''Just Friends'' ( nl, Gewoon Vrienden) is a 2018 Dutch

romantic comedy Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a subgenre of comedy and slice of life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount most obstacles. In a typica ...

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

directed by Ellen Smit, starring Majd Mardo and Josha Stradowski. 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. It premiered on

BNNVARA BNNVARA () is a broadcasting association and network within the Dutch public broadcasting system. History BNNVARA was founded on 1 January 2014 through a merger of the BNN (founded 1997) and VARA (founded 1925) associations. These continued to ...

on 7 March 2018.

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.

Cast

* Majd Mardo as Yad * Josha Stradowski as Joris *

Jenny Arean Jenny Arean (born Joanna Jenneke Josepha Klarenbeek, 4 October 1942) is a Dutch singer, actress and comedian. She is known for her contralto voice. Life and career Arean was born in Lisse and raised in Amsterdam. Her father was a waiter and her ...

as Ans * Tanja Jess as Simone * Melody Klaver as Moon * Mohamad Alahmad as Elias *

Nazmiye Oral Nazmiye Oral (born 1969) is a Dutch actress and writer. She has won a Golden Calf for Best Acting in a Television Drama. Career Nazmiye Oral began her career working for Dutch Muslim Broadcasting and interviewing figures such as Theo van Gog ...

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

* {{IMDb title, id=7901640 2018 LGBT-related films 2018 romantic comedy films Comedy television films 2010s Dutch-language films Dutch LGBT-related films Dutch romantic comedy films Dutch television films Films shot in the Netherlands Gay-related films LGBT-related romantic comedy films LGBT-related television films Romance television films 2018 films