Reflective Encounters

“Cas and Naomi have carved a safe space for themselves amidst the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam and their friendship seems invincible, their bond unbreakable. Seventeen years old, gay and lesbian respectively, and, not least, on the verge of adulthood. Both of them navigate only a small portion of their lives untethered; all the while their stunts and pranks have made a home out of the city streets, their rooms, the classroom they share. It’s also in the gestures of intimacy where a hope for an everlasting companionship can be found: it’s in the repetitive squeezing of the insistent pimple on Cas’s back, and equally so in their silly bird call which snaps them out of miserable times.

Dutch filmmaker Vincent Tilanus keeps an eye for the tests in their smooth ride of a friendship and his work with newcomers Tijn Winters and Jetske Lieber testifies to the inclusivity and rewarding frivolity of his direction. The two actors share a spark of unconditional devotion, one that is not exclusive of trouble and upsets, but the gentle pace with which the film advances, leaves enough room for both fights and forgiveness. Some friendships can move mountains with such grace.”

— Savina Petkova