Boys Life 6

By: Scott Cranin
In-House Review - Jan 09 2009

Fishbelly White -- From the maker of The Mudge Boy comes this excellent gay short film. Beneath a railroad bridge a young rural gay man begins to his explore his gay feelings with the aid of an understanding friend. For you lovers of The Mudge Boy, Fishbelly White is an early short version of the film. Beautifully shot and acted this tale of young gay man in lust with another is outstanding. And for fans of tighty-whities, the railroad bridge scene is a ten.
Time Off -- Eytan Fox's (Yossi & Jagger, Walk on Water) first film, Time Off, a 45-minute drama about sexual identity in the Israeli army, won the "Movie Of the Year Award" (1990) at the Israeli Film Institute, First Prize in Munich's International Student Film Festival, and was shown on TV in Europe and in the U.S. The only film in the pack with a pedigree is also the driest and least interesting. While this film is a letdown and pretty boring, don't let it ruin your experience as the other three films are so strong. Dare -- High school senior Ben secretly lusts after bad boy classmate Johnny. After Ben gives Johnny a ride home one night, the boys end up in Johnny's swimming pool and have an encounter that breaks the rules and blows Ben's mind. Filmed with elegance and told with eclan, Dare is a short film that needs to be made into a feature. The leads are hot, their acting chops impeccable and perfectly cast. Dare is our favorite film in the collection, we can't wait to see it again.

Late Summer -- A photographer remembers that special summer that he spent with his somewhat older cousin, the feelings that were awakened, and the unexpected turn of events behind his "best" photo. Also shot gorgeously in the Boston area, this short film is the story of a boy's sexual awakening that's so powerful it wrenches in pain. The actor playing Josh looks like a young Mark Wahlberg and as a special bonus, he appears totally naked in the swimming home scene.

By: Scott Cranin
In-House Review - Oct 16 2007

Strand Releasing has compiled four of the hottest gay men's shorts from the film festival circuit for the sixth collection in this superlative series.
Doorman -- (17 min) Ethereal and emmiting a sheen of loneliness, Etienne Kallos' film tells a story of a Latino doorman who is seduced by a new tenant, a rich, emotionally-damaged white boy. Their affair is brief, tumultuous and doesn't end well. Emotionally wrenching with few words said, this short film blew us away with its powerful images and characters. Bugcrush -- (36 min) The centerpiece of the collection, Carter Smith's film is a powerful amalgam of a tale of gay sexual obsession/seduction and a horror thriller like you've never seen before. An adorable red-haired geeky gay teen falls head-over-heels obsessed with a dark mysterious tough boy. The suspense builds as the tough boy takes his new friend to his dark home deep in the woods. With realistic dialogue and unforced acting, the filmmaker takes us to some wholly unexpected places.
Davy & Stu -- (14 min) Filmmaker Soman Chainani's lyrical film is like a sweet song we don't want to ever end. Two boys meet in a dark Scotland bog for a nightly erotic ritual in this richly shot, moody adaptation of Anton Dudley's award-winning play.
Heartland -- (13 min) HG, 21, lives a happy and openly gay life in New York. He must return to Iowa to help his alcoholic father save the family farm. He no longer feels he is a member of his family tribe but digs into the work along side his father and a hired man, Ryan, who has his own set of problems. After HG's father becomes ill, the two young men are to work together, and find that they have more in common than they would have thought. From filmmaker Mark Christopher (54).

By: Amos Lassen

Strand Releasing Company began a great tradition when it started releasing its compilations of gay short films. Entitled "Boys Shorts", there had been up until now five volumes. On November 27, 2010 volume six hit the streets and I, for one, was glad to hear about it. Watching the screener of volume 6 yesterday, I am glad to say that it is not only every bit as good as its predecessors, I would even go so far as to say that it is the best of them all.
"Boys Life 6" is composed of four short films and each of the films is a treat. "Bugcrush" directed by Carter Smith is a Sundance prize winner running 37 minutes. It is about Ben, a lonely high school kid from a small town who is introverted. When new guy, Grant, moves to town and comes to his school, Ben becomes fascinated by him and his sultry seductiveness wins Ben over quickly. They become close friends or so Ben thinks. Then one night Grant and his friends take Ben to a remote house in the country and introduce him to their bizarre and erotic rituals.
"Doorman" directed by Etienne Kallos is a bit shorter running for only 17 minutes and is the story of a Latino doorman in a New York apartment building. He begins to fall apart when he is first seduced and then dumped by a rich college kid who lives in the building where he works.
"Davy and Stu" running 13 minutes and directed by Soman Chainani takes place on a swampy bog in Scotland as the sun is setting. Nightly two boys meet as part of their own private ritual. The short is part character study and part love story as it takes an in depth look at the intensity of teen romance and love that is forbidden.
Finally there is the 13 minute "Heartland", another award winner having garnered awards at three festivals. Mark Christopher directed this amazing story of HG who lives an openly gay life in New York but must return to Iowa to help his alcoholic father save his farm. When he arrives in Iowa, he realizes that he no longer feels part of his family but nonetheless works alongside his father and a hired hand, Ryan. Ryan has his own set of problems but after HG's father becomes ill, the two men are t work together and suddenly find that they have more in common than they had thought.
We so rarely get a chance to see so many of the wonderful shorts that make the festival circuit so having a chance to watch "Boys Life 6" is a special experience. Now that we have volume six, we can only hope that volume seven will not be to far off.

By: Trey

By: just a reviewer

((1)). First, an overview of this release, obviously the 5th in line of the "Boys Life"-series. To me it's probably the most successful. Yet, while episodes in the earlier discs have been romantically catching, the bulk of their stories seemed to share a theme wherein the director wanted to philosophize about some point or another. Just not my cup of tea; give me the good, ole romantic scenario anytime. In this 5TH edition, however, "Dare" is a quite nice "romantical" piece. Adam Fleming's portrayal of Ben (Light Boy) is notable, with his end-of-film, small smile and quiet laugh being particularly telling (you'll catch the point upon watching). But it's a thanks to the heavens which should be given the producers of this disc for having wisely included an old-by-today's-standards (1990) release, from Israel of all places. ((2)). Foremost in this review, then, has to be comment about a likely near unheard of little release (which TLA's reviewer certainly doesn't seem to see much in)----"TIME OFF" (alternately titled "After" on the Imdb.com website) is one of the earliest works of Eytan Fox (later came "Yossi & Jagger" and "Walk on Water"). For many gays, or those so interested, "TO" may be one of the most satisfying short films on the disc. It's the story of an Israeli Army unit in training and on short leave, of it's lieutenant leader and, most particularly, one of its young soldiers. Yonatan (Jonathan?), impressively played by actor, Hanoch Reim, is in the final stages of realizing who he is, sexually, and it is absolutely amazing to watch his reactions and growing response to the handsome young unit commander, a part also well-played by Gil Frank. ((3)). While many sections of this short, 45 minute film are slow going (unit training interactions and the fun "behavings" of young soldiers on a short leave in Jerusalem), it is when the film concentrates on Yonatan, especially during time spent in a city park, that we get most drawn in. A scene in the park men's restroom is almost palpable and one of the most arousing I've witnessed in any film. Hanoch Reim gives us a "study in pure longing." The response he creates leaves no doubt in our minds as to just where he wants to be, what he wants to be doing, and with whom. (How CAN one do that, with just eyes, facial expression and the very slightest of head movements?). ((4)). It is rather surprising that, with one exception, young Reim doesn't seem to have gone on to later film performances in the succeeding 15 years. Frank, on the other hand, has kept somewhat busy, particularly in Israeli TV. But in this film, precursor to "Yossi & Jagger," at least Reim has left us with a most indelible performance. ((5)). PS--The last two lines of spoken dialog and a half-smile of realization will tell you everything you need to know.

By: Gree Giant

Though only 28 mins. long, LATE SUMMER is one of the best coming-of-age films I've ever seen. the action is seen through the eyes of a 12-year-old who has gone to spend the summer
with relatives. since his father just died he's a bit on the shy side. But he comes out of his shell a bit when he meet his somewhat older cousin played by Christopher Nee. Nee, aside
from being a statuesque piece of stunning young male beauty, makes his character Josh extremely likable. Josh and his young cousin even go skinny dipping one night. Nee Hasan A+ full frontal scene. in fact earlier on our hero catches Josh making love to his girlfriend on a river bank which has got to be one of the sexiest love scenes ever in a legit film.
Right before he's about to orgasm he notices his young cousin spying on him and gives him the sexiest wink in movie history. In other words LATE SUMMER is an absolutely beautiful coming of age film. One other note - I don't wish to seem dense but does it really belong in the BL#5? The director gave no hint at all of any "tension" between the 2 boys so why might I ask is it in the collection?

By: Scott

I enjoy this series and this edition is one of the best. Of course, I admit I'm a sucker for gay indie film with great looking naked guys, so I really enjoyed the last one. It is also interesting to see emerging talent, and these shorts are very promising. For regular length movies, I also recommend GRANDE ECOLE for drama (the locker room/shower scenes are extremely "pausable" and the story and look of the film is great. For sexy, romantic comedies, check out ADAM and STEVE and BEVERLY KILLS.