I first saw this film a few years ago when I was about 17. Despite the films dated appearance, I loved it whole-heartedly. It's my favorite teen gay film second only to Beautiful Thing.
Despite being one dimensional, the characters were gritty, and real, and so very cool. I wished I could have been a part of their group. Though the problems they faced are almost cliche in terms of plot these days(such as being kicked out of your house for being gay), they were much bigger issues back then, and were hardly acknowledged in film. Araki actually referenced this very issue in the commentary; one of the people helping re-master the film saw the scene where Tommy goes to Deric's house and says his dad beat him up and kicked him out, and the guy said something like "I could never imagine that happening these days." So it's cool that things have kind of changed.
And I don't think Araki was generalizing the gay community so much as give a point of view from a teenage generation that was pessimistic, and brooding (about everything), but deep down really wished they could be hopefull. I also think that the over all gothy attitude and tone is more a representation of the Industrial rock, sort of neo-rave goth scene that the kids seemed to identify themselves with and I'm guessing Araki may have come from. I found it refreshing! Like Tommy said, not EVERY gay person is a fabulous Barbara Streisand fan... Or Boy George fan for that matter (seriously, have you seen Edge of Seventeen? ***PUKES*** talk about over-played cliches- and the characters were way too white-bread and perfect to empathize or find them relatable in any way. This is off topic, I just love to bitch about what a crappy movie Edge of Seventeen is whenever I get a chance!)
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johan-g-ljungquist
14 years ago
Gay stereotyping in movies have always been a problem. Most of us aren't pink disco-loving chihuahua-owners. Some of us are actually real people too. For me, as a thrift store-obsessed shoegazer, this (and Mysterious Skin, also by Araki) are the only films about homosexuals that I have been able to relate to. And God damn I can relate to those two movies.
I can get that gays want to live in the illusion that life actually IS pink and fabulous, but in reality - it really isn't. And that's something that Araki isn't afraid to reveal to the outside world.
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BLOObot
12 years ago
Eliminator said what i was thinking.
Those of us who were queer teens/twenties in the 90's and especially those of whome were in the industrial scene, as queers really had nowhere to relate. Araki was a breath of clove scented air to our sensibilities and remains to me , a huge influence on my art and outlook on modern film.
Consider this underground scene a sub-sub-subcluture , not aiming to be representative of 'all GLBTQ' culture by any means.
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