Bent (1997)

This is a screen adaptation of an award-winning play about the persecution of homosexuals by Nazis during World War II. In Germany, the Nazi party's program of genocide against any and all perceived "enemies" is coming into full swing when the party begins a violent purge of homosexuals in its membership. Max (Clive Owen), a bisexual playboy, is attending an orgy thrown by drag queen "Greta" (Mick Jagger) and featuring a number of party members when the festivities are raided by the police; Max and his lover Rudy (Brian Webber) escape, but they are later arrested and sentenced to a concentration camp. En route to the camp, Max betrays Rudy and arranges to be given a yellow identification star, marking him as a Jew, instead of a pink triangle, which would signify him as gay; while the Jews are destined to be executed, gay prisoners receive even more brutal treatment from the guards. While incarcerated, Max meets Horst (Lothaire Bluteau), an inmate who proudly wears the pink triangle. Max and Horst fall in love with each other, and Horst's bravery leads Max to accept his sexual identity.

BENT is truly one of the best films ever made for its genre. Based on a theatrical production, this powerful and moving film made in Britain mainly demonstrates the most evil practice or treatment by humans that act more like beasts than humans. It’s certainly a film for everyone!

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Clapham Junction (2007)

This is a provocative and powerful single drama about the mixed experiences of several gay men during 36 hours in South London, and the devastating consequences that unfold when their lives collide. From a civil partnership ceremony to a heated dinner party, five separate stories are woven into the fabric of modern day London from school and work, to bars and clubs, during one hot summer’s night in the capital.

CLAPHAM JUNCTION is a revelation that is so true that it hurts those that didn't accept it. The roles played by Paul Nicholls, David Leon, Luke Treadaway and Joseph Mawle are exceptionally moving. A MUST-SEE for everyone!

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Les Poupées Russes (2005)

Xavier (Romain Duris) a 30 ans. Il a réalisé son rêve d'enfance, il est devenu écrivain, mais il semble quand même un peu perdu. Il a quelques problèmes avec sa banquière. Il a également des réticences à se fixer avec une fille et enchaîne les aventures amoureuses avec inconséquence. Xavier est contraint de continuer son travail à Londres, puis à Saint-Pétersbourg. Ces nouveaux voyages lui permettront peut-être de réconcilier le travail, l'amour et l'écriture.

At almost 30, Xavier (Romain Duris) has achieved his childhood dream of being a writer but somehow he seems still a little lost. He is having problems with his banker... he is also reluctant to settle with one woman and continues his adventures in love which in turn is always full of inconsistencies. Due to inevitable circumstances, Xavier is forced to continue his work in London... then to St. Petersburg. His recent travels may probably help reconcile his work, love and writing.

Amongst sequels, LES POUPÉES RUSSES (THE RUSSIAN DOLLS, its literal English title) is well-written and directed that it succesfully maintained the coolness if not better “L’Auberge Espagnole.” Again, I enjoyed the film a lot because it has more meaning that can inspire those who are having the same dilemma when they are almost in the same age as Xavier. Aside from that, you’ll be treated to great acting by practically all the members of the cast plus you’d be able to see three beautiful European cities – Paris, London and St Petersburg.

(In FRENCH and ENGLISH with ENGLISH subtitles)

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Endgame (2001)

A moody, stylish and sex-charged English thriller about Tom (Daniel Newman), a rent boy who is kept by George Norris (Mark McGann), a sado-masochistic gangster. Tom is kept in high style in a London flat filled with pop art and a bedroom deco set up, not only for sex, but also for blackmail with a hidden camera focused on the red silk bedsheets. Tom is being sucked down into a nasty scheme involving drugs, money and protection by Norris' connection with a crooked gay cop Dunston (John Benfield). Things turn nasty rather quickly in this fast-paced thriller as we glimpse scenes of Tom being beaten by his boss and sent in to a bar as part of a scheme to rough up the owner. As a way to introduce some sanity into his dark and abusive life, Tom befriends a straight American couple downstairs, Max & Nikke Bergman (Corey Johnson & Toni Barry) and is invited to dinner at their flat. When Tom returns to his flat, Norris starts a jealous spat with his boy and Norris is accidentally killed whilst forcing the boy for sex.

ENDGAME is a stunning British thriller about a hunky rent-boy caught in a web of blackmail and murder. But not an ordinary rent-boy as he is clearly for the wealthy only but you will be treated of Newman's many great shots in the shower, shirtless with leather pants and in underwear. With a crisp script, clear-cut editing, a striking soundtrack and excellent acting, this film is surely one of the best gay thrillers I've seen.

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Surveillance 24/7 (2007)

Adam (Tom Harper) has got his life just where he wants it. During the week he teaches IT at a posh private school. At the weekend he comes to London - the big, bad city - to club, dance, meet new friends -- and get laid. A casual encounter with a handsome stranger, Jake (Séan Brenden Brosnan), brings Adam to the attention of powerful, unseen forces. They rob him of his job, and follow his every move. Suddenly Adam's life is a mess - and he's in serious danger. But why -- why him? Then Adam discovers that Jake planted on him the only evidence of an affair with a gay royal. When Jake is found dead, Adam if forced to go on the run, with only two people he can trust: his disapproving father and Amy (Dawn Steele), a reporter, and old friend. With few resources, and an increasingly desperate, and murderous, adversary, Adam has to dig deep - to find the truth; and the hero inside...

SURVEILLANCE 24/7 is a visually entertaining paranoid tale that can actually be so terrifying if it does exist fully in reality. This fast-paced thriller has a good ensemble of British actors that includes Pierce Brosnan’s son Séan. Let me warn you that its style is not for everyone as I’ve read quite a lot of negative comments but I’d recommend it to those who can stay in focus when they watch a film as chances are they’d enjoy it the way I did.

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Song for a Raggy Boy (2003)

A teacher takes on the corrupt leadership of an Irish reform school in this drama based on a true story. William Franklin (Aidan Quinn) is a teacher who was born in Ireland and moved to the United States only to repatriate in 1939 after his leftist political views cause him to lose his job. Franklin becomes the first non-cleric instructor at St. Jude's, a school for wayward boys run by Father Damian (Alan Devlin), and assisted by Brother John (Iain Glen) who is a firm believer in strong discipline. But Franklin comes to believe the students are being treated with excessive force, with many of the children severely punished for trivial violations of the rules, and some treated as delinquents for the crime of not having parents. As Franklin campaigns for more humane treatment of his charges, he makes a powerful enemy in Brother John, who responds to Franklin's reform efforts with greater vehemence against the students, in particular Liam Mercier 636 (John Travers), an inquisitive child who has become a favorite of Franklin. Franklin's distrust of Brother John's regime reaches a high point when he learns that Patrick Delaney 743 (Chris Newman) was sexually assaulted by Brother Mac (Marc Warren), one of the clerics.

An award-winning and highly-acclaimed joint project from UK, Spain, Denmark & Ireland, SONG FOR A RAGGY BOY will surely make you feel bad even if you have a heart of stone. This carefully directed and brilliantly acted film clearly showed the cruelty of the past when "human rights" was still inexistent. I'll easily give it a perfect 10 although it broke my heart into pieces.

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The Dreamers (2003)

A young American exchange student, Matthew (Michael Pitt), has come to Paris in order to study French. Though he has lived there for several months, and will stay in Paris for a year, he has made no friends. As a huge fan of film, he spends most of his time in the cinemas. He comes into a rapid friendship with a Frenchwoman, Isabelle (Eva Green), and her brother, Théo (Louis Garrel). Isabelle and Theo are twins, and were originally conjoined at her right and his left shoulder, respectively. Throughout the film, scars on their shoulders can be seen. All three have an avid love for movies, especially "the classics". As their friendship grows, Matthew learns of the extreme intimacy shared by the siblings and gets pulled into their world. Over time he falls in love with them, and the three seclude themselves from the world, falling further and further from the reality of the 1968 student rebellions. An abrupt ending to this relationship comes when that world is shattered and they are compelled to face the reality of 1968 France.

THE DREAMERS is one of Bernardo Bertolucci's masterpieces that earned so much controversy and popularity because of the lead characters' nudity which I believe played a very significant part to the beauty and splendour of the film. The most memorable feature of the film to me is the game they play, picking at random films to reenact from a variety of periods - just brilliant.

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Wild Side (2004)

La rencontre d'un trio de marginaux, composé d'un soldat "ASC" russe (Mikhail - Edouard Nikitine), d'une prostituée de transsexuel (Stéphanie - Stéphanie Michelini) et d'une prostituée masculine algérienne (Djamel - Yasmine Belmadi), dans le Paris contemporain, et l'amour qui naît entre eux. Leur alliance sera d'autant plus forte qu'elle se déroulera sur fond de clandestinité et de mort...

The meeting of a marginal trio -- Mikhail (Edouard Nikitine), an AWOL Russian soldier; Stéphanie (Stéphanie Michelini), a transsexual prostitute; and Djamel (Yasmine Belmadi), an Algerian hustler -- in contemporary Paris and the powerful love that binds the three of them. Their alliance becomes stronger as it takes place from the depth of a clandestine nature and death...

WILD SIDE is an award-winning dramatic project from France, Belgium and the UK. It is moving and heartbreaking. The lead trio's performances are so natural and (almost) flawless. The direction is great and the cinematography is stunningly beautiful. And... the musical number is the beginning is so arresting that I happen to believe that the idea of that musical ending in Shortbus was derived from it.

(In FRENCH, ENGLISH & RUSSIAN with ENGLISH subtitles)

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