not a gay film

I agree and was similarly confused.

No but there was some obvious homoeroticism beneath it. Sort of like the relationship that Sal Mineo and James Dean had in Rebel without a cause. How often do straight men wear pink clothes and venture out into the woods to give each other massages?


I think she's the saddest girl ever to hold a martini.

It is completely and totally miscategorized on Netflix. One could cyber debate the potency, or lack there of, of homoerotic undertones until their fingers bleed, but the bottom line is that nobody in their right mind could ever call this a film with nearly enough of such content to be logged in the Gay & Lesbian section. Hell even the description on Netlfix instant is purposefully misleading, leaving the impression that this is basically a Brokeback rip off.

But then again there seem to be a lot of films that are in the wrong category on Netflix.



Favorite Pastime: Feeding Trolls

I'm on the opposite boat. I watched it only because it is in the gay and lesbian section on Netflix.

I do think the implication is that they had sex after the massage -- cutting away to the long wood and dripping imagery was not at all ambiguous, and is a centuries' old story telling technique to express the act of sex between two characters without having to show the act itself.

But still, it wasn't enough of an LGBT film for me so I was disappointed.

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"Pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source. True humility is the antidote to shame."

I was disappointed that it was listed in the gay and lesbian section for the opposite reason. It did not deliver anything of the sort. Letdown.

It's not a gay film in the sense that the main dudes are not plugging one another. But the film does explore the idea of male intimacy. I would say in fact, it's more about the "lack" of intimacy, and a sort of attempt to create it where it doesn't exist. I don't think it's the fault of their particular relationship though. The non-bearded guy is just sort of an emotional vacuum, without much of a connection with his wife either - he's a guy who isn't really living but rather just goes through the motions of life. You can also see this in terms of his attitude toward having a child. He gives a very non-compelling explanation for being a parent, essentially describing it as a chore to be endured. I don't think there is any real hope for him either without large paradigm shifting changes in his life, the guy is basically doomed to an empty life, incapable of feeling. I think the bearded guy has a lot more potential for happiness, but being about the other guy is somewhat soul crushing. While the things that I am describing are not gay in particular, they could still be of interest to someone inclined to gay themes because of the parallels that might exist in gay relationships.

It sure got close to being gay.



😎



"He's dead."

I agree with the OP. And I'd add that love & intimacy between two me doesn't necessarily have to be sexual, but it can still be powerful. It's a topic a lot of men are deeply uncomfortable about, however.