In this short motion picture, schoolboy Kees is intelligent, introvert and sensitive, but gets ridiculed verbally and physically at an all-boys school by mindlessly cocky classmates and even insensitive teachers, especially in gym, where his physical weakness is mercilessly abused to make him a defenceless laughing stock in front of his smirking peers.
His awakening sexual interest goes to boys, and in particular to Charel, a beautiful athletic classmate who probably feels an undetermined interest but would never risk admitting (possibly not even to himself) having any gay or bi appreciation, least of all for a 'sissy', and thus remains unresponsive to shy Kees' overtures. When the hunk finally comes over to Kees place while his parents are away, a tragic twist is in the making as the ending shows Kees taking control by devising a plan of revenge against Charel.
The film was originally released on VHS in the United Kingdom in 1993 as part of a collection of three short films titled Boys on Film 2.[1] It was released on DVD in 1999 in the United States under the English title To Play or To Die.[2]
Reception
Bruce Steele wrote in The Advocate that foreign-film lovers will be pleased "with this stylish, gripping festival favorite about a Dutch boys' school misfit and his ill-fated crush on an athletic classmate."[3]LA Weekly noted that the film is an "intense enigmatic psychological drama where powerful bullies and sadomasochistic games are stock in trade." They also said the ending is a "difficult and painful pas de deux with surprising results."[4]
Film critic Kevin Thomas stated this film "is a subtle, hypnotic drama in which a slight, studious youth is confronted with his true nature in devastating fashion, for he is hopelessly drawn to the class bully who also happens to be remarkably handsome." He further opined that "the psychological insight, the details and nuances, the superb acting and the exquisite sense of style that characterize this film make it a small-scale masterpiece."[5]
Critic Adam Groves opined that "it starts off like a typical adolescent whine fest" but when Kees invites Charel over, "hoping to exact revenge, he gets far more than he bargained for; in the final reel the film takes an unexpected dive into Kees disturbed psyche, with an increasingly surreal veneer that calls into question the reality of all that came before; it all adds up to a troubling yet compelling concoction that’s harsh, intelligent and thoroughly unpredictable."[6]
1 2 Dean, Peter (January 1994). "Boys on Film 2: To Play or to Die (Spelen of Sterven) directed by Frank Krom". Sight and Sound. Vol.4, no.1. p.63.
↑ Krom, Frank (1999) [1990]. To Play or To Die (DVD) (in Dutch and English). 759295140028.
↑ Steele, Bruce C. (9 November 1999). "Screen Kisses: Lesbian and Gay Independent Films on DVD". The Advocate. No.798. p.52.
↑ Los Angeles Premiere (2 July 1992). "The 10th Annual Los Angeles International Gay and Lesbian Film and Video Festival: To Play Or To Die". LA Weekly. p.12B.
↑ Thomas, Kevin (13 July 1992). "Holy Bunch in Gay, Lesbian Film Festival". Los Angeles Times. p.9.
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