Male Slave Life

Frameline Closes 2011 with a Flourish

(Thursday, June 23, 9:30 pm, Elmwood) Every film festival needs to have a “coming out” drama, and this year’s entry, Kawa, is distinguished by its New Zealand setting and Maori characters. But that’s about it for originality. A TV-movie of the week quality film, Kawa has the title character (Calvin Tuteao) married with kids, but keeping an apartment and checking out gay male saunas on the down low. The erotic stuff is as sexy as a visit to the doctor, and the family drama is about as predictable as the sun coming up every morning. Kawa can’ t tell his wife or family or kids he’s queer. He takes the place as the head of the family with his father’s retirement making his situation doubly difficult. Then Mom (Vicky Haughton) witnesses him secretly kissing his lover (Dean O’Gorman) on the beach. Kawa is a glossy soap opera that doesn’t have the depth of a good soap opera. It simply takes this familiar story of seeking acceptance and puts it in an unusual setting. (Friday, June 24, 7:00 pm, Castro) An absorbing character study about Laure (Zoé Héran), a young girl who passes herself off as a boy, Tomboy shrewdly assesses of how gender identities are formed and developed. Moving to a new home, Laure reinvents herself as Michaël. “He” befriends Lisa (Jeanne Disson) as well as the neighborhood boys, impressing the guys by playing athletic games—but also allowing Lisa to put make up on Michaël and kiss him. While Laure’s mother (Sophie Cattani) is pleased at her daughter’s female friendship—and her wearing makeup—she is unaware of Laure’s deception. However, Laure’s sister Jeanne (Malonn Lévana) is in on the secret, playing along with her “brother” until an incident with one of the other kids threatens the situation. Tomboy’s natural, observational approach to the drama is refreshing; the filmmaker never judges the characters.

Laure/Michaël’s actions—even forming a phallus out of Play-Doh to go swimming—are credible, and Laure’s mother accepts her daughter’s masculine look/behavior—up to a point. Tomboy showcases a remarkable performance by Héran as the title character. This fine film should resonate with anyone who grew up wanting to be—or playing with friends of—the opposite gender.

(Saturday, June 25, 11:00 am, Castro) Set in the 80s, this low-budget film is often as sweet as it is stupid. Kevin (handsome Jacob Newton) is a college student coming to terms with his same-sex desires for César (Derek Efrain Villanueva). He is also conflicted about breaking away from his immature, pussy-hungry high school buddy Steve (Dylan Vox). But writer/director David Lewis doesn’t play this plot for sensitive soul-searching drama, a decision that works both in its favor and against it. On the plus side, the five main actors—all looking far too old for their roles, it should be noted—go full frontally nude, and give horny audiences a good long look at their penises. On the minus side, situations used to get some of the guys to disrobe—i.e., nude “sketching”—are badly forced. So too are the multiple mutual masturbation scenes which feature only above the waist nudity, and are more comic than sexy. Newton tries to make Kevin’s sexual confusion compelling, but he gets by more on his good looks than Lewis’ lame script. The other characters—from César’s out, loud, and proud queer boy, to Justin (Kevin Held), a homophobic straight guy—are simply skin deep. As for Vox, he injects charm and life into Longhorns, playing his good ol’ boy quite broadly. (Saturday, June 25, 1:15 pm, Castro) This international shorts collection offers some strong and sexy storytelling. The Israeli entry, A Word is an episodic tales about Ron, a young man who doesn’t understand his boyfriend, his best friend, or even a stranger who has an open relationship. As he navigates the world of love and sex, he makes some surprising revelations. Lek and the Waterboy, from Thailand, is a cute fantasy about a young boy who imagines himself putting on lipstick or a dress, or watching a shirtless hunk wash his muscled torso. The film gives a strong sense of place—the harsh realism a nice contrast to the main characters’ dreams. Lastly, Samaritan from Norway is a compelling drama about a lonely older gay man, and the attractive young foreigner he meets one night. Bringing the stranger home, he helps him out with a room, and even offers to marry him for citizenship purposes. However, Samaritan puts an interesting twist on this situation that makes it a particularly powerful dissection of the power struggle between two men who each want something the other has. (Note: The other short films in this program were not available for review). (Saturday, June 25, 5:45 pm, Castro) Light and sunny, sexy and slick before it gets to the dark, downward spiral, Going Down in La La Land is an enjoyable drama—based on (and significantly changed from) Andy Zeffer’s semi-autobiographical novel. Adam (Matthew Ludwinski) is a broke young actor who arrives in Hollywood. Grappling with the realities of parking tickets, dead end jobs, and a lack of romance, Andy and his vivacious BFF Candy (Allison Lane) wonder if they will ever make it in the industry. But all that changes when he gets a tip from Nick (Andreas) a photographer who gets him a job at Jet Set Men. Soon Adam is picking up extra cash at the porn shop, doing side work such as posing nude, shooting solo videos, and escorting. And of course, this eventually leads to some opportunities with John (Michael Medico), a closeted actor that causes more trouble for him. Maybe it’s the fact that Casper Andreas relocated from NY to LA for this film, or maybe it’s because he is adapting a novel, but Going Down in La La Land makes every characters’ desperation—for money, drugs, sex, or love believable. When Adam and John kiss naked in a pool, it’s magical. While the view of the porn industry is perhaps rose-colored, the realities of drug abuse are appropriately portrayed, if a little predictable. Yes, Adam is a bit too naïve—hasn’t he ever seen a film like this one?!—and Ludwinski overemphasizes this aspect of his character. Lane provides genial support, even though she is saddled with a dumb subplot about hiring a slave. Going Down in La La Land is perfect summer entertainment—the right mix of message and mindlessness. (Saturday, June 25, 9:00 pm, Roxie) This modest, endearing low budget romantic comedy-drama has Daniel (Jon Prescott), a self-proclaimed “plain vanilla” straight guy—a college jock, with a business school degree and a fiancée—questioning his sexuality. As the film opens, he has just spent the night with Tommy (Ian Novick), a handsome and self-assured gay guy. Their intense fling has Daniel afraid of being outed, while Tommy worries that his heart will be broken. Although the characters wear their hearts—and their agendas—on their stylish sleeves, The One is likable, despite being a bit one note. Writer/director Caytha Jentis shows promise here, building the film’s sexual and dramatic tension and making fine points about masculinity and identity before delivering a nice, appropriate ending. Novick is particularly ingratiating as Tommy. Unfortunately, Prescott plays Daniel and his conflict too stiffly; he always looks uncomfortable. (Sunday, June 26, 4:45 pm, Castro) is a slight but subtle and moving drama about two gay Iranians illegally making their way through France. Moshed (writer/director Amor Hakkar) and Hassan (Samir Guesmi) are hoping to get to Paris when they end up in a small town to catch a connecting train.