Movie Reviews -
Gay Themed

When you read where the plot says that the film is a intricate gay love story between a musician and a bully set in Russia with landscapes of Moscow in winter, I was really looking forward to this film. I mean how many movies have we ever seen from Russia of all places, but gosh!! this film went over me so badly. I am not really sure what it was trying to say, but besides an intriguing plot, the execution left a lot to be desired. Eric, a budding musician, is preparing for an important audition and his teacher is not really happy with his progress. The day gets worse when traveling in bus, a ruffian Lyokha simply takes Erik’s headphones and phone, leaving his keychain behind. Even though Eric's teacher advised him proper rest, he decides to spend a night with his boyfriend(?) and his other gay friends all night drinking. Lyokha uses Erik’s stolen cell phone to get hold of Eric and ask him to return his keychain. This brings the two together again and initiates an uneasy dance of so...

Set in 1985, a Russian Neo gothic and surreal cinema, this is a "story of sex and love, rejection and acceptance, passion and depravity," emotions that the producers say are indistinguishable "for anyone pushed to the fringes of society." Described here as 'Outlaws'. Outlaw is bold, ambitious but very confusing and naïve at the same time, to make any sense out of it. A gay teen boy is struggling with being bullied and his homosexual desires for the bad-boy classmate. A rebellious young girl is vying for the same boy's attention. Their history teacher Nina, has secrets of his own past that continue to haunt him. He advices the gay boy to try and mix with students so as to not stand out. And in parallel, the film keeps switching to the 80's showing is the love affair of this teacher with an army general. I was quite surprised to see a gay storyline from Russia. The film’s LGBT subject matter is set to attract controversy there, so I am not sure how the...

A film that tracks a gay relationship in Siberia in Russia. As it is the topic can be controversial enough, especially in a geography like Siberia where apparently there are fewer than four people per square mile and where mile upon mile of open country is completely devoid of any settlement. There was a very good scope of making a beautiful love story with these surroundings but somewhere I feel the makers got too involved in the location than the actual story and relationship. Closeted gay man Sasha is suicidal after his last secret boyfriend called off their relationship. Eventually he is coming out of the hibernation. One week when Sasha's grandmother fails to return the calls , his mother asks Sasha to accompany his brother-in-law Dima (his sister's husband) to visit her to make sure everything is fine. This starts a couple of days of drive sand trek during which we find that the two men have secretly been having an affair. It seems Dima is feeling more and more pain and w...

It was disturbing to watch this film. Disturbing not in a bad way, but in a way that you feel like appreciating what you have in your life. There are worse places and countries to be out there being a gay man. Surely, we have seen films about homophobia and gay-violence; but this film IMO shakes you up from inside. It is so hauntingly real, that it is difficult to explain. Anton and Vlad are a very happy domesticated couple in Moscow. One evening, having taken a wrong turn in their car, they witness what they believe is a vicious gay bashing. Anton wants to help but Vlad pleads him to not do so of this own safety. They later hear about a young man being admitted in hospital with what is believed to be homophobic attack who later dies. Part of Anton feels responsible in some way and wants to investigate the story behind it. It’s dangerous territory but Anton is persistent, Vlad agrees to help. They make a plan and get help from the deceased’s siblings. Anton also gets help from Katya...

For any documentary to be successful, it is very important for it to hold viewers attention. Tell a story that has something important to say, incorporate key characters and their interactions and present in a way that viewers wanna know whats going to happen next. Sadly, this documentary miserable fails in the latter. It does have an important story to tell. But it is so long and drawn and boring that within 30 minutes into it and you have already completely lost the interest. Based on the stories from the Children-404 social networking project, which offered Russian (and international) youth a channel to express themselves and seek or offer support, this documentary’s name wants to say that ‘visibility is vital’. In 2013, Russian President Vladimir Putin passed a bill forbidding the “promotion of nontraditional sexual relations to minors.” LGBT youth, now defenseless against insults and intimidation under this “gay propaganda” law, are considered sick, sinful and abnormal. The t...

Another one of the recent weird films that I have been seeing. This film has absolutely no plot and there are scenes that just go on and on and on for a long time without giving much push to the story. The camera loves the two lead actors to the extent that I simply could not figure out if paternal love was crossing over into incest or just homo-eroticism. Father and the son live alone in a rooftop apartment in their own private world and are very close to each other. The extent of closeness is never fully explained. Following in his father's footsteps, Alexei attends military school. He likes sports, tends to be irresponsible and has problems with his girlfriend. But his girlfriend cannot fathom the closeness between the father and son. Enter another guy who is supposedly the son of the father's old friend. He enters their life and slowly their world starts to change wherein the father is first close to this new boy and then the son become the friend. The film goes on for a wh...

I am so glad i saw the movie. I have said time and again that I am a sucker for good romantic movies which slow a real slice of life. And believe me this one could be very true to someone's life. Tim, an advertising professional and Vera, a news anchor are very much in love. They have been dating for almost a year. On the other side, an illegal immigrant Uloomji is looking for a job and s now working in a zoo. He is a free bird. One fateful night, Uloomji has an accident by Tim's car. Since it is a police case, the hospital folks refuse to look at him and so Tim takes Uloomji to his home. When Vera comes home he tells her the whole story. Next day Uloomji comes to visit again. After a few moments of controlling himself, Tim cannot control any longer and gives into the old rough world charm of Uloomji. They both seem to fall in love with each other. When Vera finds out, she doesn't know what to do. She still loves Tim very much. Tim also cares for her but doesn't love he...