"Friends Forever" (Vennes For Altid) is a Danish film shot back in 1986. It tells the story of 16 year old Kristian who finds himself in a new school and desperate to fit in. Most of his classmates remain stand-offish; except for an odd, self-confident (metro-sexual) loner named Henrik who makes overtures of friendship. At first Kristian is enamored with Henrik's sincere free-spirit, but once he learns that friendship with him is poison to his chances of fitting in with the in crowd, he chooses the in crowd. It's leader is Patrick who quickly makes Kristian his favorite.
The story is universal in its portrayal of high school social politics. It's complicated when Patrick suddenly moves into a room in a communal apartment building and falls in love with the older captian of a local soccer team! Kristian is left in a cloud of confusion and betrayal....but like the title suggests, all is resolved in the end.
Which is really what I want to comment on: The Ending. I've never been one to come to any party on time, so perhaps this is yesterday's news, but what the frick is it about movies (perfectly fine movies that tell absolutely adequate stories) that end by suddenly bursting into a half-assed, high school quality, ensemble musical number!!! Is this a genre that I was never taught about in school!?
The first time I encountered it was in the Scott Campbell AIDS film, "Longtime Companion". After sitting through a wrenching story of love, loyalty, disease and death; the entire cast suddenly shows up at a Fire Island tea dance to frolick again in blissful friendship. More recently it was the French film "Cote d'Azur" (WIW #93 15 JUL 07). And in "Venner For Altid" the entire cast suddenly appears on a stage in a palacial park dressed in everything from Elizabethan Costume to a tutu with roller blades! It's frankly humiliating, disconcerting in reference to the previous 93 minutes of the movie, and I'm sure that my expression in encountering this was once again priceless.
Filmmakers, listen to me! This just doesn't WORK. Don't ever do it again! (I'm using my TEACHER'S voice...)
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