After sharing a kiss on the floor of a Berlin nightclub, Harry finds himself spending his final day in Berlin with Johannes, who kindly offers to help him print a boarding pass. As they count down the hours until Harry’s flight, it’s a romantic but realistic tale of chance encounters that hold real impact.
Set on the streets of Berlin during a gorgeous summer, director Daniel Sánchez López manages to capture not only the intense heat of the streets but also the heat radiating between leads Alexandros Koutsoulis and Matthew James Morrison. The film passes by casually, never intrusive or overbearing, instead fun and playful as the pair continue to drink and party around the streets, leading to fascinating conversations and discussion as they explore the city and each other’s personalities.
Co-written by López and Hannah Renton, there is a natural ease to the story, feeling both romantic and realistic at the same time. Clever editing highlights the bond between the pair in ways that dialogue can’t always reach, tactile touch playing a vital role in the film’s choreography and composition.
There are plenty of other films of a similar nature, with the Before Sunset films springing to mind instantly, but Harry and Johannes are written and performed so succinctly that everything feels new and fresh. The conversations between the pair are honest, the raw conversations you can sometimes only have with a stranger or someone with who you feel an instant connection.
Streaming as part of the BFI Flare festival, Boy Meets Boy is a pleasant afternoon stroll of a film that may well leave you longing for hot summers and passionate flings.
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Ex film teacher and frequent couch potato. I try and see at least one new release a week, but I’ve somehow got to 30 without having seen The Godfather?
