Category: Adolescence

Pride Month Spotlight: Proud

In 1981, love was forbidden. In 1999, starting a family seemed impossible. By 2013, everything had changed.

From French filmmaker Philippe Faucon, the award-winning director behind Fatima, this amazing new three-part cinematic event takes us through each of these years.

Proud tells the stories of Charles (Frédéric Pierrot), Victor (Samuel Theis) and Diego (Julien Lopez), three generations of men, all from the same family, who represent the seismic social changes that took place within the LGBTQ community over the course of just three decades.

A three-part episodic cinema event, Proud offers up a chronology of tolerance and a portrait of one family through changing times. Cahiers du Cinema called it “one of the most exciting series of the year.” Le Parisien called it “A series that defends the fundamental rights of gay people.”

Watch the trailer for Proud below. All three installments are available now on Dekkoo.

New This Week – 6/17/22

From director Adam Salky and writer David Brind, Dare is a celebrated teen drama centered around three high school seniors – an aspiring actress, her misfit best friend and a local loner – who become engaged in an intimate and complicated love triangle. ‘Dare’ is available to stream now on Dekkoo!

Pete has an unfortunate habit of beginning affairs with married men. Typically they end because Pete has commitment issues. He moves on, and the men return to their families. But when he meets Jack, a family man with two kids, their relationship starts heading down a different path. Watch ‘From Zero To I Love You’ now on Dekkoo!

An erotic experimental film from director Leo Bittencourt, Vagalumes observes one night in Rio de Janeiro’s Flamengo Park and captures the location’s sensual atmosphere. ‘Fireflies’ is streaming now on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week: Here Comes Your Man Season 2!

Now Available: North Sea Texas

Set during an unspecified period of the 1970s, North Sea Texas is a coming-of-age romance directed by acclaimed short filmmaker Bavo Defurne, making his feature-length debut. Based on a novel by Belgian children’s author Andre Sollie, the film follows Pim (Jelle Florizoone), an introverted teenager who lives with his ex-beauty queen mother in a small coastal town.

Dreaming of a loving father who will someday come for him, but never does, Pim brightens up his days by drawing, dreaming up fantasy lives and expressing his emerging desires through a secret collection of “borrowed” objects that he keeps in a shoebox. He’s also fallen in love with Gino (Mathias Vergels), the charismatic, motorcycle-riding older boy next door.

As things become fraught at home, Pim starts spending more and more time with Gino and his family. The two boys soon become closer than ever – and though Gino returns Pim’s affections, he insists that they keep their relationship a secret. When a girl catches Gino’s eye and he moves away, it leaves Pim feeling more alone than ever. But, as time goes by, the true depth of their feelings for one another are revealed.

Though not without its heartbreaks, North Sea Texas is an ultimately uplifting film that explores burgeoning sexuality through a refreshingly honest and optimistic lens. And with numerous award-winning short films under his belt, director Bavo Defurne knows what to do with his camera. Capturing the beauty and color of the film’s setting, North Sea Texas offers up an almost other-worldly, fairy tale vibe that compliments the tricky romance at the film’s core.

Watch a short clip from North Sea Texas below. The film is available now on Dekkoo.

A troubled teen strives for physical perfection in the provocative drama The Perfect David

Sixteen-year-old David (Mauricio Di Yorio) is much like any teen, but his boyish good looks rest upon a hulking, muscular body. He spends the majority of his time obsessively working out, trying desperately to reach idealized bodybuilder perfection.

This obsession is mostly fueled by the desires of his troubled mother Juana (Umbra Colombo), an accomplished artist who controls David’s every move, overseeing all aspects of her son’s regimen and weightlifting training.

As David dedicates himself to developing his physique, the allure of a social life begins to call out to him. His group of male friends begin beckoning him to be more outgoing while an attractive classmate sets eyes on David and works to win him over. And as these social opportunities start intruding on his physical training, a disoriented David starts taking some performance-enhancing shortcuts, sending him into a dangerous downward spiral.

From director Felipe Gomez Aparicio, The Perfect David is a visually stunning and provocative character-driven drama. It’s at once a delicious ode to the beauty of the male form, a warning of the dangers of seeking absolute perfection.

Watch the trailer for The Perfect David below. The film is now available on Dekkoo.

New This Week – 5/27/22

After his mother’s sudden death, Socrates, a fifteen-year-old living on the margins of São Paulo’s coast, must survive on his own while coming to terms with his grief. Directed by Alexandre Moratto using mostly non-professional actors – and support from UNICEF – Socrates has earned acclaim and awards at film festivals all over the world. ‘Socrates’ is available to stream now on Dekkoo!

One of the craziest and sexiest movies in recent memory, Diamantino is a colorful sci-fi comedy satire from directors Gabriel Abrantes and Daniel Schmidt. The film follows a big-hearted but dimwitted Portuguese soccer hunk (played by hunky international award-winner Carloto Cotta) who gets caught up in a strange conspiracy involving genetic modification. Watch ‘Diamantino’ now on Dekkoo!

After a year apart, hopeless romantic Adam runs into his ex-boyfriend during a seaside vacation. Thoughtlessly entangling himself in a week-long romance, Adam must decide whether to rekindle their flame or break free from the tumultuous relationship once and for all. ‘Let’s Meet Again At The End Of The World’ is available to stream now on Dekkoo.

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Coming next week: Three gay Palestinian friends explore their national and sexual identity.

New This Week – 5/20/22

David is an attractive young bodybuilder who obsessively trains to become his artist mother’s muse. Ashe dedicates himself to further developing his impressive physique, he goes through an identity crisis that will mark his destiny. ‘The Perfect David’ is available to stream exclusively on Dekkoo!

Pim, an introverted kid, occupies his time drawing and fantasizing while keeping his emerging desires a secret. As a teen, he grows infatuated with Gino, the handsome boy next door. When a hunky local man starts dating his mother, Pim seizes the opportunity to leave home and move in with Gino’s family. His plan backfires as Gino departs, romancing and living with a girl from across the border. It seems like Pim’s dreams will never come true… until one rainy day when Gino returns home. Stream ‘North Sea Texas’ now on Dekkoo!

Written by and starring Charles Gould and directed by Matt Porter, Flex is a charming, sexy and funny new sixteen-minute short about broadening your horizons. When Charles’ girlfriend breaks up with him, she makes him promise that he’ll try new things once they part ways. This leads him to start exploring the grey areas of his sexuality and finally accepting his bi-curiousity. Watch ‘Flex’ now on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week: A stunning and deeply emotional portrayal of a young man’s journey.

Now Available: In the Family

In the town of Martin, Tennessee, Chip Hines (Sebastian Banes), a precocious six year old, has only known life with his two dads, Cody (Trevor St. John) and Joey (writer-director Patrick Wang). And a good life it is.

When Cody dies suddenly in a car accident, Joey and Chip struggle to find their footing again. Just as they begin to, Cody’s will reveals that he named his sister as Chip’s guardian. The years of Joey’s acceptance into the family soon unravel as Chip is taken away from him.

In his now solitary home life, Joey searches for a solution. The law is not on his side, but friends are. Armed with their comfort and inspired by memories of Cody, Joey finds a path to peace with the family and closer to his son.

With an ambitious 169-minute running time, In the Family is an intimate drama with an epic scope. Wang, who has gone on to make films such as The Grief of Others and the two-part community theater celebration A Bread Factory, created In the Family independently and earned great acclaimed for his effort.

Roger Ebert, writing at the time of the film’s release in 2011, awarded the film four out of four stars and said “I was completely absorbed from beginning to end. What a courageous first feature this is, a film that sidesteps shopworn stereotypes and tells a quiet, firm, deeply humanist story about doing the right thing.”

Watch the trailer for In the Family below. The film is now available on Dekkoo.

Watch five award-winning coming-of-age short films in the new Through a Boy’s Eyes collection

When a boy becomes a young man, the way he sees the world can change – not just his perceptions of those around him, but how others see him as well. As burgeoning desires come to the surface, he has the choice of either embracing and acting upon them, or burying them.

In Through a Boy’s Eyes, a selection of award-winning short films, different directors examine the struggles and celebrations seen through the eyes of boys not only becoming men, but becoming attracted to them. This new collection includes…

On the Roof
It’s summer time and Adrián and his friends spend almost every afternoon climbing onto a rooftop to spy a girl who sunbathes naked. But this afternoon won’t be like the others. Today they’ll realize that one of them is more interested in the guy showering in a close-by building.

The Son
Pedro is a 17-year-old at the tail end of high school. The thing he loves most in the world are his mother’s baked beans. He hasn’t tried each one, but there is no need. Pedro knows what he likes. His father, however, doesn’t feel the same way.

Inside
Juan is a seductive and cold man who easily attracts women. But his mind is immersed in a spiral of emotions and experiences that will force him to discover who he truly is and find his real identity, suppressed by his father’s strong conservative education.

Tomboy
10-year-old Chloe plays soccer, spits, never cries and can’t stand other girls – the so-called “cry-babies.” One day, Marie, a pretty and perky blonde girl, takes part for the first time in the games Chloe plays with the boys. Her femininity unsettles Chloe’s self-confidence and the balance of their small group of children.

Paradigma
Innocence, sex and lust converge to tell the story of Guille, a teen who seeks himself through the eyes of others.

All five short films are available now on Dekkoo in the Through a Boy’s Eyes collection. Watch the official trailer below.

New This Week – 4/15/22

When a boy becomes a young man, there are a lot of sudden changes to deal with. As burgeoning desires come to the surface, he can act on them or bury them. In this selection of award-winning short films, we witness both struggles and celebrations – all through the eyes of boys not only becoming men, but becoming attracted to them. ‘Through a Boy’s Eyes’ is available to stream now on Dekkoo!

A twenty-minute short film from Norwegian director Magnus Mork, ‘Skogen’ features a middle-aged couple who are camping together in the forest. Bjorn seems more accustomed to these settings than his partner Lars, but they are both influenced by the natural setting. Surrounded by trees, they discuss life’s questions, both big and small. Watch ‘Skogen’ now on Dekkoo!

Matthew Montgomery and Windham Beacham star in this charming indie rom-com from director Rob Williams. When Glenn and Adam meet as a result of a personal ad, the pair must overcome sexual and political issues – as well as pressure from their single and married friends – in order to build and maintain a loving long-term relationship. ‘Long-Term Relationship’ is streaming now on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week: In 1950’s Hollywood, a movie star must marry a studio secretary in order to conceal his homosexuality.

Now Available: Monster Pies

Does anyone ever forget the time they felt the incredible force of first love?

When Mike (Tristan Barr) learns that his English teacher is pairing him up for a class assignment on ‘Romeo and Juliet’ William (Lucas Linehan), the super-cute new kids on school, Mike can’t believe his luck!

As the two young men spend more and more time working together on a monster movie version of the Bard’s classic tale, they soon realize that their feelings for one another may be more powerful than either of them is truly ready for.

From Australian writer-director Lee Galea, who based his screenplay on a short story he has written when he was 15 years old and deep into the themes of the movie on a personal level, Monster Pies is a touching and original take on the all encompassing power of teen love – one that is sure to move even the hardest of hearts.

The film was originally released back in 2013 (almost ten years ago!) when it earned awards – and a whole lot of tears – at film festivals all around the globe.

Watch the trailer for Monster Pies below. The film is available now on Dekkoo.