Summer Storm (2004)

Tobi and Achim have been best friends for years. As cox and oarsman they have helped their team win several rowing cups in the past and are now looking forward to the big regatta in the countryside. But this trip is no summer camp and the first problems soon arise. As Achim's relationship with his girlfriend grows more serious Tobi starts to realize that his feelings for Achim run deeper than he's willing to admit to himself. He feels confused unsure of himself and increasingly left out. When the much-anticipated Berlin girls' team is being replaced by a team of athletic cliche-busting young gay men Tobi and his teammates are suddenly forced to grapple with their prejudices their fears and perhaps their hidden longings. As the tension grows Tobi Achim and the others head toward a confrontation as fierce and ultimately as liberating as the summer storm gathering over the lake.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: R UPC: 796019795456 Manufacturer No: 79545 Product Description

Artistic and Cute

The movie was professionally done, but all in all, it's not that different from most other gay movies out there. Still good though, and definitely worth watching. August 24, 2008

Saved By The Storm

Despite it being rather unrealistic that one school rowing team in a competition would be entirely gay and out, this film does indeed have it's saving grace in its dealing with the emotions of being a gay youth - denial, coming out, trust and homophobia. The tender moments between beautiful guys will touch ones heart. July 21, 2008

The missing Scene

The American version of the movie has an important scene cut which is not edited out on the British DVD - why this is so I do not know. In addition the DVD available on Amazon.co.uk has an interview with the director and co star.

June 24, 2008

Nice Story

This is a member of the string of series of the "young coming out of age movies" like "Beautiful Thing," "Get Real," " some stories in the Boys Briefs Series and the Boys Life Series," and many other titles involving buddies relationships with gay and straight boys. This theme with boys having crushes, and not getting what they want, growing up, and finally accepting their sexual orientation. All of them have a cast of "cute" straight kids. Some people are willing to accept these stories perhaps on the beauty of the actors. Others may not based on what they have experienced personally. Life is a lot harsher than what is depicted on the screen.

This is German movie with English subtitles. The movie starts with two boys jumping on a playground with the beautiful ballad "Blond on Blond" performed by the American Rock Band Nada Surf (which is repeated at the end of movie again.) Tobi and Achim are best friends since little. They are members of a rowing team in a town in Bavaria. Tobi is the lead for the guy's team. There is also a girl's team. They are going to a rowing competition in Berlin. Tobi has crush on Achim but he doesn't know it. Tobi is gay and Achim is straight. There is Anke who has a crush on Tobi. She is a member of the girl's team. And Sandra who has a crush on Achim.

Everybody is ready to go on the trip and all expectations are high on everybody loosing their virginities. Things get complicated when one of the other teams on the campsite are all gay boys. There is some hard treatment and dislike among Tobi's team and them. Gunther, one of the gay boys, develops a crush on Tobi. Tobi is in turmoil because of all his gay feelings coming to the surface. Anke finds out about Tobi. Achim has sex with Sandra and fights with Tobi. Gunther has some form of sex with Tobi. A storm appears in the area. Everybody takes refuge in a empty summer home. Tobi and Gunther sleep together after Tobi being kicked out of Achim's room. Tobi comes out to everybody in the morning. The gay team wins the rowing competition. And Tobi goes home a changed man.

This is again one of those candy eye movie with gorgeous, cute actors. The story is old. It shows how difficult is to come out because of the reactions by friends, peers, and family members. Even though Achim and Tobi mend things somewhat at the end, the process is rather painful one, and most of the time the gay kid is left out in the cold, alone. This is portrayed rather well at the end of this movie (the music softens the blow.) It is a nice picture. January 16, 2008

A cute coming out movie.

This was a cute coming out movie. I enjoyed how Germany and others in Europe except the gay community. I wish America was more like Europe. October 20, 2007

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