A student strike at a Danish boys school in the 1970's is the backdrop for "Du er Ikke Alene", considered one of the best coming-of-age films ever made. The focus is on the conflict between the headmaster's old fashioned views and the liberal views of the boys. It explores the relationship between 15-year-old Bo (Anders Agensø) and 12-year-old Kim (Peter Bjerg), the younger son of the stern boarding school headmaster (Ove Sprogøe). Kim sneaks out into Bo's bed late at night where an intimate relationship begins. It is portrayed as something natural, and they do not hide it from the other boys, who consider it normal. Then a student is expelled for displaying pornographic posters and the other students decide to protest and hold a strike. Kim and Bo decide to "come out" to the school, and in front of parents and classmates show a video they made about their relationship that concludes with a long and passionate kissing scene. This film was made during a time when gay-themed movies were all but forbidden, and it is a brave, delicate, tender, unpretentious tale of the bonding that occurs between two boys. The story develops slowly, so some viewers find it somewhat boring. Directors Lasse Nielsen and Ernst Johansen made a groundbreaking film about first love without sentimentality, with depth, candor, and a sensitive handling of a controversial theme. The English title is "You Are Not Alone".
