This movie gives you a view, granted a different slant, on the ever-present "coming-of-age" genre and shines a positive light on the subject matter. This exalts the arena of the John Hughes high school romance, however, this German film spins a tale of the difficulties of the firsts - first love, heartache, loathing, peer pressure, and finding a clique, etc. The two male leads, Tobi (Stadlober) and Achim (Ullman), share an honest friendship. They are everything to each other and when Tobi takes a risk with Achim, the shit hits the fan. Then there's the "standards" issue: the boyfirend and girlfriend status at home and at school. Having been through this, similarly, Director Kreuzpainter puts up a mirror on the "coming out" stories vein and unfolds how one person gets a backbone, and becomes a man. Thankfully society has grown up to embrace the emerging young gay man or young lesbian woman. "Summer Storm" is a superb film and not just another gay themed movie. I give it a rousing round of applause.