Skip to main content

Azul Y No Tan Rosa (Spanish) [My Straight Son]

Yay!! My first gay film from another new country, this time Venezuela. I am not very sure whether this is the first LGBT themed film from the country or its that I couldn’t see any film yet. Whatever the case maybe, I am so happy that this film was made and that I got to see it. Its a beautiful, emotional film that shows celebration of diversity and love and also makes a point against homophobic attacks and discrimination. A perfect combination of love, romance, heartbreak, family, friendship intercepted with just the right amount of drama and few funny moments; this film will definitely touch you. The title actually translates as "Blue and Not So Pink," but has been dumbed down to "My Straight Son."

Diego is a young and successful photographer and is very happy in his relationship with is partner Fabrizio. His life is quite happy with his love and 2 of his closest friends by his side, the transgendered Delirio and the beautiful Perla Marina who is still with her abusive boyfriend. We also get to know that the families of both guys are also homophobic even though they are both aware of their son’s preferences. In a twist of events, Diego’s estranged son Armando comes to live with him for few months since his mother has to go to London. Worse timing ever, Fabrizio gets attacked for being gay which leaves him in a bad coma. Armando is already bitter about the fact that his father pretty much never messaged him for last 5 years and even now he doesn’t have time for him, not realising what has happened with Fabrizio. Finding the truth about his father, Armando is now coming to terms with his father’s sexuality and his LGBT lifestyle and friends. Diego at the same time is dealing with anger and hostility of Fabrizio’s parents while he struggles in hospital. Armando meets a girl online and slowly falls for her but he is too insecure about his looks. This is when Diego and his friends help him a lot to grow his self-confidence. Fabrizio doesn’t last longer which leaves Diego heartbroken, but with the help of his son and friends pulls it through and the father-son relationship slowly grows and they both become used to each other with ample support from friends and a beautiful ending to the film.

From the very first scene we realize that we are about to see a quality film in which the sound, music and photography are well done. I was very impressed with the whole dance sequence in the credit opening. And despite too many layers and all its plot complications there is something very compelling about the unraveling of the relationship between the father and son that ensures our investment in watching to the end to see how its all going to turn out. We see bits and pieces of lives of every character involved but the basic plot never deviates from its main theme. I really enjoyed every scene that had Diego’s family involved either fighting or eating or watching TV. It just all felt so natural and real. Its difficult to single out anyone when everyone is quite talented and good looking and fits their character. We identify with the characters and suffer and love with them. The gay bashing scene was so brutal that you feel the pain and the horror of it all. I don’t know anything about Venezuela or life as a LGBT member in that society but this film gives me a very realistic feel of what it probably is like. Keeping a good balance of emotions, comedy, there is no reason you will not be able to relate to this film one way or the other.

The film ends with dreams of a world that we would want to live in, a happy balanced world. Apparently this is the director’s first film. I would say, he is someone to keep an eye out for. He is brilliant and the film is wonderful. (8/10)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

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,