The fifth in Strand Releasing's powerful series of gay short films is dripping in homoerotic energy and is probably our favorite in the series.
Fishbelly White -- From the maker of The Mudge Boy comes this excellent gay short film. Beneath a railroad bridge a young rural gay man begins to his explore his gay feelings with the aid of an understanding friend. For you lovers of The Mudge Boy, Fishbelly White is an early short version of the film. Beautifully shot and acted this tale of young gay man in lust with another is outstanding. And for fans of tighty-whities, the railroad bridge scene is a ten.
Time Off -- Eytan Fox's (Yossi & Jagger, Walk on Water) first film, Time Off, a 45-minute drama about sexual identity in the Israeli army, won the “Movie Of the Year Award” (1990) at the Israeli Film Institute, First Prize in Munich’s International Student Film Festival, and was shown on TV in Europe and in the U.S. The only film in the pack with a pedigree is also the driest and least interesting. While this film is a letdown and pretty boring, don't let it ruin your experience as the other three films are so strong.
Dare -- High school senior Ben secretly lusts after bad boy classmate Johnny. After Ben gives Johnny a ride home one night, the boys end up in Johnny’s swimming pool and have an encounter that breaks the rules and blows Ben’s mind. Filmed with elegance and told with eclan, Dare is a short film that needs to be made into a feature. The leads are hot, their acting chops impeccable and perfectly cast. Dare is our favorite film in the collection, we can't wait to see it again.
Late Summer -- A photographer remembers that special summer that he spent with his somewhat older cousin, the feelings that were awakened, and the unexpected turn of events behind his "best" photo. Also shot gorgeously in the Boston area, this short film is the story of a boy's sexual awakening that's so powerful it wrenches in pain. The actor playing Josh looks like a young Mark Wahlberg and as a special bonus, he appears totally naked in the swimming home scene.
