Just Friends (Dutch: Gewoon Vrienden) is a 2018 Dutch romantic comedy television film directed by Ellen Smit, starring Majd Mardo and Josha Stradowski.[1] The film was shown on opening night of the Perth International Queer Film Festival and won the Audience Award after showing at the MIX Milano International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.[2] It premiered on BNNVARA on 7 March 2018.[3]

Just Friends
Promotional poster
Dutch	Gewoon Vrienden
Written by	Henk Burger
Directed by	Ellen Smit
Starring	Majd Mardo Josha Stradowski Jenny Arean Tanja Jess
Composer	Rob Peters
Country of origin	Netherlands
Original language	Dutch
Production
Producers	Marijn Wigman Denis Wigman Roen Kiewik
Cinematography	Tjitte Jan Nieuwkoop
Editor	Godelinde Pollmann
Running time	80 minutes
Production company	CTM Films
Release
Original network	BNNVARA
Original release	7 March 2018 (2018-03-07)

Synopsis

Joris is a 21 & 1/2 year old nouveau riche Dutch man trying to come to terms with loss of his father 10 years back. His strong willed, conservative, and slightly racist mother is no help. Simone is caught up in her own emotions over her philandering late husband. Meanwhile, Yad, a 26 year old Syrian refugee whose family settled in the Netherlands is employed to do chores for Joris' grandmother Ans. He has returned from Amsterdam after “Amsterdam was too fun. My studies too boring” to live with his family “temporarily”. Yad has his own issues with his traditional upbringing, his dream to be a surfing instructor, running his own business goes against the expectation he continue his studies in medicine.

Despite different ages, backgrounds, and lifestyles there is an instant spark between the two. Drawn together through music and sports, mainly surfing their feelings for each other grow, they become more than "just friends".

Their mothers, Simone and Maryam, threaten to jeopardize their relationship. Due to the pressure Yad and Joris have a falling-out. Things turn better after; their mothers realize “you do not control love, love controls you”, Joris reconciles with the loss of his father, and Yad finds the courage to embrace what he loves.[4]

Cast

• Majd Mardo as Yad
• Josha Stradowski as Joris
• Jenny Arean as Ans
• Tanja Jess as Simone
• Melody Klaver as Moon
• Mohamad Alahmad as Elias
• Nazmiye Oral as Maryam
• Elène Zuidmeer as Fientje
• Roscoe Leijen as Gerlof
• Sjoerd Dragtsma as Mitch
• Younes Badrane as Trainer
• Stan Gobel as Young Joris
• Renske Hettinga as Young Moon
• Anne Prakke as Bart
• Sonia Eijken as Lely
• Malcolm Hugo Glenn as Erwin
• Tessa du Mee as Crematory clerk
• Justin Mooijer as Yad's friend

References

External links

• Just Friends at IMDb

На других языках

[de] Just Friends (2018)

[ru] Просто друзья (фильм, 2018)