Bavo Defurne Archives

Campfire is a coming-out movie set during a short camping trip for scouts in Europe. Tijl has a crush on Wout, both the total opposite of each other in character. Tijl is quiet, serious, sensitive, whilst Wout is outgoing without inhibitions and often fails to think through his actions.

Campfire

The movie highlights the many problems of love, especially when you are young and don’t recognise the patterns of love, know anything about the pitfalls, and really don’t know how to communicate your love. But it also, shows what happens between two individuals when one falls totally in love, and for the other, it is something he wants to experience but not necessarily something he wants to continue. It also shows the cliquishness of youth, and the rejection of one of the in-crowd because he broke a taboo.

It is a beautifully photographed movie and the music used is in the main subtle and not obtrusive.

The question is really is the movie real? Would it happen today? Are the differences in culture?

the movie is real, it feels real, but it is a time capsule. IN today’s world it would probably be different as today’s youth has so many opportunities for growth in acceptance of gay people, It is not to say that the rejection will not happen, that on occasions does as you can find out by watching so many of the shortcoming out documentaries on Youtube, but in the main today’s youth is more accepting. So are there cultural differences; well the movie is from Belgium, and Europe tends to be more open to relationships and love than the conservative United Kingdom or the United States, but social media is changing peoples perceptions.

I would recommend this movie and I know that it was released on DVD, but the chances are that in the main it has passed people by, so if you can find it on one of the TV channel or Youtube watch it and enjoy it.

Campfire

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