WHEN THE LIPSTICK IS A STATEMENT
A tender fictional film with visually attractive drawings, moving images, and ingenious storytelling of a boy that inhabits for a while the body of his babysitter.
Curious Johnny (Tre Ryder) and sensitive Melanie (Colbi Minifie) share daily life activities while Johnny´s mother is away. She is his best friend, they have a special bond with each other, so close that he wants to be a smoothie for her to swallow… he feels good when he is with her, he dreams to become a part of her body and always be together… He succeeds in doing so for a few hours.
They watch meditation videos on electronic devices, Johnny puts attention to the ones of free spirit meditation and practices closing his eyes, slow breathing, and the visualization of light. Hello! Johnny leaves his body alive but catatonic and in a colorful trip, introduces into Melanie´s mind and body and has a kind of stream-of-consciousness dialogue, in which he sees through her eyes, speaks through her voice, and makes a new home of her body. Although in this experience, he misses their conversation… Melanie only manifests and speaks when he allows her subconscious to be open.
Meanwhile, her life duties continue, she has to go to her apartment (where her buddy shows up unexpectedly) and also go and help Priya to give birth…
We learn from Johnny there are things outside that feel bad, like kids laughing at you and saying you look like a girl, also there are things that feel good but if you stay home you are not going to feel anything. With a body and free spirit, just let it go!
If you want to know about the lipstick as a declaration of intentions, wait until the end.
Writer/director Joseph Sackett also helmed Pregnant (2017) about a pregnant man communicating psychically with his unborn fetus
Homebody participated in L.A. OutFest 2021 where its director received the Emerging Talent Award, and in NewFest – New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival 2021 where Colby Minifie won an Honorable Mention.
Homeboy has limited Theatrical Release on Nov 11 and then Digital & Fandor Exclusive Dec 6
Review by José Mayorga , Guatemala, Central America lawyer and notary public, visual artist, and editor of El Azar Cultural, lives and works in Guatemala City. Cinema lover, curious about the possibilities life brings and eager to live the experience.
Labels: 2022, dramedy, gender expression, Homebody, José Mayorga, review
