User reviews

Being only 21 minutes in length, it manages to achieve a level of intimacy,intensity and sensibility most full-feature films I've seen never reached. It is utterly unsentimental (rightly so) and pinpoints all the turmoil, conflicts and sexual tension of adolescence with devastating acuteness. The dialogues between the two main actors are sparse and spontaneous, seemed more improvised than anything else. The camera captures most of the film during such natural, undramatic moments, that the first sexual encounter has a magical and electrifying quality to it...actually gave me goose bumps. IMO this is the most effective way to portray a relationship that is at once so fragile and passionate. The ending rounds it all up with something you could call a "moral"...but it's nothing as simple as that.

A gem

I am honestly impressed by this short film. It managed to balance a great direction and a brilliant performance by the two young actors. It describes a relationship between two "wild/whiz" kids. The feelings the film is talking about are not easy to be represented. If love is a natural instinct and we are all animals, I would say this film is about the original natural state every human being experiences during teen age. And not only then. Am I going too far?

This film is about the development and evolution of the friendship between two teenage boys.

I can't quite believe it won the best short film awards. After watching it, I have no idea what "Freunde" is about. The film may capture their sexual tension, but that is really all there is to it. The plot, if there is one, is uninteresting. The ending is one big mystery to me, as there is a sudden big twist involving a girl. The whole film looks so amateur and unfinished.

"Freunde" is just every day events being plainly presented on film. There is little character development, and the two teenagers are unengaging. I am afraid I have wasted 20 minutes on this film.

for the wise art to present the nuances of a special age. for the science to reflect the tension between boys. for the dialogues who preserves high level of realism. a film about searches and dreams and bravery and games of two friends. the tension as the axis of relation. and the central moment - dramatic, fake or source of ambiguity in many other films- like the normal answer to the exploration each of other. a great thing is the acting. the vulnerable , sensitive Johannes. the blaze, mature Marco. the secrets and gestures and normal reactions.each as source of seduction. because nothing is more than form of self discover. including the last scene - test for Marco to define the last day event and to demonstrate his power to Johannis.