FILM REVIEW: Peccadillo: Boys On Film 20

Peccadillo Pictures are celebrating their 20th birthday this month in style with the release of Heaven Can Wait – their latest compilation in the Boys On Film series.

Some eleven films, including two animations, represent film makers from Tunisia, Sweden, UK, USA, Estonia, Croatia, Canada and New Zealand.

It’s a lot to take in at one sitting – I spread it over two nights and one morning- and some are worth re-visiting , for the sake of clarity if nothing else.

From the eleven , here’s my choice, but make up your own mind.

Chromophobia is a Tunisian animation about a young gay boy’s first love in a repressive state, and the consequences.

Just Me, features Brookside actor Philip Olivier , whose character is just about to be married to his girlfriend when he has a chance encounter with his ex-boyfriend, now a policeman – again with dire consequences.

Don’t Blame Jack is one of the most atmospheric and emotionally compelling of the collection. Trying to cope with mental illness, the hero fights his meds and looks for stability – and seems to find it with a new crush- played delicately  by Kane Surry. It’s moving and beautifully filmed.

Foreign Lovers has a New York backdrop for an old-fashioned romance between an actor and a dancer – can someone fall in love in 24 hours ? Watch it to see.

Mankind is an altogether different kind of story , with a science fiction element that treats the idea of dependency, exploration and a free spirit with an outstanding moodily magnificent performance by Alexis Gregory.

RUOK ? Is a crazy Grindr-induced love triangle which is funny and bang up to date.

And finally, Manivald is an animation about fox/humans hybrids  in a mad sex- driven fantasy that you’ll have to watch twice.

Go to Peccadillo Pictures for screening details or to buy.