NQV Media have released another excellent set of queer short films under their Male Gaze banner. The Male Gaze: Courage Under Fire brings together five short films from France, Morocco, Belgium and Spain to explore courage in times of angst. Whether it’s finding the strength to speak truth to power, making a decision that will mark you as an outsider, or taking a risk that will expose a secret, these men and boys prove that sometimes courage is not learned, its an instinct.

‘First up is Those Who Burn, an excellent short by director Jeremy Giroux.

Samir, a young Moroccan, lives on odd jobs around the port area of Casablanca. One day, whilst cleaning a storage shed for a drug dealer, he comes across an injured man. Kai is an illegal immigrant waiting for transit. Hostile at first, Samir ultimately helps Kai. This is a thought-provoking dive into the brutal lives of illegal migrants. There’s a refreshing ambiguity to Samir and Kai’s subsequently co-dependent relationship, which the viewer is left to determine themselves.

Then we have A Good Boy (Un Bon Garcon), a Belgian drama set at a swimming club for young men. Strapping Maxime is 16 and a promising swimmer at the club. One afternoon, the police interrupt the training session to question his coach who has been accused of sexual abuse by a fellow club member. These accusations force Maxime to confront his long-suppressed feelings about his own abuse, experienced several years earlier. A Good Boy is gripping, powerful, and traumatic. Great casting and a powerful soundtrack keep the fire burning.

Next up is Totems. When Bastien dies, his group of friends decides to get hold of his sex toy collection before his mother finds them. This is an unconventional, quintessentially French, story of friendship, life, love and death, spliced with just the right amount of humour.

Until Now (Hasta Ahora) is a quirky nine-minute Spanish drama. Teenagers Lucas and Bosco are lifelong friends. An imminent earthquake, with ever more brutal tremors, threatens to shatter the peace and accord at a group dinner one evening. Should shy Lucas seize the opportunity to tell Bosco of his romantic feelings for him before it’s too late?

Finally, we have French drama Jean Fell In Love (Jean Est Tombe Amoureux).

Jean is a talented rugby player who has to conceal his sexuality from his brutally heterosexual and very laddish teammates. Whilst defending his team’s title on the pitch, he meets and falls in love with Ayoub, a player from a rival team. Should he tell his teammates? Ayoub is relaxed and confident about his sexuality, but Jean is very much at the beginning of his journey. Matters soon reach a head with both Ayoub and Jean´s teammates. This was our favourite film of this series, with powerful messaging.

All in all a very entertaining, very different collection of short films.

Recommended viewing.