a short film by Alain Hain 2010 | 9 mins | US ›› Curious Thing testing the boundaries of a bromance styled friendship. Based upon a set of true stories weaved together by writer Jason Mills, here we find director Alain Hain walking the more than familiar cinematic ground of falling in love with your best friend; albeit with a markedly straight variant. For like Marco Berger's captivating exploration of male friendship and sexuality that is Plan B, this part love story, part coming out and part documentary work explores the growing bond between two men, both straight to the world, but equally aware of their burgeoning feelings for each other, emotions are set to test the boundaries of their bromance styled friendship. Told via a series of audio interviews / voiceovers, courtesy of six gay men's experiences, sexual or otherwise, with straight men, this telling short poignantly showcases the intense love that Jared feels for his best friend Sam and the hurt it brings, when they see the other flexing their heterosexual muscles, hand-in-hand with a girl. Beautifully played out by all parties, including Matthew Wilkas previously seen in Jonathan Lisecki's Gayby as a man petrified by that curious thing called love, gay fashion, this movingly honest piece cuts to the core in the sole scene in which the narrative is broken, spoken words that achingly detail a heartrending decision destined to set both men upon their sexual path in life. That the Mills / Hain boys then go on to illustrate the consequences of that life changing moment, makes for a short film, the first of three, that in examining the lives of gay men in New York City, sets out to say it - like it is. Gay Visibility - covert / overt.  Nudity - strictly from the waist up.  Overall - file under ... 3+ stars.  ›› Available to buy from Amazon.co.uk. available on DVD as part of the Peccadillo Pictures catalogue - 'Boys on Film 7: Bad Romance' release: 26.September.2011. starring: Danny Bernardy / Jared, Matthew Wilkas / Sam, Rebecca Pappa / Becky, amongst others. screened as part of the 2010 FrameLine 34 programme. "with thanks to all of the men who donated their time and stories." Copyright 2011 David Hall - www.gaycelluloid.com. archive reference #431 ›› previous page | back to top | print me ‹‹