Friends Forever (aka Venner for altid/1986/Denmark/Water
Bearer DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: C Extras: D Film: B-
It is
very hard to deal with sexual oppression, society and gay issues when even
discussing the subject, let alone doing it in the context of a well-rounded
narrative and in the world of teenagers, but Stefan Henszelman’s Friends Forever (aka Venner for altid/1986) juggling
insecurities, critical growth periods, homophobia and peer pressure.
Kristian
(Claus Bender Mortensen) has moved to a new neighborhood, placing him into a
new high school. There, he meets many
new people, including two seemingly different male peers. Henrik (Thomas Elholm) is a bit eccentric,
believes in mediation, knows self-defense and will not bother to be involved
with the main peer group of troublemaking loudmouths. This causes him to be criticized all the way
down to his sexuality and Kristian cautiously becomes his friend.
However,
it is rough going, he likes him and tries to juggle that with being possibly
accepted into the main group. Patrick
(Thomas Sigsgaard) is the loudest of the homophobic loudmouths in the group,
even getting Kristian nearly into trouble a few times. But soon, Kristian cannot keep skirting the
issue of who he is and who he’ll choose to be friends with, leading to
surprises on all sides.
Henszelman
(who co-wrote the screenplay with Alexander Korschen) shows great range,
sensitivity and observation in the telling of this story and even when a few
plot points seem less likely, they are never wildly so and the film makes all
of its points as it moves forward with great energy, warmth and
intelligence. It also becomes a time
capsule of the time it takes place in, showing a nostalgia for a time when
teens could still be teens before ugly new realities set in permanently. All in all, the film is worth going out of
your way for and is one of the best teen films of the 1980s, especially as
compared to the many plastic cash-in Hollywood teen disasters that were more
like wallpaper than about people.
The letterboxed
1.85 X 1 image lacks detail and has aliasing issues, but the cinematography by
Director of Photography Marcel Berga still comes through very well. Color is consistent enough, but the transfer
shows a somewhat dated print. This would
be great in HD and we hope to see it as such down the line. The Dolby Digital 2.0 sound is monophonic
more than stereophonic and also shows its age.
The combination is watchable, but this is the last time the owners will
be able to get away with this transfer.
Sadly, there are no extras.
- Nicholas Sheffo
