Drowning film review on Gay Celluloid

›› Drowning ‹‹

a short film by Craig Boreham.

2009 | 20 mins | Australia.

the inherent fear of losing the man you love.

Dave says:

Written and directed by Craig Boreham, this is the short film that went on to become the feature Teenage Kicks. And here it's easy to understand why, given come close-of-play you're left wanting to learn more about the compelling relationship between the boys.

Namely the friendship between Mik (Miles Szanto) and Dan (Xavier Samuel); two lifelong friends who have always been there for each other, when it counts. Only upon the sudden death of Mik's brother Tomi (Bren Foster), their deep friendship is set to be tested to breaking point, when Dan introduces an increasingly volatile Mik to his newfound girlfriend Phaedra (Tess Haubrich). Envious of her affluent social background and all too aware that she threatens to come between him and his man, Mik's inability to cope with the death of his brother, together with his inherent fear of losing the man he clearly loves, is set to bring him to the brink of suicide. Question is; will he sink or swim?

Beautifully shot throughout and complete with an Australian poolside pad straight out of the set of Home and Away, this poignant short achingly captures the emotional turmoil of a young man whose life is all but falling apart. It's a work that finds Boreham delight in constantly shifting the narrative tone from playful fun to voyeuristic eavesdropping, resulting in an emotional roller coaster on the growing pains of youth. Yet and whilst Samuel excels as the rock of compassion of the piece, his part is frankly eclipsed by Szanto's bittersweet turn as Mik. No surprise then that Szanto was later asked to reprise his role, being the sole survivor of the original cast.

The result was a short film ripe for feature length development, shining the spotlight on a bromance that and by no surprise, was all but destined to be unrequited. Or was it?

›› available as part of the PECCADILLO PICTURES catalogue: BOYS ON FILM #6 - PACIFIC RIM shorts compilation.

›› revised: Friday, 28th January, 2022.

Gay Visibility - overt.
Nudity - bare-arsed cheek.
Overall - file under ... 3+ stars.

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›› archive reference #371 - revised ‹‹