MovieChat Forums > Noordzee, Texas (2012) Discussion > Characters

Characters

posted 12 years ago by emoticon007
10 replies | jump to latest

1. When actually Pim and Gino had real relationship? Was it the first time when they were in the tent on the night of his 15th birthday? It was like Pim was ready as if they were used to do things together. Because when Gino had fight with Pim at the beach, he said that they were kids and it was just a game. Does it mean that they have been doing the sex stuff since kids?

2. I was confused regarding the timeline. In that beach, Gino said that Pim is going to be 17. So it took 2 years of gap that Pim and Gino were separated?

3. Who was Zoltan? Was he shown in the earlier parts? Maybe I lost track for the scene but they kept talking about a guy who came back. What does he have to do with the Pim's family? Yvette told that Zoltan was a boy and now he he's a man. During the night when Pim saw someone making up noise, it was Yvette and some guy. Was it Zoltan Pim's mother had sex with? And where they both gone after the incident? Because I didn't see them both after that.

4. Did Gino really love Pim and was a bi or closet gay? I thought he was just a horny straight boy who was just messing with some younger boy. How come suddenly in the ending parts he came back when he had that French girl to live with. Or he already broke up with the girl then only he came back to Pim?

[–] dkm1981 12 years ago

Having watched the film (finally) on DVD for the first time yesterday. I will attempt to answer some of the points you have raised.

1. I think that Pim and Gino had probably doing stuff together for ages. There is an earlier scene in the garage where they masturbate together and in doing this, the film avoids having to show that "first time realisation" moment between them. I think that in the tent is possibly the first time they actually have sex or maybe its even the first time they kiss, but you do get the impression that they have been doing "something" together before this night.

2. I think the film takes place over a few years. So yes, when Gino first starts seeing the french Girl, it is just after Pim reaches 15 and then he moves away with her. During the scene at the beach he mentions that Pim is "almost" 17. So its probably 18 months to 2 years since they last saw each other.

3. I believe Zoltan is part of a travelling fayre/carnival who rents the spare room at Yvette's house and has stayed with them before when he was younger (hence the "boy/man" comment). Someone does make a comment about Zoltan "not living in a caravan, like the rest of the fayre people" or something like that. It is obvious that Pim's mother had a crush on Zoltan, as did Pim and I think it is them who Pim catches together, leading to them running away together. Gino's mum also mentions about Pim's mother sleeping with lots of different men.

4. I think Gino was gay, and I think that a combination of breaking up with his Girlfriend and losing his mother made him realise that he wanted to be with Pim. The fact that she isn't supporting Gino at him mothers funeral suggests that all is not well between them. Also at the time the film is set 70's/80's it was not as acceptable as it is today to be gay. I think a few young men (and women too) who were confused over their sexuality used to "fool around" with a menber of the same sex before trying to have a "normal" relationship with a member of the opposite sex when they reached 18.

The good thing about the ending is that it leaves the view to make up his/her own mind about it, but in the interviews on the DVD the director does say that he wanted to give the viewer the positive ending that a lot of gay movies sadly still do not, so for that reason, I like to think that Gino DID come back to be with Pim.

Sorry my answers were long but I hope they helped.

[–] emoticon007 12 years ago

I really appreciate your lengthy post, it's so much respect for me to be replied with such good one. I thank u so much.

And yea I just realised that this is the only lgbt movie which ending is positive rather than sad one. Im not sure if there are other movies like this

[–] dkm1981 12 years ago

Its not a problem. Im happy to offer advice. You are right, there are very few gay movies where the two guys who really should end up together actually do. I would however recommend Shelter (2007) or Defying Gravity (1997). I wont give anything away but they are both definately worth watching.

[–] TheCineSinge 11 years ago

You should check out Weekend. If you liked this, I think you'd like that.

It's quite a fantastic film, regardless. Certainly in my top 5 of 2011.

[–] Star_AD 11 years ago

Very nice interpretation :) thanks

[–] a-lobach 11 years ago

3.
You can see the 'boy Zoltan' during the opening credits. This is happening at the fair. Zoltan is beeing admired by some girls. But Zoltan sees the young Pim and waves to him. Young Pim runs to Zoltan. Zoltan than lifts Pim into the air.

Quite sweet.

[–] advice31765 11 years ago

Yes, Zoltan was in the opening credits lifting up Pim. He was a day labourer who travelled with the carnival. When he was in town he would rent the spare room at Pim's house. But he went south with the winter with the carnival.

He comes back more of a man (and with a mustache) and Pim has a crush on him. Then Pim walks in on his mother in bed with Zoltan and the next day his mother goes away with Zoltan following the carnival.

[–] bastion2014 10 years ago

The scene where Pim walks in on Zoltan and this mother begins when Pim strokes his hair to get it into place, unbuttons and then buttons his pajama top; he seems to be preparing to go into Zoltan's room with the intent of seducing him.

In another thread there was a comment that Pim did not remember Zoltan from his childhood; I beg to disagree. Pim does not smile much and yet he smiles as he gets Zoltan a drink (or maybe a similar scene, if I recall correctly), and seems happier when he is around. I believe he does remember the affection and kindness Zoltan showed him when he was a child. Children might not remember events but they do indeed remember kindness that was shown them and by whom.

[–] blindvias-071407 10 years ago

I understood that Zoltan had lived with Yvette before, when Pim was much younger.

When Pim and Gino were talking at the beach and Pim told Gino he was going off with Zoltan, my impression was that Gino was jealous, and so he had feelings for Pim. However, Gino's sexuality seemed more fluid than Pim. Pim was clearly never going to grow out of his same sex attractions while Gino developed interest in girls as he matured. My take on what the movie is saying here is that sexuality is complicated and there is no right or wrong nor should there be shame about it. To underline that, Gino's Mom encouraged them to remain close when her time was nearly over.

In the end Gino admitted his love for Pim, but I would guess they are not destined to be life partners. However, that long-term outcome is not a point the movie is trying to make although folks seem to want to know it.

[–] Rasterax 10 years ago

1. When actually Pim and Gino had real relationship? Was it the first time when they were in the tent on the night of his 15th birthday? It was like Pim was ready as if they were used to do things together. Because when Gino had fight with Pim at the beach, he said that they were kids and it was just a game. Does it mean that they have been doing the sex stuff since kids?

2. I was confused regarding the timeline. In that beach, Gino said that Pim is going to be 17. So it took 2 years of gap that Pim and Gino were separated?

I found this sort of jarring too. This film, moving as it often is, doesn't do a very good job of establishing a sense of time passing. It's only in hindsight that it becomes apparent that Pim and Gino's affair apprently lasted for quite a while instead of just the brief bits we saw. And if it hadn't been said I wouldn't have guessed that the entire story takes place over a two-year timespan. It might as well have been a few weeks. That's why it's weird when Gino says they were just kids in the beach scene. Because it doesn't seem to the viewer (to me, anyway) that so much time has supposedly passed.