BOYS WILL BE BOYS

DRIE DAGEN VIS

2024 / 85 min / b&w

In Dutch director Peter Hoogendoorn’s second feature, a father comes back from Portugal, where he lives, to The Netherlands, his country of origin. Like every year, he tends to some errands and some doctors’ appointments, but most of all he wants to spend time with his adult son, who has an odd worldview and a lot of eccentric opinions. As they engage in banal, everyday activities, the two men try to make up for lost time, discussing a wide range of topics. Meanwhile, they attempt to process the mutual regrets and resentments that shape not only their relationship, but the father-son dynamic as such. Shot in black and white, this intimate and funny drama received well-deserved acting awards at Karlovy Vary last year for its two leads — Ton Has and Guido Pollemans. This unforgettable pair masterfully captures the nuances and contradictory emotions that often operate behind father-son dynamics. The film reveals how either one of them can be the “little boy,” regardless of age.

• Karlovy Vary IFF – Best Actor (Ton Kas, Guido Pollemans);
• Haifie IFF – Best Debut Film