a film by Rosser Goodman 2007 | 88 mins | US ›› Holding Trevor a relationship drama laced with pathos and humour Trevor and Darrell are lovers, of sorts that is, given their relationship is long past its sell by date. Yet Trevor's devotion to his drug dependent boyfriend is about to be tested, courtesy of a chance encounter with pretty boy Ephram; a medical intern who had previously been witness to the consequences of Darrell's preference for heroin, as against his partner. As the two start to see each other on a regular basis, the question is not so much whether Trevor has the strength to sever his relationship with Darrell, but whether he has the resolve to finally move on with his life with the man he now loves. Clearly struggling with the difficulties of indie filmmaking, including the inherent one of limited time for re-takes, Rosser Goodman has nonetheless delivered a remarkably realistic depiction of gay love; from the classic first date scenario to ... well that would be saying. Then again, this is down in no small part to writer and lead actor Brent Gorski who as Trevor creates a genuine screen relationship with Eli Kranski as partner Ephram, one that is full of the ups and downs of life, together with its ins and outs, upfront as they are with the sexual intimacy required for the piece, one that whilst not explicit, nevertheless leaves you in no doubt as the nature of their relationship. Yet sandwiched between scenes of homosexual affection is a subplot involving Melissa Searing as Trevor's best friend Andie struggling to come to terms with the unwanted result of an HIV test, a noteworthy addition to the narrative given the now almost taboo subject of AIDS. Only competing against her for the supporting spotlight is actor and musician Jay [Shortbus] Brannan, as loud and proud Jake. That the title is but a metaphor for Trevor being adrift in life, searching for something or someone to hold on to, hints at the ending to be had. It is one that is certainly anti-Hollywood. But then, so too is the film itself, clearly lacking the budget of the major studios, but with a script that takes pleasure in contrasting the downside of Jake's promiscuous life, Andie's addiction to alcohol and Trevor's vacuous existence with his junkie boyfriend, with a doctor-to-be who is everything they are not; lusting after life, be it his lover or career. Laced with the requisite elements of pathos and humour required for a relationship drama, here Goodman scores high in the depiction of the lives of a close-knit, often acid-tongued group of friends who fight and make up with each other in equal measure, only to find themselves facing an uncertain future. And yet and in spite of some negatives along its cinematic path, what this feature does show in its own reflective way is how Mr Right can so often appear, at the precise moment when love is the last thing on your mind. Gay Visibility - overt.  Overall - file under ... 3+ stars.  ›› Available to buy from Amazon.com. ›› Available to buy from Amazon.co.uk. available on DVD as part of the Peccadillo Pictures catalogue: 22.September.2008 / UK. starring: Brent Gorski, Jay Brannan, Melissa Searing, Eli Kranski and Christopher Wyllie. Copyright 2008 David Hall - www.gaycelluloid.com. archive reference #185 ›› previous page | back to top | print me ‹‹