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...
A very awkward and shy teenager Paul comes to this Welsh campsite with his overbearing and controlling mother. Paul has no charm for anyone to have a second look at him. At the camp he meets another teenager George, who unlike Paul is very assertive, bullish, confident and independent. He is there at his camp with his father, who is never around. We soon find that his father is alcoholic and hardly there. The both of them make good friends with Angharad, the daughter of camp owner. Soon the boys get closer and promise to meet exactly a year later so that they can run from everyone around them and move to Australia. One year later, Paul keeps his promise but George is nowhere to be seen. Looking for him, Paul & Angharad, go to England and find him in a bad shape and he refuses to go with them sayings father needs him. But just the very next day , he shows up extremely drunk. Cleary he has alcohol issues rooted in him because of his father's situation. Paul refuses to leave his side and work towards cleaning him up and make him better. After initial reluctance, even his mother comes around., but things are not meant to be. George cannot give up his addiction and has to pay the price for it resulting in death. The ending just shows Paul as a slightly more confident man, more in control of his life with a good support system with. His family and friends.
This film was probably done at a very low budget and towards the very beginning, the tone of the film is set. The one thing that wasn't clear to me throughout was why would someone like George bother with utterly boring and weird Paul. He remains completely without charm throughout the film, probably because thats how his character was established and this starts to get very annoying after a while. The love happens so quick between the actors that its hard to warm unto them and connect with them. The story is moving and emotional, only if the focus was done on that. It would have been nice to know more background on George. Why was he behaving the way he was. Clearly he also loved Paul and couldn't handle all the love showered on him by him because no one ever cared for him; but this could have changed and the film could have a bright spot. The acting by both the actors was reasonable. I thought Angharad's character was also interesting. On the outside she was made to look this bullish, tough girl but eventually she is the only one who stands by Paul through thick and think and shows him true meaning of friendship. Sadly the film failed to focus on that aspect as well.
Even though the film was set in 80s, I expected a lot better output for a film that came out only 5 years ago. Overall there are some moments of a delightfully relaxed approach to sexuality and the adult world but nothing that stays in your mind after the film ends. (4.5/10)
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