Category: Comedy

Two older gay men navigate the complexities of retirement in the winning comedy ‘Turtles’

Turtles follows Thom and Henri, a married gay couple in their 60s who are living an outwardly sweet existence in their quaint home in Brussels with their pet turtles Topsy and Turvy.

As they celebrate Henri’s retirement from the police force, Thom sees a perfect opportunity to rekindle their passion after 35 years together. Henri, however, can’t seem to cope with his newfound lack of purpose.

Soon enough, the two begin to drive one another crazy. Through a series of increasingly desperate and hilarious maneuvers that only further drive the wedge between them, Thom crusades to keep their marriage alive… even if Henri would rather turn to Grindr. An all-out battle of one-upmanship soon begins.

From writer-director David Lambert, Turtles explores the complexities of an older gay couple with humor and emotional depth, featuring stellar performances by English actor and comedian Dave Johns and Belgian film veteran Olivier Gourmet – who manage to create a classic comedy duo in the Tracy and Hepburn mold.

Thoughtful, provocative and deeply funny, the film presents a unique take on the challenges of long-term relationships and the search for renewed love and purpose.

Watch the trailer for Turtles below. The film is now streaming on Dekkoo.

‘Rosodium’ director Théodore Tomasz returns with the road trip romance ‘One Last Night of You’

Expanding on themes he explored in his debut feature Rosodium, French director Théodore Tomasz wastes no time establishing the high-concept premise that drives the action of his newest film One Last Night of You.

In a state of deep despair following a tragic loss, Evan (Lou-Andréas Robert) has been contemplating suicide. During a road trip to a particular cliff-side where he wishes to spend his final moments, his car breaks down. That’s when he meets Léo (Léo Simonot), a mysterious boy who offers to drive him to his destination.

Léo, who seems largely unfazed by Evan’s self-destructive plan, has a devil-may-care attitude that could indicate either danger or salvation. Their opposing attitudes cause a certain amount of friction that results in some unexpected romantic tension.

As the boys continue their journey, meeting interesting characters along the way, they’re forced to reckon with the traumas of the past, the conflicts of the present and the potential of their future – together or apart.

With his worldview suddenly reframed, Evan finds that he may have something – or someone – worth living for after all.

Tackling heavy themes with humor and heart, thanks in large part to the soulful performances of lead actors Lou-Andréas Robert and Léo Simonot, One Last Night of You is an achingly tender portrait of two young men in crisis who find the will to keep going with a little help from one another.

Watch the trailer for One Last Night of You below. The film is now streaming on Dekkoo. You can also watch director Théodore Tomasz’s first feature, Rosodium, available now.

Short Film Spotlight: Bubble Gum

Shooting in black and white, writer-director Karina Grinstein pays tribute to classic silent films while giving them a modern spin with her 12-minute short film Bubble Gum.

Channeling Buster Keaton, Mariano Rojo stars as David, a single 23-year-old who finds himself deeply unsatisfied with his love life. Everywhere he looks, David seems to find happy couples in his line of vision, but he just can’t seem to find the right match for himself.

When he spots a potential female suitor on the streets, he makes great efforts just to avoid her. Despite her advances, she’s clearly not the one. But when he accidentally bumps into an attractive, bearded young professional, something about their passing moment together feels entirely different.

Though they quickly part ways, it seems that his whole world suddenly has more color – both literally and figuratively. When the two young men happen upon each other once again, it becomes clear that the feelings are mutual.

Watch the trailer for Bubble Gum below. The full short film is now available on Dekkoo.

‘To Decadence with Love, Thanks for Everything’ takes viewers on an intimate trip through Southern Decadence

The action-packed documentary To Decadence with Love, Thanks for Everything follows the lives of drag queen extraordinaires Laveau Contraire and Franky Canga as they prepare for Southern Decadence, a weekend of queer celebration in New Orleans.

During this behind-the-scenes journey, we meet a rich community of Southern artists who proudly challenge social norms and the boundaries of self-expression.

Showcasing the diversity of New Orleans while teaching a poignant lesson about knowing your worth, this new film from director Stuart Sox provides a personal perspective from the performers as well as the producers, as Laveau strives to create more opportunities for BIPOC performance artists.

From drag queens to burlesque performers and everything in between, To Decadence with Love, Thanks for Everything is a lively portrait of a nearly 50-year tradition and the diversity community that pulls it together year after year.

Watch the trailer for To Decadence with Love, Thanks for Everything below. The documentary is now streaming on Dekkoo.

Théodore Pellerin and Félix Maritaud star in the irresistible romantic drag drama ‘Solo’

Théodore Pellerin stars in Solo as Simon, a rising star in Montreal’s drag scene who vibrates with the passion of his adopted artistic community.

Performing lively disco pop numbers weekly at his local club, he’s friendly with his fellow drag queens and supported by his sister, who delights in designing increasingly elaborate and beautiful costumes for his act.

When he meets Oliver, an alluring new recruit played by French BPM and Sauvage/Wild heartthrob Félix Maritaud, their irresistible chemistry sparks an electric romance and a fulfilling creative collaboration. Their dynamic is mesmerizing and tender until Oliver’s dominant instincts and destructive behavior jeopardize Simon’s space in the spotlight.

Simon has plenty of experience with tempestuous personalities – his mother, a bona fide opera diva, is back in his life after years on the road – but can he get out from under the shadow of their influence?

Beautifully charting the highs and lows of falling in love and finding yourself in art, writer-director Sophie Dupuis’s Solo is a passionate feat of character-driven storytelling and visual extravagance, celebrating the drag world in all its splendor and heartache.

Watch the trailer for Solo below. The film is now streaming on Dekkoo.

A young actor is put in an uncomfortable position in the short film ‘Go Crazy with Crazy’

Struggling actors have to jump through all kinds of hoops in search of their big breaks. Too often, however, as the #MeToo movement proved, they’re asked to go to unreasonable lengths.

Based on a wild true story, director Ayana Barber’s 9-minute short Go Crazy with Crazy follows a young gay actor who is put in a deeply uncomfortable position.

Justin Garascia, who also wrote the screenplay, stars as the actor in question. After meeting and falling into bed with a promising young director named Joey (Jimmy Brooks), he’s closer than ever to landing the lead role of a meth-addicted gay porn star in a potentially groundbreaking indie film.

But when he’s asked to partake in a very unusual audition process, the young man takes to Google and discovers something fishy about the director. Not willing to compromise his integrity or his safety, he attends the audition ready for a fight – aiming to finally set the record straight and send an unforgettable message about the consequences of catfishing.

Watch a quick teaser trailer for Go Crazy with Crazy below. The short film is now streaming on Dekkoo.

The rock n’ roll romance ‘Throuple,’ a Dekkoo-original film, is coming soon to theaters!

After winning over audiences at film festivals all over the country, the colorful and sexy new ‘rock n’ roll love story’ Throuple is coming to theaters this March courtesy of Dekkoo Films!

Throuple follows Michael, a lonely, gay singer-songwriter played by Michael Doshier, who also wrote the film’s screenplay. Hopeless when it comes to dating and expressing himself, he has lost his way… and his voice. His social circle, consisting of his best friend Tristan (Tristan Carter-Jones), who leads a local rock band, and Abby (Jess Gabor), a successful DJ, are growing weary of his emotional needs.

One night, as Michael mans Tristan’s merch table, he catches the attention of Georgie and Connor (Stanton Plummer-Cambridge and Tommy Heleringer), a married couple looking for something – or someone – to do.

A nonchalant hookup turns into a night of vulnerability that none of them expected. With encouragement from Tristan and Abby, Michael pursues Georgie and Connor. The couple challenges him to open up about his feelings – and even write some new songs along the way. For his part, Michael ignites a flicker in their marriage – one they they feared may be long gone.

Michael’s world is soon thrown into chaos, however, when Georgie, Connor, Tristan and Abby all make life-altering decisions that leave him feeling abandoned. Ultimately, he must decide whether to finally express his feelings and go after what he wants – both in his music and his relationships – or watch them all slip away.

Directed by Greyson Horst, Throuple highlights queer folks’ ability to think outside the box and find new and exciting ways to live, love, express themselves and feel fulfilled.

Watch the official trailer for Throuple below. The film will be screening at New York City’s famed Quad Cinemas beginning March 14, and in Los Angeles beginning March 21, before receiving a wider VOD and release. It will also be available exclusively to Dekkoo subscribers later this year.