow and adults exist, and all this may have unexpected solutions and perspectives. Performances are good, realistic (particularly Jelle Florizoone as Pim, Eva Van Der Gucht (as Yvette, Nina Marie Kortekaas as Sabrina), but due to the complexity and versatility of elements, the plot is not seamless, the balance between slow and fast scenes is odd sometimes. Anyway, strong 7 points from me, with a recommendation to watch - unless you are conservative or homophobic.

Pim, Gino, and Sabrina, are entering a period of sexual awakening and the movie is very much about finding love, first love, and heartbreaks. It's a bit of a strange movie with a very slow and dream-like pace. There seem to be a lot going on in Pim's mind but it doesn't always translate on screen. I am not criticizing the actor here because I think he did a great job, I'm just saying that some scenes could have used a little push to make them great.There are extremely long silences and yes, they are putting emphasis on those scenes and the fact that Pim lives in a dream world. But maybe there are too many of them. Pim cannot seem to catch a break in this film, when he's starting to get over Gino, here comes another heartbreak. In that aspect the movie is very realistic, it's a bit of an emotional roller coaster. There're subtle changes throughout the movie showcasing that change is part of life, something that we have to deal with.North Sea, Texas has beautiful photography, great visuals and score that add an eerie feel to the movie. Speaking about eerie, Pim started off, sweet but slowly got creepy - in my opinion - with his obsessive hoarding of anything guys he liked owned. I also didn't understand the whole alphabet reciting thing but it sure added to his creepiness.Finally, for a film set in the 1970s with gay characters, it was refreshing to see that the whole shame, self-loathing and guilt of being gay was dismissed for a coming of age story. Treating Gino and Pim's story as the most natural thing.If you haven't seen the movie please watch it and if you want to talk about it tweet me @wornoutspines.

This film is about a quiet and introverted young boy in Northern Belgium, who falls in love with the boy next door."North Sea, Texas" is a slow moving film, but it captures your attention by its great story telling. The story has little dialog, but a lot is told between the lines. Every action and every facial expression tells more than a thousand words. For example, the film tells viewers that the town is underprivileged by minor details such as Gino's mother pouring sugar sachets into a jar, and Pim's mother wearing the same dress almost every time she goes out. Towards the ending, there are scenes open to interpretation, leaving viewers to discuss what really happens."North Sea, Texas" is more of a film to feel and empathise. It is well made, and will touch your heart.