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Showing posts with the label 1992

Gossenkind (German) [Streetchild]

This 90s German film feels like an absurd satire about German society and sexuality in those days. 90s were different times and this indie film tries to portray its own understanding of likely how things were during those times. The film gets slightly confusing at times but is very much focused on sex and sexuality. 14 year old Axel comes from a broken home with a substance-abusing mom and an abusive stepfather. Rather than go to school, Alex hangs out with his friends in the center of town and cruises a gay bar to try and find johns and make some money. Axel mostly appears quite assertive in his behavior, he is smart-mouthed, sometimes violent and sports a giant Elvis-like hairstyle. Things change when he meets an older guy, who is unhappily married, has a son and is likely hiding his sexuality. Their affair starts off as a blackmail event but slowly the relationship evolves. All this while Axel using his place to have sex with his girlfriend, who is also sleeping with his best friend...

Together Alone

This is one of those 2 actor film set in an apartment that could as well have been a play. This 1992 film and script solely relies on the dialogue heavy screenplay ad whether the two actors can really pull off the whole film on their own. Two young men Bryan and Brian meet at a bar, flirt and end up going to one of them's house for the night. Bryan gets on Brian's case for having given him a phony name earlier, thus setting off what amounts to an 87-minute, nonstop dialogue. Brian is an open, if not practicing, gay man, while Bryan is a married bisexual who needs the security and respectability of married life while venturing out for the occasional tryst. The whiny Brian has to deal with their engaging in unsafe sex, and the weight of the possible consequences provokes a conversation with the usual issues of commitment and the nature of relationships. Their conversation is marked by its candor and exploratory precision as the topics range from poetry, dream analysis, philosophy...

Since Stonewall (Short film collection)

Originally produced as 10 short motion pictures in the 1970's, 1980's and the early 1990's. Ten short films (two of which are animated) reflecting the feelings, fears, humor, artistry, and changing realities of gays and the gay life in America. 1. Which Is Scary Many stories are told relating difficult, traumatic, and sometimes humorous incidents in the teller's lives that resulted from their homosexuality. 2. Queerdom A cleft-chinned muscle man wakes up on morning feeling a little queer. Made in the 70s with the soundtrack from the 60s, this film evokes universal laughter of recognition. 3. A.I.D.S.C.R.E.A.M. A plea to gain understanding from a society that is trying to desexualized gay culture.  4. Discipline of DE The idea of DE (Do Easy) is to reduce all physical exertion to the absolute minimum. 5. Song From An Angel Records the moving and final performance of AIDS patent Rodney Price. 6. Triangle Expressionist drawings depict jazz-age escapism clashing with WW2. 7...

Kira Kira Hikaru (Japanese) [Twinkle]

I can't remember the names, but I have fir sure seen similar films about marriage of convenience. The fact that this film came back in 1992 (almost 30 years ago), is what makes it very special and interesting. Sure it doesn't take sides or even give you a satisfying conclusion, but thats understandable given none of the protagonists is really right or wrong. They all have their individual issues and they are trying to fit in the moiety in their own way. Mutsuki is a successful doctor and has a boyfriend Kon. Shoko, a girl coming of marriage age,  on the other hand is a translator but is also an alcoholic and also has been released from hospital (we are not told the exact reason). The duo meet through their parents and tell each other their secrets and still get married. A marriage of convenience is of course not a magical solution to their problems. Kon is understandably not happy about seeing his boyfriend getting married and moving in with another person. Shoko is also feelin...

The Living End

Neo-noir movie, a gay Thelma and Louise are some of the ways to describe this film. Released back in 92, I can see the film being relevant and doing quite alright for its audience. There is something that people could connect to, but I don't think it was relevant much today, not from a story perspective but from the message it is trying to give (Is it trying to give a message?). The film at least doesn't take the route of self pity after being disgonsed with AIDS and our protagonists wanting to live their life on their own terms.  The story is really simple. Jon and Luke, one os film critic and the other is a hustler are both HIV positive and a chance encounter enables them to rethink their life. Rather than self pity, they decide to take life head on and life their remaining life on their terms and decide to go on a road trip. The film follows these young guys on this road trip as they rediscover love with one another and as they discuss sex, death and the afterlife, and begin...

The Boys of Cellblock Q

I read somewhere that this is a bad porn movie minus the porn part. And I can't agree more. There is probably a support group of all people who have been deceived by the title and poster and given the fascination of gay men with prison and sex. Timmy has been sent to a juvenile prison work camp for committing murder. He gets thrown in the same cell with three other mates. Beef is the head cock of the cell block. Lana is the Queen Bee, as in he is about two steps from being a woman himself. Finally, there is Ludes, whom is obsessed with comic book and drugs. The Padre is the gayest of them all. Boss is a closet gay that likes to spank the men. Timmy has to learn how to make friends and survive his time in Cell block Q. There are random sexual scenes with people messing around and just trying to create an actual story out of it. The film reminded me of a recent prison movie that I saw but that was much better directed and actually had a motive behind it. In contrast, this...

Voor Een Verloren Soldaat (Dutch/English) [For A Lost Soldier]

It would be understatement to say that the subject of this film is extremely risky. I am still very torn in my evaluation of this love story between an unlikely odd couple, especially when one of them is barely a teenager. Apparently this is autobiography, seen by some, as perverted, the film is nevertheless readily accepted by many others as a heartwarming and sympathetic view of youthful homosexuality. In the pre-liberation Amsterdam of 1944, parents are sending their children off to the country to live with relatives, hoping that the farms are safer. Young Jeroen is placed in the care of one such family, ably headed by God-fearing patriarch Hait. Before long, the area is liberated by a group of Canadian soldiers who then take up a brief residence in the local hotel before pulling out. One young soldier, the handsome, melancholy Walt, develops a close relationship with Jeroen, teaching him to dance and palling around with him at every opportunity. Sensing a kinship in the boy,...

Love Bites

Not sure if this film was supposed to be a comedy film or not, but I definitely did not laugh at any of the jokes. I guess when it came out in 1992, there weren’t many openly gay movies, especially in the genre of vampires; so it probably was a refreshing change. But watching it now, feels like a drag of time, camp film, bad direction. Although story is slightly novel and interesting. Jake Hunter has strange fascination for vampires. Even when he has a hot guy next to him wanting to hook up, all he can talk about is vampires. He is stoked by the idea that there are vampire in LA and he fancies himself as the very model of a modern-day fearless vampire killer. He goes to a count’s home in search of vampire with all his killer bag but there he meets Leslie, who is a hustler hired by the count for his servant Manfield. Jake and the count have this weird connection but its soon clear that the count is actually a vampire. Jake brings Leslie home with him when he gets too drunk at night...

To Catch A Killer (Canada/USA)

Ok, so this is not a gay themed movie, per say, but the fact that it chronicles the true gruesome story of a homosexual serial killer who killed almost 30 young boys after sexually molesting them, makes it for a contender here. This was a made for TV film. At length of almost 3 hours, it doesn’t get boring because you are waiting to find what will the cops do to nail this criminal. When a local teenager Chris Gant disappears in Des Plaines, detective Joe, is assigned to the case. His initial investigation makes him believe that local businessman John Gacy might have something to do with the disappearance. He assigns a team to find out evidences but almost overtime their evidences are found to be circumstantial and hence an arrest is never made. Things get worse, when he threatens to sue the police department and Joe for almost million dollars. Also everyone, including joe’s boss thinks that Gacy is innocent and is a respectable member of the society. Gacy and Joe then begin a sadi...

The Boys of St. Vincent - Part 1 & 2 (Canada)

Horror, disgusting and unbeleivabale are some of the phrases that come to mind after you are done watching this 2 part mini-series / made for TV movie. Having been made in 1992, I can only imagine, how difficult would it have been to get it broadcast without repercussions. Based on some real life child sexual abuse scandals in the Roman Catholic Church, This is actually a 2 part film. The first film, " The Boys of St. Vincent" , covers the sexual and physical abuse of a number of orphans by Brothers. The second film, " The Boys of St. Vincent: 15 Years Later" , covers the trial of the Brothers that happens 15 years later as the title suggests. Brother Lavin and 10-year old Kevin Reevey form the central protagonists of the story. St Vincent’s Orphanage is run by All Saint Brothers led by Brother Lavin. Their authority is overwhelming both physically and sexually. Brother Lavin fancies Kevin and sexually abuses him on multiple occasions including beating him up b...

Les Nuits Fauves (French) [Savage Nights]

I thought this was a very weird movie. Actually had I seen it around the time when it came out in early 90's , it is slightly possible that my view could have been different but watching it today made me feel that the viewer was at times being taken for granted. This film can easily be classified as one of those artsy gay films. You need patience and time to watch this film because there is a whole lot going on and actually nothing going on at the same time. Jean, a professional photographer living in Paris discovers that he has contracted the HIV virus. He is young, fll of life and is shown gay. He meets Laura, a young actress whom he meets at an audition for a commercial he is working on. For some reason he has this instant attraction towards here and they start having sex without any protection, she being unaware of his HIV status. Meanwhile, Jean also continues having random gay encounters, as well as a sexual relationship with Samy, an aggressive and narcissistic young bodybu...

Swoon

I have a lot of movies to catch up on. I am not too happy that after such a long gap, this is the film that I saw. Although quite a few people might disagree with my review of this film, specially people who are actually familiar with the case, I will still say that the film was draggy and a little too stoic. I cant find the right word to describe what was it that I was missing in the film.  Based on true story in 1920's the film follows life of Nathan and Richard (Dick) known to people as Leopold and Loeb. Their relationship has been going on strong for a long time now. They seem to be bored with life. Out of this arises the lust for kidnapping a young boy in the name of ransom. This act goes horribly wrong when they end up killing the boy and the police finds a trail of them. The film follows how they get captured and ultimately what happens to them in prison and after. The men's demeanor throughout the interrogation and trial suggests a complete lack of, not only remorse, bu...

The Long Day Closes (UK)

This was a very very odd film. Set in 1950's, The film just goes through the life of a young teenage boy names Bud. He lives with his extended family in UK who run some o kind of restaurant etc. He is all alone and the movie just depicts his loneliness. Bud is a lonely and quiet child whose moments of solace occur when he sits in rapture at the local cinema, watching towering and iconic figures on the movie screen. The movies give Bud the strength to get through another day as he deals with his oppressive school environment and his burgeoning homosexuality. His world is influenced by his mother, sister and brother. The film just walks us through glimpses of his childhood (which could be autobiographical). These kind of movies most of the times dont make sense to me. I think this is director's over indulgence with himself that draws him to make these kind of movies. I mean the movie just goes nowhere. It is a series of mood scenes, perhaps remarkable as such, but I want more ...

Peter's Friends

I think I have mentioned before a few times in my blog about the kind of movies I prefer. I definitely like movies where there is a group of people and they show how there life is screwed up and how everyone has some or the other issues. It would be wrong to classify this film as gay film because apart from the fact hat Peter is hinted to be bisexual, there is nothing else in the movie that shows or depicts that it is for just gay audience. Six friends in an acting troupe graduate from Cambridge University in 1982 and go their separate ways. Ten years later, Peter inherits a large estate from his father, and invites the rest of the gang to spend New Year's holiday with him. Roger and Mary are now married. Mary is always stressed about their son because they already have lost another child. She i always in panic mode. They fight but towards the end they make up in a good way after Roger explains why it is necessary to let their son grow normally. There Is Sarah with her current boy...

Doing Time on Maple Drive

Wow! This was such a great film. I like these kind of families where in they show interaction between members of the family and whats going on in their lives. The Family Stone was one such film which I absolutely loved. I had no idea what I was going to expect before I saw this movie but I was so happy that I saw this one. Most of us at some point would be able to relate to one or the other incident in the film. The film starts with Lisa and Phil waiting for their son Matt's visit with his fiance Allison. Their daughter Karen also comes in for vacation with her husband Tom. They also have another son Tim who has alcohol issues. Lisa and Phil dote on Matt and he is their perfect kid. SO they want everything perfect for his visit. The film keeps going showing various interactions between members of the family. They show how all kids are so bound by what their parents want from them. Karen and Tom want to have a baby but Karen always makes excuse. But the real reason is that she is...