Utopians (Mandarin/Cantonese)

I know very few film maker names in queer cinema, but for some reason the name Scud has stayed with me. People either love or hate his films. Hence I had my apprehensions when I started watching this film. The film has a LOT of full nudity, so be aware of what you are getting into to watch.

Young college student Hins lives with his single mom and has a steady Catholic girlfriend Joey for three years now. When a new philosophy professor Antonio comes to teach the class, the very introductory lecture about homosexuality stirs something in Hins. He wants to get close enough to Antonio to understand him, who is more than happy to take him under his wing. Mysterious appearance of Swan, Antonio's research assistant adds to the intrigue since she promotes both Hins and his girlfriend separately to let their feelings go and believe in all kinds of sexuality and love. Finally Hins gives into Antonio's advances and they have sex but Antonio gets arrested for having sex with underage boy. After some family secrets are revealed, we also get to know the true identity of Antonio and Swan and there starts a beautiful foursome relationship between them, Hins and Joey.

Many have described the film as being poetic, but I didn't find that way. It was, according to me, very straight forward barring a couple of dream sequences which could be termed "poetic". A professor's pushing gay agenda on students seem to liberal to me and more than that a friendship and relationship that student/teacher share and no one bats an eyelid is also a bit hard to digest. The story is interesting and done in a nice way, but thats it. Its not bad (the story) but its not great either. The 2 lead actors thankfully do a great job and have good chemistry and screen presence. Swan has an enigma. The whole last 15-20 minutes of Antonio being arrested, secrets being revealed, IMO , was totally unnecessary and didn't do much to the story except help Hins come out as possibly bisexual to his mother.

A very average film albeit with an intriguing theme and concept. You will not be missing out much if you miss this film. (4.5/10)

Comments

The Shortest Distance is Round 3: Fallen Flowers

Continuing with the weird trilogy of "The Shortest Distance", I am so glad that finally I am done with part 3 and won't have to deal with this again in future. Thankfully, as of now the makers have not announced any further parts; which will save all of us on this earth from the embarrassment of watching this in near future. After the first 10 minutes are used in sort of recapping bits of first two parts, the story moves forward. Haruto is now starting to have feelings for Ruka, the mysterious pole dancer from second part. In a fit of rage, Ruka ends up killing the goat man and to save him and Haruto, Shibahara asks them to go underground. Meanwhile Shibahara continues the search for Seiya (the guy who had cut off Haruto's penis). It turns out Seiya is now also taking care of the original club owner from part 1. Both of them were released after they had informed Shibahara of Aoyama's secret location. Shibahara tortures Seiya's boyfriend leading to Seiya killin

One Summer Night (Korean)

I really wanted to like this film but for non native speakers, these movie leaves a lot to be understood and the way scenes were unfolding in front of me, I wasn't sure many times what was really going on. The story had potential button getting any back story on any of the characters limited my ability to empathize with any of these actors. Film starts with two North Korea military guys Yong Joon and Jae Sung having sex and they are caught red handed and they run. Three years later we see Yong Joon in Seoul leading a very mundane and poor life. He has a boyfriend Tae-Kyu, who is a weird guy. He is carefree, doesn't do any work and is completely emotional and financially dependent on Young Joon. In fact, even Yong Joon will go to any lengths to protect him , fend for him and taking care of him to the extent of even taking up prostitution. Suddenly one day Jae Sung appears in their life again. His motivation is not clear but it is obvious he wants Yong Joon back in his life, who

Ultimate masturbation: Shigoki no yama (Japanese) [The Ultimate Masturbation]

I would never know what was the point behind making this film. Was it supposed to be a comedy, cos it wasn't. It wasn't even porn. It was just a silly attempt at making something absolutely senseless and ridiculous. The story, as well as direction is equally shoddy. You could laugh for having seen something so bad, but I wouldn't call that comedy. An old man runs a camp about gay masturbation. The explanation given is that gays masturbate for pleasure unlike straight men, for whom the act is seen as shame or because they can't find a woman. One day a straight man shows up and wants to join the camp for his thesis. After discussion, he is allowed in. Rules include that you can masturbate together, you can masturbate one another, but there is no fellatio or anal sex. Some students of course breaks rule. The teacher then talks about 2 forms of masturbation which gives ultimate pleasure. He shows one without touching and then refuses to talk of the other. Somehow suddenly,

Movie Reviews -
Gay Themed

Search This Blog