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Il compleanno (Italian) [David's Birthday]

By Golu
A sexy, melodrama set against the operatic score of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde. A multi-star cast, it explores the complexities of human relations and the tests that your life takes and things it makes you do. A pitch perfect and beguiling ode to the all-encompassing pull of desire, David's Birthday stands out as an example of gay European cinema at its most potent.

Two married middle-aged couples head out to the stunning Italian coast for an ideal holiday in the sun. Diego and Shanny don't live together anymore because Deigo could never get his act together. She now lives in New York city with her 18 year old son David who is an underwear model in NY. She and Deigo had their baby when they were very young. The other couple Matteo and Francesca are also happy with a young 8 year old daughter. With their relationship seemingly solid and unflappable, the group of friends settle in for a typically serene beach holiday. When David arrives for the vacation, it is not just the young girls on the beach who are drawn to his Adonis-like beauty but Matteo as well who cannot fathom why is he getting so attracted to his friend's son. When Matteo finds he too is increasingly struggling to keep his desire under wraps, it becomes clear that he needs to do something about it. Various incidents happen that test the relationships of the 2 couples and the vacation goes on with a Shanny's brother also joining them for a brief period. On David's birthday when no one is home, David and Matteo finally get to get thier passion in action. But Francesca sees it and in shock when she is running out, she gets killed. The movie ends with everyone mourning but no one still knows what happened between David and Matteo.

Pulsating with a raw eroticism, David’s sexuality steams up the screen. Matteo's struggle to keep his infatuation for David not very open is handled beautifully. Everyone's performance is top notch and so is the story. It beautifully shows the complexities of human relationship and how no one is perfect and they have their ups and downs. David’s Birthday expertly weaves its way toward an operatic crescendo which leaves you wanting more.

Beautiful and definitely watchable. (8/10)
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Comments

Unknown said…
Really wish this, and so many other gay-themed movies ended happily. Other than that, really worth watching.
January 3, 2011 at 2:59 PM
Golu said…
very true. It was def worth watching
January 4, 2011 at 11:07 AM
moonlitlake said…
Matteo' played by Massimo Poggio.Man,what a performance..I fell in love with his intense eyes.David,I felt, was wooden.Innocence was missing.
January 25, 2012 at 6:54 AM
Golu said…
I think, David's character was supposed to be that way. Remember that he was an underwear model , so he is really not that innocent (in terms of worldly wise) but maybe just in terms of sexuality
January 25, 2012 at 8:37 AM
mikedtw said…
I just watched this on Netflix. I hope it was uncut, not sure. This was definitely watchable, except for the horrifying cliche ending which wants to tie everything up as a morality tale: gay = horrible consequences at the end. I'm sorry: I laughed my ass off at that point! I thought the movie might follow Tristan and Isolde more closely as its included in the movie as a play, and the music is used, heavy-handedly, as background in the film but even that doesn't explain the consequences. The actors are fun to watch, Massimo Poggio is quite gorgeous, David was so-so for me. )I wanted to be further informed by their late-night encounter on the beach, that was what I was wondering might have gotten cut in the version I saw.) Very high marks to Massimo's depiction of a man crumpling under the weight of his desires.
January 30, 2012 at 1:47 AM
moonlitlake said…
i liked the ending...though it was sad.
February 3, 2012 at 11:26 AM
Golu said…
Agreed the ending was sad but it was realistic IMO :)
February 4, 2012 at 9:16 AM
mp said…
Reading the comments, glad I'm not the only one who was in love with Massimo Poggio's eyes.
Great movie, but again sad ending.
March 26, 2013 at 9:13 AM
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