a short film by Hong Khaou |
2006 | 9 mins | UK |
›› Summer |
an intimate portrayal of gay first love |
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Firmly putting their rainbow coloured voice where their heart is, leading UK gay film distributor
Peccadillo Pictures
heralded this strikingly realistic depiction of gay first love and if anything, the gay cinematic favourite
that is falling in love with your straight best friend. For that is what Will and Leung are, so close
in fact that they spend the summer together and on this particular day find themselves walking
through London's Hampstead Heath, contemplating life in general. Or to be more specific,
thinking and talking about sex, a subject that soon gives way
to Will boasting of his knowledge of the act itself.
Only Leung cannot help but wish that the lips that were those of Will's girlfriend, were instead his.
A desire that is destined to come out in the open when a game of 'wish upon a falling leaf' gives
way to a bout of manly wrestling, that in turn sees Leung plant his lips firmly upon those
of his best friend. Only will Will react the way most teenagers would,
when you realise your best friend has the hots for you!
Written and directed by Hong Khaou, this most intimate of works of the verbal nature delights in turning the
celluloid medium on its head, as the audience find themselves not so much watching a short film; rather
eavesdropping on a private conversation, as two close friends come to realise that their
sexual orientation lies in opposite directions.
True the scenario itself is hardly anything new, having been the foundation stone of many a feature of late, including the like of
Krámpack
and the festival favourite that was
Summer Storm.
And yet Khaou triumphs in depicting the emotions that go hand-in-hand with coming out and gay first love in a
natural, raw edged style. It is a work enhanced by the performances from Peter Peralta as Leung
and Jay Brown as Will who deliver convincing portrayals of their respective characters, backed
by a script that is both frank and open about teenage sexuality and experimentation.
Yet unlike other works of this kind, Khaou deliberately chose to end his piece with a cutting
closing comment, all of which makes this well-crafted tale an all the more pressing work
from a director who surely has more seasonal gems hidden up his cinematic sleeve. Delightful.
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screened as part of the 21st London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival 2007 |
available on DVD as part of the Peccadillo Pictures catalogue - 'Boys on Film 1: Hard Love' release |
starring: Peter Peralta, Jay Brown |
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Copyright 2008 David Hall - www.gaycelluloid.com. |
archive reference #093 |
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