5 Queer Cinema Films You Owe It To Yourself To See

4. Humpday

Humpday-2009-Joshua-Leonard-Mark-Duplass-pic-8 The conceit of this film from writer/director Lynne Shelton is a simple one; two friends, Andrew and Ben who haven€™t seen each other in years, hook up. Ben is soon to be married and Andrew is an immature manchild; they both go to a party together and get absolutely blitzed, and in the drunken and drugged out haze they vow to make a gay porn film together and submit it to a film festival. It€™s a small concept for a film, and the film itself reflects this, with its mumblecore-indie vibe and slight running time of 94 minutes. It€™s little more than a buddy-movie, but where the film succeeds is in its triumphant exploration of human relationships- the relationship between Ben and his fiancé Anna is honest and very true- and ultimately, what it means to be attracted to someone or something. I€™m trying my best not to ruin the film, as part of the enjoyment stems from the basic €œwill-they-won€™t-they€ dynamic, but towards the end the film becomes rather poignant and approaches a sort-of wisdom. It becomes thought-provoking, and will leave you thinking about what you previously thought was your sexual attraction. The lurid, nearly exploitative sounding title, coupled with the defining image of two men naked with their arms crossed on the poster might lead you into thinking that this film is some crass, crude comedy no different from the other American Pie/Superbad movies that pervade the multiplex; and indeed, if the film is marketed that way so as to reach a wider audience, that is by all means fine. However, for a more discerning film viewer, don€™t be put off! This excellent film is one that raises genuine questions. It also, in a way, addresses the question of whether being gay is a choice. Quite a lot for such a small film.
 
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Such is my passion for films that some say my first word was "Tarantino"; this has since been refuted. But ever since my first trip to Toy Story 2 as a wee bonnie lad, I have been hooked to films of all shapes, sizes, and quality. I also write for my own blog; confirmedhorroraddict.blogspot.co.uk