BomGay

One afternoon, in 1996, R. Raj Rao called Riyad Vinci Wadia and asked if he could come around to show him some poems he had recently written. Raj had been invited to attend the writing program and workshop at Iowa State University and was keen that Riyad should film him with a video camera to have some visual material reading some of his poems. And this led to the making of the very first Indian Gay Film.

Approximately stretched for 12 minute of length, this short film depicts the underground and twisted nature of the gay identity in urban India. Scripting verses as the screenplay well establishes the depth of imagery to show the Indian gay life of the 1990’s. Even though I found it difficult to comprehend the scenes at times; and since the movie has been banned in India, it was very difficult to get a good print of it.

The movie was made in a couple of days due to time limitations; whose effect is reflected in not-so-good cinematography and not-so-good direction. Considering the on-screen part, most of the cast had done a commendable work even though they occupy the screen just for few seconds or more. The most common faces recognized in Bomgay are Rahul Bose, Kushal Punjabi, Tarun Shahani, R Raj Rao and Farud Cambata.

After the release, for the next several months the film received reams of newsprint. It opened up an extensive discussion on homosexuality in India and it brought the “G” word into people’s homes. In all the press that the film received there was not one reaction that was negative or derogatory.

Overall, you can manage to take out 12 minutes sometime; but only if you get its print. The movie is banned; but still spending sometime on Google can help you to get a copy of poetic classic film.

(Written for Pink Pages)

Fixing Frank

“If there were a pill to make you straight, would you..?” Has anyone come across this question? Among us, one may find a person who somehow, at some point of time has had to deal with this doubt, whether it is our introspective self or a third person who perceives homosexuality a choice. image011

So, “Would you?” The movie, Fixing Frank, deals with the same question of identity crisis along with the contemporary hullabaloo on the adequacy (or rather the lack of it) of so-called conversion therapy.

This movie has three characters, Frank, a freelance journalist, his therapist husband Jonathan, and Dr Apsey. Dr Apsey is seemingly the ‘villain’, a psychologist whose notion of homosexuality is that it is a choice. He has a yellow pill that he claims has the power to conform a sad homosexual into a happy satisfied heterosexual.

As movie reels on, audience not only comes across a session of plausible arguments given by Dr Apsey but also the effect building upon Frank’s mind and heart. Though these logics actually do ample harm to the lives of Frank and Jonathan, the main cause of their failing relationship happens to be something else. The story has many twists and turns. All the three characters are strong and have equal exposure throughout the movie; still Jonathan’s character could have been extended. Actors have done great work, especially Dan Butler (Dr. Apsey). Butler, openly gay, has done brilliant work in the role of homophobic psychologist Dr. Apsey. The cinematography is a bit poor in some scenes, one may feel, the movie is absorbing not only because it was an adaptation of a staged play but also the theme and the way the scriptwriter has tackled the issue of conversion therapy.

This is a must watch for our community. Seldom are movies made on such themes and seldom we get to watch a good cinema like this.

(Written for Pink Pages)

Another Country

The film opens with a scene in contemporary Moscow where a wrinkle faced old man happens to be interviewed by an American lady reporter. As their conversation proceeds with the sips of scotch, the old man reminisces his life of his school days as “you have no idea what life in England in the 1930s was like.image012 Treason and loyalty, they’re all relative, you know. Treason to what? Loyalty to whom?” And the next scene is of an English public school, back in the days of the early 1930s, where students are coming to attend morning prayers.

Another Country is about a British born spy Guy Bennett who worked for Soviet Union. How this person becomes a spy against his own country instead becoming a diplomat for his country, is quite a tale that is spun in the script. Guy Bennett is a flamboyant, spoiled brat who has certainly great amount of inclination towards his own sex; he realizes that he is homosexual while seeking a guy named Harcourt. He confesses his love for Harcourt to his best friend Tommy Judd. Tommy is a die-hard Marxist, and has such firm faith in communism that he refuses to accept any reward such as becoming Prefect under the ‘bourgeoisie’ system of English public school. Seeing the prevalent hypocrisy about homosexuality within his schoolmates, Guy at last shows rebellion at the end of the movie and Tommy agrees with him – All problems solved for life. No Commies, No Queers.

This classic movie, made in 1984 in the era when homosexuals in England were still demanding their right to live freely, had created waves. With its astounding cinematography and powerful script, Another Country certainly etches onto the viewer’s mind. Actors, Rupert Everett (Guy Bennett) and Colin Firth (Tommy Judd) have given excellent performances in their debut film. The movie is full of some memorable lines, for instance, Guy Bennett (Rupert Everett) while watching Harcourt from a distance says to himself “There’s a little hollow at the base of his throat which makes me want to pour honey all over him, and lick it off again.” And some memorable scenes too, for instance that of Harcourt’s head lying upon Guy’s chest on a still boat in the middle of night. One can also appreciate the mellifluous soundtrack playing along various parts of the movie. The film is uniquely engrossing in many ways.

(Written for Pink Pages)

Just a question of love (French)

An appreciable compilations of plethora of questions of life and desires, homosexuality and coming-out behind a single question of love.

Directed by French director Christian Faure, Just a question of love very well managed to bind me to discover the beauty of hanging questions till the last scene. The story establishes a love story of two gay men, Cedric (Stéphan Guérin-Tillié) and Laurent (Cyrille Thouvenin), one of whom is proudly out while the other still in closet. Based on the theme: Are we really love our children as they say?, the screenplay and script very well revolves around the basic idea, putting light on the difficulties faced by a gay child (Laurent) belonging to a conservative family, on the other hand depicting the support of an understanding mom of a gay son(Cedric). I really appreciate the work of entire cast, especially, Emma, Cedric's mom (Eva Darlan), and the off screen crew.

Laurent, a 23-year old college student, masks his gayness from his family by living with his best friend, Carole. During his agricultural research under Cedric, Laurent falls for him. He wants to live openly like Cedric, but certain fears halt him in doing so, whereas Cedric cares for him but does not like him to live two lives. He introduces Laurent to his mom, who accepts his son as well as his boy friend. The unwillingness of Laurent to come out to his family creates distance between them. Hence begins intense portrayal of the test of the two lovers' relations as well as the parents-son's relation.

Overall, the movie is worth watching!

(Written for Pink Pages)
( Now a part of Gaylaxy also)

The History Boys

The History Boys, a philosophical comedy-drama, is adapted by Alan Bennett from his own play. It was directed by Nicholas Hytner, director of the original production of The History Boys at the Royal National Theatre in London, and features the original cast of the play.

The portrayal of many philosophies from different perspectives is enclosed in a plot with a touch of pink. In 1983, 6 grammar school boys, Crowther, Posner, Dakin, Timms, Akthar, Lockwood, Scripps, and Rudge, obtaining highest school scores, starts their preparation to enter Oxford or Cambridge. The General Studies teacher, known by staff and boys alike by "Hector" (Richard Griffiths), is their favorite, and works alongside their deputy head and regular History teacher, Mrs. Lintott (Frances de la Tour). The headmaster, Felix (Clive Merrison), hires young contract teacher named Irwin (Stephen Campbell Moore) to assist Hector and Mrs Lintott. Irwin's teaching methodology was extremely different from the regular teachers. Discovering Hector's homosexuality and due to certain other reasons, the headmaster insists him retire early. The story also reflects the confusions and desires of gay student (Dakin).The journey from high school to Oxfords/ Cambridge through varied tracks build a highly convincing screenplay.

History boys received positive acclaim from critics. The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures named The History Boys one of the Top Ten Films in its 2006 awards. Griffiths and de la Tour received BAFTA nominations for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively.

The beautiful exchange of classic dialogues deserves a onetime watch!

(Written for Pink Pages)

Before Night Falls

” My name for the moment is Reinaldo Arenas. I am an exiled Cuban writer. I live in New York City. I write and I survive. I am not religious, I am homosexual and at the same time anti-Castro. I meet all the conditions of never publishing a single novel. “

– Reinaldo Arenas

Based on the memoir published posthumously, Before Night Falls is a biographical film of Cuban poet and writer Reinaldo Arenas. However the screenplay is based on several of Arenas’ other works like Singing From the Well and The Hallucinations.

In an episodic way of narrated events, this film shows the pheasant childhood and impoverished youth of the poet, an ardent celebrant of the revolution ( “Long Live Fidel! Viva Fidel!”), and later conflict with the Castro regime due to his writing and homosexuality, subsequent imprisonment and exile to New York City in 1980, followed by Arenas’ struggle with AIDS and eventual suicide (aged forty seven) in 1990.

Directed by artist-director Julian Schnabel who is the master of portraying biographies of artists on the silver screen, this second film of his is nonetheless an example of his excellence like his other works. His cinema is like poetry on silver screen. With beautiful cinematography and editing, the director has successfully presented Reinaldo’s life and work in a graceful manner.

Javier Bardem who has played Reinaldo Arenas has undoubtedly done a wonderful job. He looks like he has absorbed each nuance of the poet’s life, and in the same way he has executed his skills, and thus this Spanish actor went on to receive a nomination for an Academy Award for best actor. Among other supporting casts, cameo of Johnny Depp (in dual roles) as drag queen Bon-Bon who helps Arenas to smuggle his writings out of prison and Lieutenant Victor overseeing the prison, have been quite a showcase of Depp’s versatile acting. Olivier Martinez who played as Lazaro has also been effective in his short role.

With the slight feel of a documentary (and indeed, showing some archival footages), this film is sometimes unpleasant because of its stark realism. Nevertheless, it is a thought-provoking, poignant drama and yet a beautiful example of real cinema. Overall it is a worth watch.

(Written for Pink Pages)

The Bubble

Sometimes we might think that we live in a bubble, in our own world, without paying heed to the day-to-day violence-war-hatred-etcetera spread around us. Two lovers may forget the world. Hu-Buah (or ‘the Bubble’), in Hebrew language, presents before us the short “insignificant” lifespan of Noam and Ashraf. Insignificant because no matter how many lives it gobbles, the monster of war never seems to cease its hunger and this relativity makes ‘love’ insignificant (Pardon the pessimistic me!). This movie in its preproduction stage was to be named ‘Romeo & Julio’. So ‘The Bubble’ is a 21st century romantic tragedy in which the lovers are not only gay but also they belong to two separate races and religions which seemingly hate each other since the birth of mankind (Why can they not peace out?)

The Bubble is the latest film by Eyton Fox, top notch director of Israeli Cinema. Openly gay Eyton has done many similar projects in his career and has always come up with a different theme and genre each time. Though romanticism always has been a main part of his films, he has proficiently depicted various issues and many aspects of Israeli life. Thus his movies can be a window to Israel and the country’s tolerance of LGBT people for the world audience.

The central theme is kind of obvious when I say that it is a modern Romeo & Juliet. But let me warn you before you jump to any conclusions that this is cliché cinema. No, it is not. Under the very keen and smart direction The Bubble proves itself a refreshing flick. The film is about Noam, a young gay guy who while working at a checkpoint on his reserve duty happens to lock eyes with a young Palestinian man there, Ashraf. After finishing his military duty, Noam returns to Tel-Aviv where he lives with another gay man, Yelli who works in a restaurant, and the flamboyant girl Lulu. They lead a happy-go-lucky life. And one day Ashraf comes to their place and love stems between Noam and Ashraf.

The film can boast of several memorable scenes: one of them is when Ashraf comes to Noam’s place to return his passport and then on the terrace, while Noam shows him the skyline of the city, Ashraf kisses him. Another beautifully done scene is that of their love making. The climax is almost icoinic.

Coming on the acting part and the cinematography I want to once again applaud the director. The entire cast especially the four main characters have done an excellent job by acting as naturally as possible, there is no hint of articulation while they delivered their dialogues. At the end of this review, all I can say is that it’s refreshing, cute and provides perspective. Watch it without any reservations and you will enjoy it.

(Written for Pink Pages)

The Pregnant King

“It will not make sense to your logical mind. You will say, a parent is a parent, whether you are father or mother. But it is not the same. I cannot explain. You have to experience it. All I know is what I feel. I feel, while there is sweetness when your son calls you “father”, there is more sweetness when he calls you “mother”.”

These are the words of Yuvanashva, a king, who has ‘conceived’ and given birth to a son, and longing to be addressed as ‘mother’. But he is never acknowledged with that, because as per tradition, only a woman can be a mother and a woman can never be a king. Faced with this dilemma, will the ‘dharma’ validate Yuvanashva’s wishes? Will society accept him the way he has come to be?

The Pregnant King is a work of fiction by Dr. Devdutt Patnaik. Though the author’s other works encompassing his research on rituals and symbols abundant in Hindu mythology are considered non-fiction, this novel of his narrates the story of the King of Vallbhi, Yuvanashva. Vallbhi was the neighboring kingdom to Hastinapur according to the ancient text Mahabharata. The events mentioned in the book chronologically go parallel to the events that happened in lives of the Pandvas and Kaurvas.

The style of writing and narration is very easy to follow, and though the plot sounds bulky, the writer has skillfully knitted every story into the narration. Another notable thing in this book is the fact that there are many places where sexual terms could have gone explicit, and in these places the symbolisms used by the author sound clever. While at times it is fun to read, at others the reader can feel his eyes moistening. This entire novel is an exquisite piece of information and philosophy that is not only understood by intellect but by the heart too.

Concluding, I’ll quote the author’s words that appear in the foreword of the book, “Did the events actually happen? Does it matter? Is it really about Shilavati, Yuvanashva, Shikhandi or Somvati? Or is it about love, law, identity, gender, power and wisdom? The impossibility of universal fairness?”

(Written for Pink Pages)

The Boyfriend

One fine Sunday morning, Yudi (an ‘Americanized’ version of Yudhishtir) meets a boy Milind who is half his age while looking for a ‘bite’ around a public loo at a local train station. And from that day onwards Yudi’s life takes a rollercoaster ride of comic-tragic events.

The Boyfriend, is a novel by famous Indian LGBT writer, poet and activist R. Raj Rao, who in fact not an unfamiliar name among Indian subcontinent literary circles. He came up with his first novel and first gay novel of India. Already causing a stirring in the Indian media with his collection of poems narrating the short film BomGay in year 1999, this novel published in 2003 by Penguin India was acclaimed as one of year’s finest books.

The setting of the novel is the heart of Mumbai (then Bombay). The events that take place in the story happen ten years before the book was published. The omnipresent ‘invisible’ gay culture in Mumbai – whether it is the lookout of the public loo, or the weekend hangout in Testeostone – the only gay bar in the city; or greasing the palms of police; or the kissing in the Irani restaurant – this book somehow familiarizes the readers to the ‘closets’ and gays. The story can be treated as a love story with a happy tryst of two lovers to heart-wrenching parting with a pragmatically sentimental ending. However, the writer has managed to avoid every kind of hanky-panky and come up with a dry, satirical humor that makes this nove a fun read. Also the writer’s attempts to sketch the contemporary issues of Indian culture like caste, class, poverty, illiteracy, slums etc. in witty, irreverent humor are worthy of praise. R. Raj Rao compares untouchability with homosexuality, when one of his protagonists Yudi (who is Brahmin by caste) says to dalit boy Milind ” “Homos are no different from Bhangis. Both are Untouchables. I am a homosexual. Gay by caste. Gay by religion.” “Outcastes” he says, “can only expect to be friends with outcastes.” “

The storyline goes like this. Yudi or Yudhishthir who is in his 40s is a freelance journalist, lives in the suburbs of Nalla Sopara, Mumbai. He is gay who is used to picking up boys from public toilets or some parks or from local trains. One day he meets a 19 year old dalit boy Milind Mahadik. Some days after this meeting, Mumbai burns with the infamous communal riots of the year 1993. Though Yudi never felt sentiments about his previous ‘guys’, he worries about the safety of Milind. He even goes on a lookout for Milind but his efforts remain futile until one day, after some months, he meets him, working as a peon. After this more trysts take place and they get ‘married’. Meanwhile a neurotic woman named Gauri comes in the life of Yudi who falls in love with him and tries to ’straighten’ him. Already ‘woman-phobic’, Yudi does everything to avoid her advances. Months later Milind again disappears and this makes Yudi’s life miserable. Milind appears again and then he gets married, knowing this Yudi, becomes all the more obsessive and longs for Milind. Through these hard times Gauri helps him to reduce his misery by becoming his friend with a sisterly affection.

The ending is quite pragmatic but surprising. The story may not strike a chord, still it leaves an indelible effect on the reader. All in all, it is fun and easy to read. And with this book the author has been successful to be in the league of the evolving genre of both Indian English writing and LGBT Indian Literature.

(Written for Pink Pages)

Boys don’t cry (****)

She was humiliated, she was assaulted, and she was raped and finally shot to death, just because she was transgender man.

Boys Don't Cry ( 1999)is an American independent drama film based on the true story of Brandon Teena, a transgender man who attempts to hide the fact that he has female genitalia to avoid discrimination. Directed by Kimberly Peirce, the film features Hilary Swank as Brandon Teena and Chloë Sevigny as Brandon's girlfriend Lana Tisdel.
Pierce had successfully created intense emotional savageness, without much fictionalizing the true facts of the account. It has effectively lightened on the darker shades on Brandon’s life, portraying the confusions, uncertainties, and seclusion in her life. The complete crew has done an excellent job in the making the movie a great success.
Boys Don’t Cry received tremendously positive acclaim from critics, especially the two lead performances from Swank and Sevigny, and considering its reasonably low budget, and independent production, it was a box office success, with most of the success coming from word of mouth and critical views. Swank was awarded the 1999 Academy Award for Best Actress, and Sevigny was nominated for the Academy Award as Best Supporting Actress. Winning under 41 categories of various film festivals, it was nominated for 68 categories.
Boys don’t cry brought tears in my eyes, depicting those catastrophic events. One must watch this story of great human tragedy!


(Written for Pink Pages)

Touch of Pink (***1/2)

Touch of Pink, directed and written by Ian Iqbal Rashid, is the story reflecting life of Alim (Jimi Mistry), a young gay Ismaili Muslim man living in London, miles away from his mother, Nuru (Suleka Mathew) in Toronto. The reasons for this distance are quite obvious; he can’t come out of closet to his mother and relatives. Secondly, He can’t leave his love, Giles (Kristen Holden-Ried), Caucasian economist working for UNICEF. Alim has an imaginary friend, Cary Grant (Kyle MacLachlan), whose advices are very effective in letting him into troubles. All four characters are strikingly built from foot to head, especially the mother and the son’s character.

Touch of pink touches many untouched doors of society, creating an intense plot of relation of mother and her gay son. Ian Iqbal Rashid’s romantic comedy rests not just over coming out’ conflict, but also deals well with cultural clash along with adoring love story of Alim and Giles. The story had effectively portrayed the hardships of coming out of the closet, and even concluded with a positive note with the acceptance of gay son by his mother.

The screenplay has been kept simple; giving it a pleasant flow with succinct dialogues. On screen, Jimi Mistry and Suleka Mathew have done superb job. The movies didn’t receive much acclaim by critics, with only four nominations on total at various film festivals in Canada. But overall, I would say that these 92 minutes deserves one time watch.

And if you are planning to come out of closet, do watch this! May be you would like to watch it again with your mom!


(Written for Pink Pages)

Milk(2008) ****

"I know that you can't live on hope alone, but without it, life is not worth living. And you, and you, and you, and you have got to give them hope.”
quoted Harvey Milk, giving his "Hope Speech" at the 1978 San Francisco Gay Freedom Day.

Based on the tagline: His life changed history.His courage changed lives; Milk is an American biographical film on the life of gay rights activist and politician Harvey Milk, who was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the United States of America as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Made brilliantly under the direction of Gus Van Sant and written by Dustin Lance Black, the film stars Sean Penn as Milk. It is a movie worth watching gripping every scene with humor, desires, hope, love and political provocation.

The film use flashbacks from a statement recorded late in life and archival footage for atmosphere, tracing Harvey Milk's career from his 40th birthday to his death. He leaves the closet, opens a camera shop that becomes the salon for San Francisco's growing gay community, and organizes gays' purchasing power to build political alliances. He runs for office with lover Scott Smith as his campaign manager. Victory finally comes on the same day Dan White wins in the city's conservative
district. The film flows so gracefully, making it historically precise, moving as a good fiction film.

Though it's unflinching in its depiction of homosexual affection, the marvel of the movie is the dexterity with which it excels the specificity of its characters and gay theme to be a universal human statement and profound political epic. Though it couldn't make for the Best motion picture of the year, Van Gust well established his personal life on the political ground, making it a flawless movie. Even Screenwriter Dustin Lance Black pulls off something very close to magic, leading Milk to the Oscar for Best Writing and Screenplay 2008.

Penn goes deep and soulful in a highly ingratiating performance that's the one to beat for the Best Actor Oscar. Penn inimitably brought Milk alive as a vital and highly relevant figure, not just a political abstraction or any gay activist. Josh Brolin, being nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
(Oscar), lived his character wonderfully. Even James Franco and Emile Hirsch have done an excellent job in the film.

Milk received widespread acclaim from film critics. Rotten Tomatoes reported that 93% of critics gave the film a positive review, based on a sample of 209, with an average score of 8.0/10. Winning two Oscars, for the categories Best actor and best screenplay, it was nominated for six other. In addition, it won another 33 awards
and was nominated for around 44 categories.

Concerned that his raised profile marked him as a target for assassination, he recorded on tape, adding: "If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door".

Overall the movie is worth watching!


(Written for Pink Pages)