Most distributors of LGBT movies are only as good as the latest crop of new films that they think are worth promoting and releasing. Peccadillo Pictures, one of the main UK players, is no exception. Their present very impressive catalogue includes some of the absolutely best movies of the year such as ‘Futuro Beach’, ‘The Way He Looks’ and ‘Eastern Boys.’ It also has some edgy experimental pieces such as ‘The Samurai’ and ‘Silent Youth’ that succeed or fail, depending on your taste. Then there are the absolute clangers like the seriously unfunny ‘Who’s Afraid of Vagina Wolf?’ in their section that I call ‘what were you thinking?’However what they are consistently the market leaders in is their remarkable series of Boys On Film Short Movies that is really second to none. With the release of No 13 in the series …called Trick and Treat …. they have curated and collected from around the globe, 10 absolutely superb cinematic treats. What is exceptionally impressive that there is not one weak one amongst them, which is something of a rare feat in itself, and it is by the very best collection of LGBT shorts available today.
Trick and Treat runs a whole gamut of gay life. From young boys experimenting with each other, to an old gay man grieving for his recently dead partner. Some are trying to ‘come out’ whilst others are being reluctantly dragged out. They are complete stories that quickly engage your attention and make sure that you are invested in the outcome in no time at all.
The selection starts off very strongly with ‘Surprise’ a coming-out story from Canada that is about teenage boy and his middle-aged mum, but with a difference. It’s she that is coming out to him. Starring Oscar nominated Tess Harper … another indication that short movies can have the same production values as any feature film.
Trick and Treat runs a whole gamut of gay life. From young boys experimenting with each other, to an old gay man grieving for his recently dead partner. Some are trying to ‘come out’ whilst others are being reluctantly dragged out. They are complete stories that quickly engage your attention and make sure that you are invested in the outcome in no time at all.
The selection starts off very strongly with ‘Surprise’ a coming-out story from Canada that is about teenage boy and his middle-aged mum, but with a difference. It’s she that is coming out to him. Starring Oscar nominated Tess Harper … another indication that short movies can have the same production values as any feature film.
Reversing the norm is also the theme of Vis Vis a both funny and touching story from Australia about two straight men who pretend to be gay in order for one of them to be able to get a Visa to stay in the country. Boy, how things have changed when being gay is actually considered to be an actual advantage.
One of my favorites was another tender sweet story called ‘Boygame’ from Sweden. Two teenage best friends John and Nicolas who are so worried that they will make a real hash of losing their virginity when they get girlfriends, so they decide to practice on each other.
Jody Latham (from TV’s ‘Shameless’) and Liam Boyle (TV’s ‘Skins’) catch each other’s eye whilst waiting in line for the bathroom in a Manchester nightclub. As the drugs they share loosen their inhibitions and they start to cautiously reveal their true identity and desire to each other, they realise they are very similar. Its like looking in a mirror : hence that’s the title of the piece.
The most sombre and moving piece was from a most unlikely source. ‘A Last Farewell’ is about an aging writer who is grieving the death of his long-term partner, and is taking his anger out of their daughter who is about to give birth to their grandchild. He is haunted by visions which are trying to help him find some peace and move on. It is written and directed by Casper Andreas whose usual output is skin deep bawdy fluffy sex comedies such as ‘Slutty Summer’ and ‘Going Down In La La Land’.
Several of the movies have neat unpredictable twists to end, like the oh-so-cute Middle Man. Nathan calls his deaf boyfriend through a type-to-talk service as he is trying to kiss and make up with him after they had an argument. The operator is happy to help smooth the way for the two lovebirds, that is until the conversation gets him a little hot under the collar and he has to hang up
Out in DVD/VOD on July 12th through usual platforms andwww.peccapics.com
