Buy Light Gradient on DVD

Light Gradient

Strand Releasing / Year: 2009

DVD

More Info

Usually ships in
5-10 days

$22.49 (10% off)
List Price: $24.99

When new special editions or price reductions are announced.

Synopsis

Johann and Robin, a young gay couple, travel to the countryside to get to know each other better. After several days of hiking, they arrive at an old farmhouse inhabited by a woman and her adolescent son. They take refuge with the welcoming family until one day they get too close for comfort and are flung out of their paradise, forcing them back into the real world.

3 Reasons To buy this film

Light Gradient was an official selection at Frameline, Outfest and the Berlin International Film Festival.
Sebastian Schlecht and Eric Golub make a hot young couple.
The adorable young actors are not shy about showing off their bodies for the camera.

Review

The first half hour of Light Gradient isn’t ideal for anyone with a short attention span. Writer/director Jan Krüger takes his time establishing characters and events. What the film lacks in exciting plotting, however, it makes up for with scintillating imagery. In that first, largely dialog-free half hour, we’re introduced to an attractive young gay couple and treated to full frontal nudity, cuddling, kissing, caressing, skinny dipping, bare ass-slapping and even a little light bondage.

Johann (Sebastian Schlecht), our mysterious narrator – who communicates through allegorical fairy tales – and his beefy, straight-acting beau Robin (Eric Golub) travel to the countryside for a sexually-charged camping excursion. The first indication of their character comes when they intimidate two cyclists into giving them food (the scene echoes Michael Haneke’s Funny Games with less sinister consequences). Later, the boys stumble upon an old farm house owned by Grit (Iris Minich), a young mother, and her teenage son Henri (Denis Alevi). Enjoying Grit’s maternal affection, the boys choose to stick around for a while. However, Johann’s jealousy soon gets the better of him when he spots Robin flirting with the much younger Henri.

The fact that the couple ventured off into the woods with no food or ultimate plan is telling. These boys like to fly by the seat of their pants – with no particular ambition or intention. Unfortunately, the same can be said for the film. It’s nearly impossible to find motivation behind the character’s actions and the intentionally ambiguous, underdeveloped ending leaves much explanation to be desired. Krüger seems to take inspiration from filmmakers like Haneke, Gus Van Sant and The Dardenne Brothers, but doesn’t employ enough emotional resonance or character insight to truly compare. The film has only two real draws: Sebastian Schlecht and Eric Golub, two first-time actors who are not shy about showing off every inch of their delicious young bodies. The film might disappoint, but the boys do not.

-- Robert O'Neill

Product Format Information

DVD : $22.49

Availability: Usually ships in
5-10 days
Region Code: 1
UPC: 712267301027
Catalog #: DV3126462

Studio : Strand Releasing

Languages: German (Primary) , English Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen

Keywords

Adolescence, Coming of Age, Drama, Erotica: Gay Male, Gay Male, Gay/Lesbian, GLBT Creator / Performer / Writer, Homosexuality, Nudity, Sexuality: Gay Male, Twink

Genres

Drama, International

Customer Reviews

What is this?

Scott wrote on 01/01/2011:

Don't waste your money on this. It is boring. I still don't know what light gradient is. It started off slow, very slow, and then when some potentially interesting situations cropped up, nothing happened.

The introduction of the cute boy seemed good. But he didn't do anything, really. I think he was kind of eying the gay couple and I think he might have been jealous of his mother's interaction with them, but I might have just made that up, hoping for something to happen. Then when the real plot came into play, it was confusing and disappointing.

Overall, it was boring and a waste of time, in my humble opinion.

Exploring

Amos Lassen wrote on 08/27/2010:

“Light Gradient” (“Ruckenwind”)
Exploring
Amos Lassen
The first question I asked myself about this movie is what does the title mean? I understand that the term refers to the way a bike path slopes as it goes into the forest and it is on this path that two young gay men explore the countryside and each other. The film opens in an institution where we meet Johann (Sebastian Bad) who tells us in voice-over the fable of a fox and a hare. The fox tries to tempt the hare to come into the forest for some adventure.
The hare not feeling any danger agrees and suddenly we see a passenger train heading for the German countryside. On the train are Johann and Robin (Eric Golub) and they are lovers. It is up to us to decide which of the two is the hare and which is the fox.
When they begin their foray into the forest, we have no idea of what will happen. They are escaping the doldrums of ordinary life as they begin their adventure. Director Jan Kruger gives us a road movie in a sense as we watch the boys go on a journey that will have important consequences. The film unfolds very, very slowly.
Eventually Johann and Robin get to a farm where they spend the night and things begin to get mysterious. The viewer becomes better acquainted with the characters as the film moves forward and Kruger shows us a great deal about relationships. Soon the boys meet another two young men and the film becomes more and more interesting however, it is hampered by the slow pace that moves it.
The cinematography stuns the eyes as does the beauty of the actors. My main problem with “Light Gradient” was waiting for something significant to happen.