a film by Andrew Haigh 2009 | 75 mins | UK ›› Greek Pete a sexually explicit exposé of the London escort scene Always horny, always up for it, Greek Pete is out to make loads of money. And when you're as big a boy as he is, there's one option clearly open to you. Only how many of us would opt for a career as a male escort? With the subtitle "a year in the life of a rent boy," it's fairly obvious as to what Pete's decision is. For here's a man giving the London escort scene, every inch of his being. Yet in detailing the ups and downs of both his private life and professional career, this inventive docu-drama from writer and director Andrew Haigh, is far from your standard drink and drugs exposé of those who earn a living outside of mainstream society, intercut as it is with childhood home movies, together with footage of Pete and his fellow renters going about their everyday lives. Notably Haigh does not judge, preferring instead to draw upon the experiences of his cast, so as to present "a fictional representation of their world." In doing so, this work focuses on a man determined to get to the top of his field and who knows, perhaps one day merit a nomination at the annual World Escort Awards in Los Angeles. Only will Pete ever make it to LA? You certainly cannot beat the boy for trying, given that he, like all of us, is out to make a better life for himself, having moved to London 'cause that's "where all the money is," let alone, I dare say, the men ever willing to pay for services rendered. Yet in flipping the coin, Haigh charts the non-sexual side of the game. Even here, time spent social networking and doing promotional photo shoots, details the mindset of a man who runs his sex life as a business, able to separate his job from his love life, unlike boyfriend and fellow escort Kai, who increasingly finds it difficult to share his man, with a client list. Sexually explicit as you would expect, including full-on scenes of real sex, this shockingly entertaining, if sexually graphic account of the London escort scene was made on a limited budget and thereby comes across as a far more grittier, if improvised insight into the age old game of doing tricks to pay the rent. And whilst Pete and the boys are a likable bunch of renters, at the end of the day on hearing some of the darker stories told, the reality of life in the sex trade hits home, even if it is delivered faux documentary fashion. Gay Visibility - overt.  Nudity - sexually explicit.  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: 21.September.2009 / UK. screened as part of the 23rd London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, 2009. starring: Peter Pittaros as Greek Pete, Lewis Wallis as LondonboyKai, Tristan Field as BarbaraBush, Liam Thompson as Hotblond84, with Barry Robinson, Robert Day, Craig Wilson, Steve Turner, Rachel Whitbread, Richard Rosetti, Glen Anderson, Chris Jepson, Jeffrey Davids, Jonny McGovern, Cody Lowe and Corey Chambers. Copyright 2009 David Hall - www.gaycelluloid.com. archive reference #226 ›› previous page | back to top | print me ‹‹