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Available Men (Short Films collection)

Another in series of short films, the title of this dvd is based on the first short story itself. "Available Men" - A desperate Hollywood agent named Rob goes to an L.A. hotel to meet Stephen, a young writer with a hot new screenplay. Meanwhile, a mild mannered artist named Steve goes to the same hotel to meet a shy young accountant named Rob on a blind date. Mistaken identities and what follows. "Straight Boys" - Ben thinks he’s found true love in his straight college roommate Morgan who also loves him but is straight. Being honest with Morgan may be Ben’s straightest path to happiness, regardless of the outcome. My favourite among all "Hello, Thanks" - Andy is having quite a year in the personal ads. Its an amusing and bittersweet look at the fine art of writing personal ads to summarize yourself and attract others. "Tumbleweed Town" - In this animated cowboy tale, Todd hitchhikes through the Texas desert seeking true love. "Irene Will...

Lokas (Spanish/Mexico and Chile)

I usually like these kind of films; a mix between comic, interest, a bit of romance and here and there awkward situations. This mix pretty much makes a viewable experience for me. This movie has most of it but some kind of zing was missing. Something that will hold on to your mind even after the movie is finished. Charly lives with his 9-10 year old son Pedro alone after his wife passed away. After a series of run-ins with the law when he has to spend few nights in jail, he is packed from Mexico city by his mother to go and live with his father whom he hasn't seen in last 38 years. Both Charly and Pedro dont know what to expect. When they reach, they meet papa Mario who is now out and openly faming gay and has a living partner Flavio who is more Charly's age. Viewers by now know that CHarly is homophobic but Pedro is cool with everything. Charly tries to explain him that they are just friends and working on a play together but Pedro knows that they are gay and are a couple and...

And, There You Are

This one was just an ordinary movie. What was new and interesting for me the whole southern accent which kept me going through the movie. After a while, the stories got repetitive. The end was very much expected. Ray is a successful businessman who is rich and runs a furniture business. He has always been attracted only to straight men and thats the reason he visits his shrink often to just go through his tribulations. The movie essentially walks us through some of the straight men he has ben with and how and why they left him. First is a drunk straight men who when he realizes what he did in the night just leaves. Second , another guy whom he makes work at his store but who ultimately uses him just for money and luxury an dhis always busy with his girlfriend. Ray soon comes to senses and asks him to leave. Next is another hottie whom he meets outside a store and they are going good until during one filming commercial, they reveal their sexual status and it infuriates him and leaves. ...

Yong jiu ju liu (Hong Kong) [Permanent Residence]

I cant decide whether I liked the movie or not. Actually I did like the movie but its kinda hard to decide to what extent. The movie was very touching and emotional in parts but hen there were scenes which were just unnecessary and thy were just dragging the film specially towards the end. Ivan has had a tough childhood. He was brought up by his grandmother and they both shared a great bond until is parents decide to move to Hong Kong. The grandmother believed in astrology and as per a prediction Ivan wont live beyond 30. Ivan starts working in a software industry very early in life and is a very hard working guy. On a talk show he makes friends with Josh, a student from Tel Aviv who questions Ivan' sexuality. They become friends 'with benefits' and share great chemistry but Josh keeps reminding Ivan that he is just a friend. Ivan one day meets a guy called Windsor in a gym. They both hit off instantly. But soon Ivan realizes that Windsor is straight, he doesn't know wh...

Homo Father (Polish)

It was a different movie, in the sense that by the end of the movie I was questioning about the theme of the movie. Was it about gay love, parenting, social stigma, gay bashing or something completely different. There is something inherently wrong with a film if the audience has to question the very basics of the film. The film might not be bad in itself but still. Gabriel and Robert are a couple living together for years. They have a lovely relationship. Robert is not out to his family but Gabi is in your face gay and wants Robert to be comfortable with what he is. Robert is in the process of finding a job but him being gay comes out and he has to quit. In the meantime, an old friend of their Natalie shows u with a young girl Amelie and tells Gabi that he is her father and she wants him to take care of her. Because of his job and constant bickering by Gabi and now Amelie, Robert loses control and hits Gabi. He leaves home but misses him and wants to come back. he is gay bashed on his...

Big Eden

I have seen this film 2 times before and was itching to watch it for the 3rd time for a few reasons. One I wanted to see it with my boyfriend and secondly so that I can review it on my blog because this one happens to be my al time favorite gay film in all the years I have been following gay cinema. People will say that Brokeback Mountain beats all films but I think either you haven't seen this film or you are not as romantic as I am.  Henry is a successful artist in Manhattan. When his grandfather has a heart attack, he comes back to his hometown 'Big Eden' where everyone has missed him. The community in the city is a very close knit community and it is ok be gay. No one judges you for that. Al characters are very 'normal', they dont involve in gay bashing, people dont go to gay clubs and everyone just loves everyone. Grace is one such elder woman who has high regards to Henry's grandfather and teaches in school. She knows Henry is gay and keeps telling him to ...

Trick

The story of this film is actually very simple but I guess that the beauty of this film. Sweet and simple yet very identifiable, believable and enjoyable. I didn't remember much of the film since the last time I saw it except the fact that I liked it. Watching it again helps me to review it on my blog and also see whether I still think the same about the movie or not. Gabriel is an aspiring musician who wants to write musicals. His best pal is his girlfriend Tori whom he has known for ages, who is annoying, pushing but someone whom you can never move on from. One night Gabriel meets Mark, a journalism student who works as go go boy to earn money and he does have a hot body to prove it. They decide to have a hook up and go back to Gabriel's place but Tori is there getting her printouts done. Gabriel and Mark sit their uncomfortable trying to ignore Tori and doing small talk unconsciously they are getting to know each other better. By the time Tori leaves, Gabriel's room mat...

The Art of Being Straight

This is one of those films which was made just for the heck of it. The producer and director just randomly thought, why don't we make a movie and there; a script was ready without giving much thought into it. The film just doesn't strike a chord with you at any level. John has always been a womanizer. Having broken up with his girlfriend, he moves form NY to LA with his old friend who lives with his friends. Crashing on his buddy Andy's couch is a comforting return to the college patterns of partying, womanizing and trash talk with the guys. He reconnects with his old friend Maddy who introduces him to her lesbian lover. An aspiring photographer, John takes an entry-level position at an ad agency, determined to prove himself. Things get a little confusing when Paul, a successful executive at the firm, takes a special interest in John, and when John ends up in Paul's bed, his world is turned completely upside down. H doesn't understand what is going on with him. He ...

Avril (French)

Let me clarify some things first. This is not a gay film. One of the main characters happens to be gay. Thats about it. The film does not focus on his sexuality nor does it judge him or people around him by it. Even though the character is gay, it is shown as if it is absolutely normal and that no more value should be given to the gay aspect. Avril is an orphan girl who has grown up with nuns in a remote village. She is very fond of painting but can't pursue her passion because of her surroundings. The head sister decides that now she needs to give herself completely to lord and as part of the process she will have to live in seclusion for 2 weeks but one other nun who has always looked out for Avril tells her that wen the church found her, she also had a brother who was given to an orphanage and maybe during these 2 weeks Avril should go look for him and then decide what she wants to do with her life. She runs from there and meet a very helpful man Pierre who helps her find her br...

Venkovský ucitel (Czech) [The Country Teacher]

There was something raw, real,fascinating, natural about this movie that I loved. It was not filmy or made up any away. It was very real, the actors were real, story was real, it was different but nice different. With a completely original story line and direction, this movie is worth a watch. Peter, a gay schoolteacher from from an elite school in capital to tach in the country because he felt dominated by his mother in school. Later we find out that he also broke up with his boyfriend whom he actually never loved. So basically he is trying to run from everything and everyone. Peter who is always depressed soon meets Marie, a farm working widow who has had her troubles in life and her teenage son Lada who is young and beautiful but lives in guilty complex because he thinks he is not smart. He has a girlfriend who comes to visit him every weekend from the city. Together Marie and Lada run a dairy farm. Everyone is frank and open and there is nothing hidden. Marie once shows some intere...

En Forelskelse (Danish) [Awakening]

This film was actually a short film (about 40-45 minutes) long but it was still beautiful to hold your attention and pass on a message. A sexual awakening of sorts for a young teenage boy. 16 year old Carsten has just started dating Melissa. He is introduced to her parents who have an instant liking for him and they welcome him very warmly in their house. There is a warmth and tension that Carsten finds in her father. On a weekend trip to their summer house, Carsten cant control and ends up kissing her father who returns the favour but quickly backs off. There is then a strange tension between them. Carsten is confused and visits Melissa's house when he knows only her father would be there at home. after initial awkwardness, he starts crying because he is truly confused as to what is wrong with him and he can't figure out. The father gives him his shoulder and empathizes with him and soon they are making out. They are disturbed by Melissa and the mother but no one sees any...

Cachorro (Spanish/French) [Bear Cub]

I have to say it right away because I can't wait for the end of the post. I loved this movie even though it was my second time. Having a teenage nephew myself and how much I love him, I mostly empathized in the movie with the relationship that uncle and the nephew shared with one another. This is one of those feel good, entertaining but message driven film at the same time which leave you with no complains. Pedro, a gay bear has avery active social and sexual life which includes parting, drugs, sex etc. One day he finds himself taking care of his 9 year old nephew Bernardo because his sister (a totally mentally fucked up and unstable woman) wants to go for a trip to India with her boyfriend. Initially both the people are reluctant of each other but soon grow into each other's company. Pedro tries to straighten his life a little bit but Bernardo understand everything. He is ok with his uncle being gay. You hart goes out for the kid when he prepares meals for his uncle because hi...

A River Made To Drown In

This is one of those films for which after watching I can't decide whether I liked the film or not. There were parts of it that were really interesting (longing for love in your last days) and then parts that were really boring (the theatricality by the lead actor) that overall it leaves just an average impression. Plus with the setting of the film, it is more suited for maybe a play rather than a film. Allen is a struggling artist who is having an affair with Eva, a wealthy woman who owns a gallery store. He is soon given a surprise visit by Thaddeus, and old man. Not instantly but later you find out that Allen was one of Thaddeus' lover from the days when Allen used to hustle on the road. Thaddeus confines to Allen that he is dying of Aids and wants to spend few days with him. He asks Allen to find Jamie, another hustler on the road whom he loved and whom he thinks he could have passed on the disease to. After initial apprehensions, he agrees and finds Jamie but he refuses t...

Eating Out

I know I reviewed the sequel first but I had to watch this one again before I could review it. I clearly remember it was my first few gay films that I started watching it and I really liked it but since then (4 years) I have seen so many more better films and crap films as well, for this one I dont know for sure what I thought of it the second time I saw. After being dumped by girlfriend Tiffany, caleb is sad and mentions to his gay roommate Kyle that is he was gay he could score with women. We are then in a party where fag hag Gwen dumps another guy who tells her he us gay. Her room mate is hot Mark whom Kyle always has an eye on. Caleb likes Gwen, so Kyle says Caleb is gay and Gwen is immediately in him and introduces him to Mark. Kyle figures that Caleb can use Marc to get to Gwen, while Kyle uses Caleb to get to Marc. Also, Tiffani lives next door to Gwen and Marc so seeing Caleb date Marc would make her crazy. After their first date when Caleb and Mark come back home. Caleb is fr...

Hijras - The Third Gender (Documentary)

This is a documentary film which tries to educate people and enlighten them on the social outcaste, trials and the plight of hijras that they face in the Indian society. This documentary focusses on interviews, stories and other talks with hijras, social workers on how the life can be improved. Most hijras are genetically born as men, but believe they are women within. The rest are hermaphrodites with some abnormality in genitalia. For those born men, becoming a hijra is a painful process that involves removing the entire genitalia in a secret ceremony that is often undergone without any anesthetic. Currently, most hijras have only three ways in which they can make a living: prostitution, begging, and as performing shamans removing bad luck and/or spells from suspicious Indian households. Sex work is one of the only options for hijras because there are few employment opportunities available to them. Hijras are most commonly seen knocking on car windows, begging for money at stoplights....