Joris (Josha Stradowski) is grappling with broken family relationships on the tenth anniversary of his father’s death when he meets Yad (Majd Mardo), a free-spirited windsurfing instructor. Yad, who has returned to Holland after living on his own, is also dealing with family issues. The two instantly connect and decide they want to be more than “just friends,” but they fear their families could threaten their relationship, especially their overbearing mothers. As their love story unfolds, Joris evolves from an introvert to more of an extrovert with Yad's help, highlighting the deep family dynamics and values that make this film stand out.
Original title: Gewoon vrienden
“Just Friends,” directed by Annemarie van de Mond, is a beautiful Dutch film that is well worth watching. The screenplay, written by Henk Burger, is executed brilliantly, and the film features strong, remarkable performances from Dutch actors Majd Mardo and Josha Stradowski as the male leads, Yad and Joris, respectively. Veteran actress Jenny Arean is wonderful as Ans, delivering a memorable performance in every scene she is in.
The film’s synopsis is compelling: Joris (Josha Stradowski) is trying to come to terms with his broken family relationships on the tenth anniversary of his father’s death when he meets the free-spirited Yad, a windsurfing instructor. Yad, also dealing with family issues, has returned home to Holland after living on his own. When Joris and Yad meet, they spark an instant connection and quickly decide they want to be more than “just friends,” as the title suggests. However, they fear their families, particularly their overbearing mothers, could threaten their burgeoning relationship.
The film does an excellent job of portraying the evolution of Joris’s character. Throughout the movie, it is neat to watch Joris evolve from an introvert to more of an extrovert, thanks to Yad’s influence. This seductive and flirty romantic comedy goes beyond the usual young LGBTQ love story by incorporating rich family dynamics and values that are depicted impeccably.
“Just Friends (2018)” is a movie with a lot of heart. Josha Stradowski, Majd Mardo, and Jenny Arean give terrific performances, and the rest of the cast is equally memorable. Compliments to Annemarie van de Mond for directing such a poignant film and to Henk Burger for his solid screenplay. “Just Friends” is deserving of all the praise it receives, standing out as a touching and insightful romantic comedy that resonates with audiences on multiple levels.
