I just finished watching Queerstralia , which is a three-part documentary about the hidden history of LGBTQIA+ people in Australia. It’s hosted by a comedian named Zoe Coombs Marr. To be honest, I didn't know who she was before this, so it took me a little while to get used to her specific style of joking around. The show covers a huge amount of time, starting from when Australia was a prison colony for the British all the way to famous movies like Priscilla, Queen of the Desert . It looks at how being gay was treated as a crime, the stories of trans pioneers, and even "bushrangers" (outlaws) who dressed in clothes of the opposite sex. It also goes into the history of the Mardi Gras festival, drag culture, and how gay marriage finally became legal there. The host starts the show by jokingly saying, "I’m a comedian, I’m not qualified," which tells you right away it's not going to be a stiff or boring history lesson. Over three episodes that are an hour long...
Nack is a 17 year old boy living with his single mother. His focus is solely studying so he can get in a nice university. He has close friends but he still feels quite lonely. And now also feels pressure of studies. An openly gay boy in his class for some reason bullies him indirectly. As time passes, Nack starts to understand the feeling of sex and love. Especially when one of the cute guys (supposedly straight) makes a move on Nack in swimming, but that goes nowhere. Enter Toy, the class Maths topper who take a fascination for Nack and slowly they start getting together really close. They dont have sex or anything but clearly its so much more than friendship where Toy comes as a friend, moral support and everything for Nack. But Nack's mother sees this as a digression from Nack's focus and also worries if her Christian son is now gay, asks Toy to stay away. Sudden rude behaviour of Toy breaks Nack's heart but with the support of his friends he gets over it and eventually after a gap of one year and focusing in studies enters university and gets back with Toy.
Some things in the film are good like silent eyes talking. When Toy and Nack give each other lobe glances, or hugs and cuddles and also when they give gifts to each other with. a very well thought meaning behind it, they all make sense. It shows human touches make a lot of difference. The interactions between Nack and Toy are also adorable and sincere as you see them get to know each other and go on cute dates. The conflict if the film is very predictive and you know whats exactly going to happen which makes it not so much fun. It also left me confused as to the motivations of Toy's character and whether his character was trying to be friendly or romantic. It's this confusion that creates a conflict of it's own between the two main characters and it just doesn't make much sense. The cast was good , acted well and was cute but i am still not sure what the actual relationship of the boys was. Slightly better storyline and direction could have easily taken this film to the next level.
I'd say this movie makes a good one time watch, without you having to think too much. It is strictly ok IMO. (5.5/10)
Comments
" El Rubio" ( the blond one) , is fresh water , not the same level of " Haway" and " Plan B". I.M.H.O .