We are Boys

One last summer of friendship before childhood slips away

We Are Boys is a documentary by Tomas Kaan that observes the close friendship between Jim, aged twelve, and Sam, aged ten, during what may be their last carefree summer together. Jim is about to leave his village to attend secondary school, a step that marks not only a transition into adolescence but also a separation from Sam, who will remain behind. The film unfolds during this decisive summer, when time feels both abundant and fragile.

The boys spend their days roaming the provincial countryside around their home, filling long summer hours with mischief, laughter, and curiosity. They wander through meadows, sneak around their neighbour’s house, set fire to their own flatulence, laugh over drawings from a school book about sexual orientation, swim with friends, and talk openly about bodies, shaving, and the confusing signs of growing up. These playful moments are balanced by quieter scenes, especially at night, when conversations before bedtime reveal dreams, fears, and a growing awareness that childhood is coming to an end.

The camera moves with the restless energy of Jim and Sam as they run, cycle, and explore, yet it also keeps a respectful distance when intimacy takes over. Through observation rather than explanation, the film becomes an ode to boyhood, friendship, and freedom. As summer draws to a close, it becomes clear that this season represents a turning point, capturing the bittersweet moment when friendship is tested by time and the first steps toward adulthood begin.