Le Clan [3 Dancing Slaves] 2004

This is a very interesting film and take s a little while to hold audience's attention. Initially it did not seem a movie with gay theme but then it was definitely a very homo-erotic movie. After sometime, when the viewer starts getting deep into the story, you find out there is much more to it and actually there is a gay theme as well. 

Three brothers live with their recently widowed father in a small town near the Alps in France. Marc is a rebellious youth, into drugs and petty crime and at constant contention with his overbearing father. We follow his life where he hangs out with his friends, gets into all kinds of trouble because of drugs and is finally forced to kill his own dog for not paying the dues. The eldest brother Christophe is recently released from prison and is trying to live straight by starting from the bottom in a pork factory and working his way to the top. Prison life has tamed him and he has now accepted the realities of life. Marc was counting on his brother to return from prison to take revenge from the goons who were after him but Christophe refuses. He very quickly moves up the ladder in the factory that he is working and has kind of settled in life. Olivier is the youngest and though tattooed and quasi-rebellious is the sensitive one whose gender issues are just beginning to focus. He doesn't find himself fitting in his bother's world but at the same time they are his family. Olivier finds love and passion with Hicham, Marc's friend, who is North African and repeatedly dances the capoeira, a slave dance, for his own expression and his need to connect with Olivier. They start a relationship but soon Olivier breaks up because he knows he needs to spend more time with his brothers as a family and his own personal feelings and needs will always be a lower priority for him. 

Despite the differences in these young men there are repeated encounters that signify their bonding. Through each brother and 3 different segments we paste together a family disrupted and needy. There is a lot of nudity and bare bodied men which is very pleasing to the eye. Despite the differences in these young men there are repeated encounters that signify their bonding. One quiet scene shows the father awake, sitting and watching the troubled sons asleep, naked, entwined in each other's bodies: it should be clipped for a still shot as it is very beautiful. The acting by all cast members is very nice. Everyone's part has their own reasons for being the way they are. In the end, the slave dancer Hicham is free enough to take a principled, self respecting stand to end a demeaning relationship, yet the three brothers who look down on him are enslaved to their past.

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Comme Les Autres [Baby Love]

There have been very few gay themed films which have highlighted the topic of child adoption in gay community. Thankfully most of them have been handled with sensitivity and maturity. This film can easily be added in the list of those few films. The best part of this film is that it has a light dry with running through it with many little surprises along the way. 

Manu, a gay pediatrician in his forties, lives with his partner Philippe, a lawyer. Manu loves kids and desperately wants to adopt one with his partner. The reality is that Philippe is pleased with his present life and will not have it spoiled by the invading presence of a wailing brat. They both try to reason on the argument and in absence of a consensus, the two lovers part. Manu's quest for a surrogate mother begins. He finds a young girl Fina, who is Argentinian immigrant, also looking for legal paperwork so that she could stay in France. They become friends and after Fina gets to know Manu better agrees to bear Manu's child as a sign to thank him. In reality, she is totally falling in love with him. When the tests are done, it turns out that Manu cannot bear a child and he then requests Phillipe to donate his sperm to Fina. Complications arise and finally he gives in. Fina becomes pregnant and in heat of love, passion and respect, Manu and Fina get physical. Fina is now totally in love with Manu but he knows he is gay and tries to get the facts right. They marry for legal reasons but in their heart Philippe and Manu want to get back together and they ultimately do which is not acceptable to Fina. She leaves them but gives them a call when she is about to deliver. Manu and Philippe finally get their baby and are as happy as they wanted to be. 

The film is definitely not perfect. Viewers are not shown any sign of proximity between the 2 lovers, as such it is hard to digest that they part so easily and either of them hardly show any sadness because of it. Instead all of Manu's energies are focussed on baby. All mistakes he makes trying to find a mom are handled pretty well with touch of humor. The scene when Manu tells that he broke up with Philippe and Fina is mothering his child with Philipe's baby is pretty funny. Movie, though predictable at most times, still manages to hold proper attention from viewers. The acting is decent and viewers feel more for Fina's character.I was able to connect with this film at a personal level.

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Sanubari Jakarta (2012)

Release Date: 12 April, 2012
Directed By: Adriyanto Waskito Dewo | Alfrits John Roberts | Alline Jusria | Billy Christian | Dinda Kanyadewi | Fira Sofiana | Kirana Larasati | Lola Amaria | Sim F | Tika Pramesti

Sanubari Jakarta is a compilation of 10 (ten) short film, 10 (ten) LGBT themed stories (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) by 10 (ten) directors. Each 10-minute film. 

In Indonesia's diverse society, a view of the differences in sexual orientation and / or gender identity is still very taboo and often aprolonged controversy. That's because in general the relationshipis considered to be normal relations between men and women. 

While there are pros and contras in the community, but the LGBT still exists and has the right to live in the midst of society. They grow just like other human beings, they were born and raised in a family like everyone else. Therefore they deserve to live, obtain education, away from fear, obtain fair treatment and equal laws, get a job without discrimination.

See and respond to problems that arise recently in Indonesia such as the killing of transvestites in Taman Lawang ~ one of cruising place in Jakarta, transgender and transsexual marriage (for example the case of Jane-Alter and Umar-Ika), the increasing number of problems such as harassment, and other forms of discrimination affecting the LGBT in Indonesia. Including their efforts to fight for the legalization of same-sex marriage.

By making the 10 (ten) LGBT-themed film, we do not intend to seek the right or wrong, pro or contra, but just look at aspects of humanity. We just wanted to show that there are LGBT, live and work in our midst, just as we human beings who created the Creator. We just want to see the removal of all forms of violence and discrimination against LGBT and still continues today.

Here are that ten synopsis in the "Sanubari Jakarta"

1. "½", the story is directed by Tika Pramesti is about a man who asked about his choice. Until suddenly a woman named Anna.Which option would he choose? Anna who was and why a man came named Biyan between Abi and Anna? 
2. Tonight I'm Beautiful, the story is lifted from the same title short story tells about the life of a transvestite, Agus. It tells Agus feeling when I have hung up when she was mocked because of his job is.This story was directed by Dinda Kanya Dewi actrees. 
3. Dolphins, tells the story of a teacher in a kindergarten Dolphins named Adina. He always taught his children about dolphins students. Adina Hingg met a woman named Anggya the parents of one of his students and terjalinlah story of love between them. 
4. Connected, two women named Agatha Kartika and very berneda and did not know each other or touch. Kartika is a woman whose life is always set and chosen to include a spouse. Meanwhile, Agatha, the woman who had just broken up with sister partner.They are connected to each other without realizing it, but whether they are actually connected and will be met? So what really connects them? 
5. Potatoes, a comedy drama gay couples, and Acel Drajat. They are in a dorm room's Drajat. Intends to each other up to do, but always lead to debates and events that disrupt funny. 
6. Waiting Colour, the story is directed Adriyanto Waskito Dewo talked about a pair of men who have a relationship that is very smooth. Romantic things they live. Until they are at the point of the question, whether this relationship is a real place? 
7. Pads, the work of Billy Christian tells the lesbian couple Teresa and Bianca who are in a motel room. They then nberdebat issues who swapped underwear, coming months, until a major problem in their relationship. 
8. Mask of an Heroine (Srikandi), who directed Kirana Larasati story is about a woman named Srikandi who then changed clothes and the role of being a man. This he did to repay the boss and male colleagues in kantirnya who often harass women, including herself. Heroine was able to prove she was worthy of respect and not worthy of being trampled. 
9. For 'A', kara Sofiana Fira, a story about a man who is busy typing a letter to A. Described in the letter about the struggle of a man who was born with a female form. Until finally decided to become a sex change men. A typed letter also coincided with the events of the past in accordance with those described in the letter. 
10. Chocolate Box, tells the story of a man named Reuben romantic who meets a girl named Mia. They then make connections. Until a brown box was found and brought them to the reality of the past.

Trailer: Sanubari Jakarta 

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The Men's Room (2011)

The Men's Room

Writer and Director: Jane Pickett
Cast: Russell Sams (Thomas), Blake Robbins (Stranger)

Synopsis: The Men's Room is an emotionally charged short film dealing with explicit themes of male sexuality, intimacy, and the concept of public decency. When Thomas ventures into a park for a sexual encounter with a stranger, he uncovers a striking complexity composed of desire, fear, and betrayal when his would-be anonymous sex partner turns out to be a cop. The Men's Room explores the seemingly unwelcome yet enduring pastime of public sex, a world of secrecy and code lurking just below the surface of normalcy.

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Trailer

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August (2011)

Country : USA

Genre : romance

Directed by : Eldar Rapaport
Year : 2011 

Language : English

Credited cast: Murray Bartlett, Daniel Dugan, Adrian Gonzalez, Hilary Goldsher, Bernard Forcher

  

Synopsis: (spoiler possible) :

An expansion of the award-winning short film “Postmortem,” “August” tells the story of two former lovers, Troy and Jonathan, who reunite after a long ago painful breakup. After spending several years in Spain, Troy returns to Los Angeles and decides to phone Jonathan and meet for coffee. A seemingly innocent rendezvous turns flirtatious as they are intensely swept away by each other’s presence and memories of the past.

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Illegal Love (2010)

Year               : 2010 
Director          : Julie Gali
Writer            : Julie Gali
Country          : France, Spain, USA 
Genre             : documentary
Time              : 90 minutes 
Language        : English
Cast              : François Cluzet, Émilie Dequenne, Thierry Lhermitte, Clément Sibony, Antoine de Caunes, Isabelle Pasco, Dominique Besnehard, Axelle Laffont

Synopsis: In 2008 French filmmaker Julie Gali traveled to the US to film the election of Barack Obama. In spite of this victory for civil rights, it soon became apparent that the rights of another minority were under threat. In California the passing of Proposition 8 marked the only time in U.S. history that a civil right was actually taken away after it had been granted. Upon seeing this, Ms. Gali decided to immerse herself in the growing grassroots struggle of the gay community, which culminated in the October 11, 2009 March for Equality in Washington DC. 

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The Seminarian

Year Produced  : 2010
Directed By     : Joshua Lim
Language         : English
Run Time        : 101 min.
Rating             : Not Rated
Starring           : Mark Cirillo, Philip Willcox, Linda J. Carte

Review: The Seminarian is a story about Ryan, a closeted gay student in his final semester of seminary studies. Despite his school’s hostile stance towards homosexuality, Ryan has two gay classmates – Gerald and Anthony – in whom he secretly confides. He is also close to his eligiously devout mother who, as things stand, is unaware of his sexual orientation. Ryan needs to complete a solid theological thesis in order to continue doctoral work at the university of his dreams. As he works on his thesis ‘The Divine Gift of Love,’ Ryan begins a relationship with Bradley – a guy he has met on the Internet who seems perpetually unable to commit himself. Ryan confides in Gerald and Anthony, only to learn about their romantic struggles as well.

Consequently, Ryan questions his views on God’s gift of love. During this volatile time, with the pain of unrequited love and the inability to share his fears with his mother deepening, Ryan struggles with finishing his
thesis and holding on to his faith in love.

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Ausente [Absent]

I have never ever seen such a long scene of sexual tension built up as it was shown in this movie. And at the same time, I have never been in a theatre with such pin drop silence because there are no scenes that evoke laughter. You are just waiting and watching as to whats going to happen next. I dunno if it is right to call this film as a thriller but there is a different thrill that you feel while watching the movie. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

16 year old Martin finds his swimming instructor Sebastian very attractive. One day he fakes of an eye injury in the class, and Sebastian take him to the hospital. Martin has already planned in his mind a web of lies for why he cannot go back home and finally succeeds in getting an invitation from Sebastian to sleep at his house. But thing are not simple as they seem. The night seems pretty long where neither of them is able to sleep really well. Sebastian next day finds out that Martin's parents were looking for him all night. He also finds a note in his car from Martin apologizing for telling him the lies. When Sebastian confronts him, he very openly tells him that he was hoping something will happen between them that night. This infuriates Sebastian and he hits him. Things are not same. Now Sebastian is having weird feelings and he cannot even concentrate on his girlfriend. He keeps thinking of Martin. Martin meanwhile stops coming to swimming class and is spending more time with his friends. In an unfortunate accident Martin dies and this is when Sebastian has to deal with his emotions. He recalls how maybe on some occasions he might have possibly given the boy some hints and starts questioning his own feelings for the boy. Guilt struck, he is now hoping that somehow Martin will forgive him for what he did.

You have to really watch the film to closely absorb the beauty. The entire night sequence where Martin stays at Sebastian's house and events unfold is simply superb. There is so much sexual tension on the screen that as a viewer it was a completely new experience for me trying to anticipate what can happen next. Another beauty of the film is that there is no heightened drama or dialogues or anything. None of the scenes have been filmed with melodrama, however drastic they are. The subtlety of these scene make a much more stronger impact. The end is so beautiful when Sebastian follows the image of Martin in his head in the swimming club just hoping to be forgiven. Excellent acting and a fantastic direction. It is an incredible sexy drama of repressed passion, guilt and regret. The slow build of the characters is fabulous with the relationships unfolding, refolding and unfolding back again.

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Amphetamine 2010

I had heard a lot of good things about this movie. A lot of people who saw it at the Qfest said nice things about it. I purposely did not see it in the festival since I wanted to watch it on DVD. For some reason this film looked to me like a more homoerotic film rather than a one with stories and emotions. The film kept going in and out of being good to bad to doesn't make sense. But it still was an interesting view into the HK gay life. 

Daniel, an openly gay banker can't decide whether to stay in Hong Kong or return back to Australia until he meets Kafka. Kafka is a straight swimming instructor. Somehow the 2 men develop a bond of friendship, admiration and even love for each other but Kafka cannot get physically intimate with Daniel which he doesn't mind because he is in search of true love. Kafka is a rebel and has a troubled past which we later find out that when he was trying to save a girl, he was raped by 4 men and left to die and this is the reason he cannot reciprocate Daniel's love. Kafka is slowly introduced to drugs by his brother who makes and sells amphetamine. Kafka really loves Daniel but he needs time, he needs to get through drug problem, so that he can be with him. Daniel is trying his best to be the best support he can for Kafka even to the extent that if he cannot take his drug problems away, he himself starts taking drugs and enjoy those moments with Kafka. Slowly the drugs completely take over Kafka and he ends up jumping from the top of the building. 

The direction of the movie is a little odd. There are some time jumps and the narrative is filled with sexual scenes. But hidden in all this is also sadness. Kafka though straight loves Daniel and likes being with him but cannot reciprocate his sexual desires. Daniel truly loves Kafka and is ok with not getting intimate and wants to heal his drug problems. I think the 2 men acted really really well in this film. My problem was mostly with direction and the way the story is narrated. Some of the supporting characters act very weird throughout the movie. Somehow the director in this film leaves a lot for the viewers to decipher. His idea is challenging but direction leaves a lot to be desired. 

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Rückenwind [Light Gradient]

This film was weird (for me) It was just going nowhere. Looking at the poster, you might think that it might be somewhat like Summerstorm but it doesn't even come close. This is one of those really bad foreign / independent films where all that happens is bicycle riding. Trust me, thats exactly what they show for a good 30-40% of the initial time in the film.

2 young men Johann 7 Robin are on a train bound for some country-side experience. Half of the film just focuses on them and their adventures of biking in the woods. When their bikes get ultimately stolen, they look for shelter and find a 40s woman with her son. The woman is interested in gay men but her son is not. He is just used to being a bored teenage who just does random things to kill his time. Then random things happen. The 2 boys spent sometime with mother and son and then go back to woods. And then something happens in which one of the boy either gets lost or killed or something. It is not very clear.

Trust me, the film was exact;y as boring and ridiculous as you must have felt reading the storyline above. This film seemed to go nowhere, slowly and randomly. The film was full of bits and pieces of this and that. Sun shining through the trees as they ride bikes through the woods, S&M in the woods, robbing sandwiches from other bike riders in the woods were some of the scenes that made the film. This is one of the slowest films and bad films I have seen and i have seen a lot of bad films.

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