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Queer And Here: Season 1 (Documentary Series)

By Golu
This docuseries is a lively and personal look at what it’s like to be queer in New Zealand today. Hosted by the really charming Aniwa Whaiapu Koloamatangi, it feels like you're being invited into all these different parts of the rainbow community that usually don't get much time on TV. The first season is made up of six episodes, each about 30 minutes long, and they all dive into different topics like family, faith, and the specific experience of being Takatāpui, which is the Māori queer identity. It does a really nice job of balancing the tough history of the LGBTQ+ community with a lot of modern-day happiness and pride. The show starts with Aniwa traveling all over the place to meet folks from every walk of life to see how their background and identity mix together. In the first episode, Aniwa actually takes his first HIV test, works through some stuff from his childhood by playing rugby with the NZ Falcons—one of the country’s gay teams—and checks out what Rainbow Youth is d...
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Easy Tiger (Sign Language/English/French)

By Golu
A few of us may have seen some of those European arthouse films, sometimes they are abstract and sometimes they are wonderful, so every time when I watch one, I am always skeptical. This film was one of those. It had barely any dialogues, very abstract setting, confused sexuality of the protagonist and a message, that I personally didn't understand as to what the point of this film in the first place. Thankfully the film ends in just an hour.

The story is basic, if you can call that. A good looking psychologist believes that he is living the perfect life both professionally and personally. During a session with a deaf male client, after the passing away of his boyfriend, the lead man feels a strong attraction to him and that stirs up feelings that have been long buried inside him. As he tries to maintain his relationship with his girlfriend and resist his desires, the psychologist is drawn to his client and the new feelings that he can no longer hide. They start having an affair and nether knows where this will lead to. The ending is also so bizarre and random.

The story is told mostly through International Sign Language and body language. Subtitles flash up on the screen throughout the film to give some sense of an over-riding narrative, which confuses me even more, because it snot like there are no dialogues. There is just no logic to when they do and don't happen. A good amount of film is spent on growing attraction between two men and how it comes about, but again the problem is, what is the point of the film. I hate it when filmmakers say that we want to audience to have their own interpretation. I mean, fuck that. The film fails to entertain, stimulate, excite or connect with the audience and I would really be curious to know who actually thinks this film is a gem or something, because for normal folks like me, this is a waste of time, money, talent. It all felt rather awkward and not put-together, despite two good looking male leads. (1.5/10)
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