the short goodbye
by
Douglas Messerli
David
Peter Bonetti and Eilidh Gow (screenwriters and directors) Stum (Tongue-Tied)
/ 2018 [9 minutes]
In this Norwegian film, the students are attending an international school in Stavanger, a small city in the southwest of Norway where I have actually been. It’s a simple, and often told tale that is nonetheless quite powerful in this obviously student film.
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Sondre (Tom Dart), an English boy, and
Elias (Lars Kristian Gellein) are school-boy lovers, although Sondre is not yet
fully able to assimilate himself as being a young gay man. Elias is more than
sympathetic and attempts to comfort him, but also has some bad news. He’s been awarded
an internship in London, and announces to Sondre that he will soon be leaving.
Despite his not yet fully “out’ situation,
Sondre is devastated. Yet Elias messages him that they should meet on the beach
before he leaves, and Sondre—despite awakening far too late in the morning—rushes
off the meet up with his would-be lover. The two spend a few moments of joy on
the beach, and clearly Sondre begins to come to terms with his sexual identity.
Perhaps the relationship won’t
completely end. We at least are provided a hope that there is a future
possibility in this quick short.
Los
Angeles, April 18, 2025
Reprinted
from My Queer Cinema blog (2025).
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