A Escondidas [en: Hidden Away fr: Fronteras] (2014) - Mikel Rueda

A escondidas did a really good job in conveying one single feeling and it succeeded in making us on edge, deliberately denying what we want to happen or see. Somewhat somehow we have all been there, right?

The last scene, it’s simple but extremely emotional. It contains hope but we could have guessed what happened. It’s not personal, the director uses that scene on propose and there isn’t a hundred ways to interpret it. I like it, because it represents life. Life is unpredictable and the only thing we could do is to be prepared and hope for the best.

Lilting - Hong Khaou

"Coming out" seems like so 1999, and there are thousand and thousand LGBT-themed movies about that. Lilting is really a simple story, I can't really say much without giving anything away. It's about coming out and it's not about coming out. The choice of focusing the story on the mother (Cheng Pei Pei) and her deceased son's secret lover (Ben Whishaw) is some what weirdly captivating. It's also interesting because they don't have a common tongue, they couldn't understand each other, they couldn't communicate. So how this relationship works? (I guess you have to find it out yourself.)

It is a really slow paced movie, nothing much happened visibly. Khaou brought something fresh and not often seen on the table, the prospective of a mother in a gay movie, it's not about accepting. It's more about self-realisation. The struggles within the 2 characters. Things are in the tip of your lips but you do not date to let them slip. Things that you never admit to yourself or even dare to think about it.

I am trying to compare it with other similar movies, but I couldn't think of any, despite the fact the amount of gay movies I have seen. I genuinely think there isn't anything like this in the market or even something close that has a similar approach.

Lilting is a touching debut from Hong Khaou, with brilliant actors that move us all.

Free Fall - Stephan Lacant

Free Fall is German director Stephan Lacantl debut. A story about a young man learning about his sexuality soon after moving in with his pregnant girlfriend in becoming a police.

It all starts in the training. A jogging partner becomes something more. How he juggles between two lives?

I guess if you are in your 20s or bi-curisouly or you are into the whole turning a straight guy then this is your movie.


******

The french version of the poster made it look like something totally different. (it strayed too far away from my expectations) Not enough evidences to convince me in any sense. (maybe love has no explanation?! it just an instant attraction?!) I keep telling myself I, in million years, would not understand the struggles in realising your own sexuality. It just once again proves me right. It’s too korean soap tv for my taste. 

On The Road - Walter Salles

Not until the credits rolled up and Neal Cassady's name appeared on the screen then I realized this movie is about the Beat Generation. The bromance shared between Cassady and Kerouac was sort of like playing with fire (I really have to read the original), I need reasons why Cassady left his wife and found Kerouac, I need to know why they were so close, what connected them.

The frame of the movie is such an interesting story, a wonderful piece, perfectly depicting the generation in the 50s. What Jack Kerouac did was actually documenting his generation, one person in particular Dean Moriarty/ Neal Cassady. They were like the rock bands in the 70s and 80s but they were much more sophisticated, they were all writers. (I believe youth do drug in all scales, not only in one particular group of people. Only people in that group were not ashamed of what they were doing and saying it out loud makes the difference.) Everyone behind this story was interesting enough to have their own story/movie. Allen Ginsberg did, Howl. It would actually be more interesting when you start reading all those writers back in that time and start putting missing puzzles together.

What intrigues me is the story not the movie. Somehow the story and the movie are disconnected. The cast is not convincing enough to make me believe as ke$ha sings “let’s make most of our night like we’re gonna die young”. Kristen Stewart is a one-trick-pony, flashing her boobs doesn’t make her a good actress. 

Weekend - Andrew Haigh

Met someone at a nightclub, spent an awfully wonderful night with someone. Something seemed to be cooking between the two of you. However, the next day the both of you had to go separate ways. Does it ring any bell? Andrew Haigh wrote and directed the “Weekend”, took us down to the familiar alley and rekindled the feelings we had fought back a thousand times.

I wonder how many of us have actually done what Russell (Tom Cullen) did, declining a friend’s invite and went to a bar alone and went home with a stranger, Glen (Chris New). This was how the "weekend" started, followed by unanticipated attractions, heated discussions, erotic sexes and eventually an undesired goodbye. Obviously, most of us have been through or did something somewhat similar, it was pretty predictable, but why it is a compelling movie?

It was how Haigh engaged in the emotions, the differences of the two protagonists. The authentic personalities set both of them on very diverse grounds. The distinct personas drew the audience like me, pondering their own experiences. Unlike the typical gay themed movies, it was not about coming out, struggling within the society. It was more of an individual awakening, striving for what they need, and it was exactly the initiative of why Russell walked into the nightclub alone.

What drew Glen to Russell was a different story; an intended affection left him helpless. What the both of them represented were the two emblematic norms of this generation gay perspective. On one hand, hoping to be loved; on the other hand losing faith in love but still constantly falling into it.

The bona fide characters not only brought by the sensitive measures the director took, but also letting the leads improvise, Haigh revealed in an interview with the SXSW Film Festival 2011. The genuine dialogues and the subtle development of the story carried out a sense of togetherness which was extremely relatable.

This year I have come across two very similar movies, “Weekend” and “Room in Rome”, Spanish director, Julio Medem first English movie. Both featured same-sex encounters in a short burst of time. Is it just homosexual relationship could easily end up having an instant fling or it was a sheer coincident that both movies depicted the same scenario?

No matter what the reason is, both movies inspired and brought back a lot of memories. Today there aren’t many low-budget movies with such quality which could leave you ponder and nodding your head with appreciation.