Simply heart-breaking. And a wonderful must-watch gay short film.
Ever stand on one side and watch the man of your dream walk down the aisle to marry a woman? I think this is one story many gays are able to relate to. And what if the husband-to-be is your best friend, who knows your admiration for him? And he is doing nothing to nurse your hidden pain.
The Best Men, listed as a winner of Season 4 The Best Click: Best in Short Film on Logoonline, talks about a gay guy, Peter (Michael Ellison), who comes back home for his best friend's wedding, only to walk down painfully the memory lane of his years of being in love with his best friend, Joe (Jason Yarusi). Although Joe's family members are fond of Peter, it is not helping Peter much to overcome his sadness. Even Joe's mom knows when a young man's heart is breaking.
I love this gay film. Beautifully directed by Tony Wei and written by Jesse Whitnall.
Be still, my broken heart.
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It's fun what you can do with your watch. It's about time for another gay ad. Cute guys, hunks alert!
I don't come across gay characters or gay plots in Malaysian cinema often, although the neighboring countries have already done their share of gay themed films, namely Philippines and Thailand. Even Singapore has produced several - where Hainan Chicken Rice should be the one to be noticed.
I recalled seeing a gay character in Spinning Gasing, although the character was a poor stereotyping of what gays are to be. As a comic role, that gay character was portrayed as a sissy, who managed to steal his straight friend's virginity.
Of course there is I Don't Want To Sleep Alone, based on Malaysia background.
There is this gay short film, produced by R. Sharavanan & Amy Ikram Ismail, and directed by Mohd Akram Ismail, called Comolot. It runs for roughly 8 minutes, and it was a B grade attempt on gay scenario in Malaysia. Too dramatic for a short film, but hey, at least it was made in Malaysia. It was produced for Aswara (National Art & Culture Academy).
Comolot talks about two male lovers, Aiman and Daniel. I am not sure who is who, but the actors are Ben Quariel and Remy Ishak.
A girl came over to her finance's place, just to find herself disgusted by two affectionate guys embracing one another in the apartment's pool. She made her way up, just to find the finance's place set up for a romantic meal and the bedroom was in a mess. Curious, she proceeded to the bathroom, where she found Aiman and Daniel holding one another passionately. She stormed off, followed by a remorseful Daniel.
When Aiman showed up at a cruising place one evening, he was informed by his friend that Daniel was getting hitched. So, on the following day, Aiman drove over to stop the wedding.
It was an interesting effort. I welcome it. However, it was funny to note that the girl, Ita (I think), carried flowers in a bouquet for her lover. I thought it was supposed to be the other way around. And the bathroom wall was covered by a homoerotic pin-up of a manly, shirtless guy. Wasn't that supposed to be a hint for her, since that I assume it was not her first time there?
I love to stay in that apartment, since that the chances of the guys to be gays are high (Note the pool scene and the main actors). And I love to cruise at the park in the middle of the show too, coz the gays are not afraid to hold hands. Wow.
As for Aiman, he should take more initiative. To stop a wedding, drive out earlier!!! He has a whole night and morning to prepare to stop the wedding. Why wait and struggle with traffic jam? Have you not learned about traffic jam in Malaysia?
Anyway, another admirable effort was that Mohd. Akram ended the gay film with a happy note for the gays, something that all the other - awards-winner-wannabes directors should learn.
Enjoy the film.
Edited: Someone told me that Comolot is a Malay term for Cium Mulut (Kiss the Lips). Hmmm...
And because Brett Chukerman got me all loving The Curiosity of Chance as posted in my previous blog, I have to let you guys know that he is in several gay themed films, including this short gay film, called Crush.
Directed and written by Phillip J Bartell, this sweet, light gay themed film won 5 awards. Oh yeah, Brett was so much younger then. But still cute, before adding hunk into his resume. : )
This gay film talks about how a teen, Robbie, copes with his sexual orientation, and of course a possible love interest with a school mate, Tim (Weston Mueller) : D
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Awards:
Won Atlanta Film Festival 2000 Jury Award Best Narrative Film
Won Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival 2000 aGLIFF Award Best Boy's Short
Won Palm Springs International Short Film Festival 2000 Audience Award
Won San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival 2000 Audience Award Best Short
Won Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival Audience Award Favorite Boy's Short
Sweet. How does one improve a poppish tv film like High School Musical? Add a gay lead, Chance Marquis (Tad Hilgenbrink). Of course, he is nothing as hunky as Zac Efron. But Tad is cute. So approved. Add a high school jock to be a love interest - Levi Sparks (Brett Chukerman), who is something like a Zac Efron. Yum. Add a nerdy schoolmate Hank Hudson (Pieter Van Nieuwenhuyze) who carries a secretive metal case around and Twila Tiller (Aldevina Da Silva) as the tough fag hag. And voila! You have a better version of a fun movie, tastefully done to fit the gay hunger. You have The Curiosity of Chance. Sweet.
Directed by Russell P. Marleau, this gay themed film talks about an outcast in dressing kid, Chance, who wants to fit into the high school life being a non-conformist. It isn't easy, especially when he has either a tall hat or an eye-patch to attract questions. Chance lives with his father, who runs the family like a military, and a kid-smart younger sister.
An easy target to the bullies in school, Chance finds his alliance with a nerdy good friend and a rough cookie. However, his heart is set on his jocky neighbour whom he happens to spot shirtless. His neighbour turns out to be the hunky Levi who needs him to be a lab partner.
Chance's life in the school becomes miserable when Levi begins to distance himself, and when his photo of him performing as a drag queen gets out, all hell break loose.
So, it comes down to getting himself to be okay again in the high school, and hopefully to get the boy of his dream.
The Curiosity of Chance is a well-written film, designed to please those who are looking for lighter films, with good convincing acting from the leads.
What's with the drag queen thing? I still don't get it. Why do people think that gays have to be drag queens? There are gays who are happy to be gay men. This other people's obsession to be in women clothings is killing me.
But I love this film for two obvious reasons. Tad and Brett. And their kiss. Okay, make that three. : )
Awards:
- Won Chicago Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival 2007 Best Feature Film
- Won Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival 2006 Best Director
Two teenagers. A dim room. No parents. One teen is asleep. The other teen watches TV. TV talks about male attraction to one another.
What would you do if you have an available male asleep beside you when you have the urge to explore?
Written and directed by David Kittredge, this gay short film talks about things that we have 'been there, done that'.
I like this gay film. : )
A gay short film by Frank Gomez. This gay film is about discovering a closeted in-law. Hm.
