What is Cinema?

In cinema, a typical scenario of a young unrequited first love goes something like this: Two teeners develop tender feelings for each other for the first time; the challenge is that either one of them or both can’t say it out loud. If they do, there are some reservations. In that regard, the Dutch film JONGENS (𝘉𝘰𝘺𝘴, 2014), directed by Mischa Kamp, can be said to have a rather simple and familiar story. In this film, we have two aspiring teenage track-and-field athletes, Sieg (Gijs Blom) and Marc (Ko Zandvilet), who happen to meet during one of their trainings. Immediately, sparks fly between the two boys. Though each has a somewhat different way of approaching their budding tender feelings. Sieg is quiet and reserved, more inclined to keep in check a possible romance and to steal some glances instead from afar. While Marc is outgoing and expressive, more than willing to let the other boy know of his growing feelings. Of course, it won’t really require some second-guessing regardin...