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Fun Down There

By Golu
This one is a pretty straight forward simple sweet (maybe) film. It doesn't really have conflicts or drama, instead it is more of a positive portrayal of a single man coming to terms about his sexuality, embracing it and a making a new life for himself in the big bad NYC. I feel like, some of this may still be true for a lot of people who come to the big city with eyes full of dreams trying to discover themselves. 

Buddy, is a young man who lives with his family in Upstate New York. His sister always jokes about him being gay. One night when she discovers Playgirl magazine in his room and Buddy decides to move to NYC for sometime. ON his first night there, he has his first gay encounter by a guy named Joseph. In a sensitively handled situation. Joseph takes him under his wings and introduces Buddy to New York, get him his first room, show the gay scene, and also lecture and educate him about safe sex. He gets a job as a dishwasher in a restaurant and is pretty content in his life. He flirts a little with Angel, the busboy in the restaurant. Overall he is just enjoying his life, making some real close friends in both Angel and Joseph, reconnects with his family over telephone and in general hopefully a nice good life is waiting for him.

Fun Down There captures the ordinary day-to-day events. It captures the joy and nervousness of coming out and getting to know the big NYC at the same time. The film gives a good insight into what queer life would've been like in 1980s New York City. Meeting men was easy if you know where to find them, AIDS has a looming presence, homophobia was obviously around still and the gay community was just as strong then as it is now. There was no unnecessary drama. Buddy's family was good and happy and friendly and even the friends he made were real. The film is ordinary but its this quality that made this film stand out for me. Sure, sometimes it does get into the zone of almost documentary but not really. Buddy is a farm guy and the gays of the city find it fascinating to hear about talk about milking cows. Overall, the story and the characters provide a glowing energy, simply and unquestioningly asserting that no matter how challenging the times, gay life will continue and thrive.

Surely, the film could have been better in technical terms, but I have no complains given that this film came out way back in 1989. I wish I had seen this film just around the time I was coming out and also getting to know NYC. It may have had some positive impact on me. (6.5/10)
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