Saturday, February 11, 2012
OPERA
Today's gay favorite film was Number 28
A French Canadian film directed by Jean-Marc Vallée (The Young Victoria) about a young man who finds out, somewhat after other people do, that he is gay.
And he has a family. Five boys. One of every type of personality, why not a gay boy? A good question as most of them make it pretty tough for the gay boy to flourish in this devout, loving RC family.
Family family family. All about family and the boy.
It is the late 60s. David Bowie as Ziggy. Not cool to be gay yet.
The scene? Operatic. At one point in the midst of a fight, the director inserts an operatic sequence. It all seems to be over the top but it is not the gay boy's point of view and you know how we can be.
This is a beautifully made film. Long. Filled with music. Lots of visual stunts and effects. Spanning the gay boy's lifetime up to 21 when he gets to be his own man.
There is a thriving French language film industry in Quebec, but nothing gets distributed here at all. And there was a lot of trouble on this one because of rights to music. Bastards.
The title is also an acronym but you have to stay until the end titles.
I loved the film. I had a number of gasp moments. Many tears. Some laughs. And a lot of identification with the main character Zac.
All the stops are pulled and I went for them.
I will definitely see this again someday. A 5 out of Netflix5. Maybe a 4. Time will tell.
