Thursday, October 20, 2016
Bonds
The bonds between two friends when one is straight and the other is gay are very interesting to explore.
I have had some success in maintaining such relationships and also some complete flops.
When I came out to some long time best friends they freaked out and we did not see much of each other again.
Some stayed.
It is not easy to navigate the rapids in such a change in friendship.
The other thing is that very often the straight friend sees "designs" by the gay one. Threats. This is too bad but can't be helped. There is not justifying either self hatred or innate or learned homophobia.
And so on. So boring to still be talking about this shit all these years later.
But here we are with a wonderfully sweet German film where just this kind of thing happens. Two friends who have met at school get together again and enjoy a road trip through Germany. All is well. Then they pick up a hitchhiker who upsets the apple cart.
In a way, this is a play on the old idea that "three is a crowd". But when gay feelings are bouncing around it makes it even more crowded.
With a deft hand and a sweet sensibility this film explores the situation and draws few conclusions. We are left to form our own.
This DVD is not widely distributed and it has not appeared anywhere but the festival circuit. Good reasons, for one, is that it is not a long film. 70 plus minutes. It is also not set up for popular appreciation. A limited taste or sensibility.
I can say you will not be disappointed. The biggest threat is that you might be bored if you do not identify with the situation. As a "straight" man who got into confused friendships with straight men continually it is not boring at all. It is me.
The DVD from Breaking Glass is subtitled in English.
A hidden gem.
Labels: gay films
