Sagwan

By: Scott Cranin
In-House Review - Mar 23 2012

Set in a charming provincial town in the Philippines, where the river and the hanging bridge are equally popular to tourists as the young boatmen are, Alfred reluctantly gives in to experience what his peers seem to be enjoying so much. His romantic relationship with his girlfriend, Cecilia, and the self discovery of his family's dark secret increasingly complicate his journey. Until one unexpected chance awakens his innocence and makes him realize that the ultimate pleasure lies beyond who you are and who you are with.

By: Amos Lassen

"Sagwan"





Young Erotic Men





Amos Lassen







Eighteen year-old Alfredo " Alfred " Paradiso (Ryan Dungo) works as a boatman on the river in Tatalon and he carries tourists. Some of the tourists have sexual needs that Alfred helps satisfy. It seems that he is open sexually to everyone except his family and his girlfriend.
I am not sure just where this film is meant to do. At times it seems to be a travelogue for the Philippines and other times it seems to concentrate on the beauty of the young men that love there. They, like the atmosphere, are sultry.
Alfred is in a latent and bored guy. He commutes between coming out and love and prostitution and he does all this with hardly a movement and hardly any emotion.



Alfred lives as a lodger at the home of Cecilia (Martina Wilson) and her father. River. He earns money as a tourist guide, in which he brings his boat to tourists in the beautiful unspoiled places in the area. His father left him and his mother has disappeared so he is alone in search of his destiny.
Sex Sells! While offering plenty of sex and nudity, there is unfortunately not much of a story but the photography is beautiful. This is an unusual film that could have been so much more. Nevertheless, it is beautiful to watch.