Cross-Cultural Romance – Page 11 – Discover great gay stories.

Watch a short clip from the powerful new drama Label Me

No kissing. No passive penetration. For Waseem (Renato Schuch) the rules are very clear. Its only when Lars (Nikolaus Benda) pays him for sex that he can sleep with a man and still feel secure in his heterosexuality.

One of these men is a refugee from Syria living in a shelter, the other is a wealthy German with a loft apartment – the differences couldn’t be more apparent and yet both men find themselves connected by a sincere interest in one another. Their relationship is rooted in a constant alternation between dominance and a longing for closeness. The playful power struggle between the two of them reveals their inability to hide their fears and longings – and to keep up their carefully constructed facades.

While both men struggle to uphold the labels they keep in their heads, their friendship starts to pose a very realistic threat within the Waseem’s shelter.

Not quite a short film, yet not quite a feature (at sixty minutes) the multiple award-winning Label Me is a powerful cross-cultural romantic drama from German writer-director Kai Kreuser. Label Me is currently available to watch on Dekkoo, along with the first two season’s of Kreuser’s sexy and provocative gay series Kuntergrau.

Watch a short clip from Label Me below. The film is now available on Dekkoo.

New This Week – 4/10/20

Despite clear rules, the continuously growing relationship between the straight Syrian refugee Waseem and his German customer Lars starts to pose a threat within the reality of Waseem’s shelter. ‘Label Me’ is streaming now on Dekkoo.

A cynical counselor at a crisis hotline finds himself in a life or death situation when a young man calls and threatens to kill three people and then himself. ‘Crisis Hotline’ is available to stream now on Dekkoo!

Arthur is a single dad, struggling with the care for his seven-year-old son Max and the combination of his secret life as a drag queen. Stream ‘Hello Stranger’ now on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week: A film where a gender nonconforming teenager walks through their neighborhood and is greeted with dignity.

New This Week – 3/13/20

Three queer characters of wildly different backgrounds – a closeted young African-American man, a gender non-conforming artist and a smooth-talking media mogul – find their lives connected through fate, work, family love and donuts in this thoughtful, sexy and deeply heartfelt new Dekkoo-original series. Stream the first season of ‘Stranger Hearts’ now exclusively on Dekkoo!

College freshman Damien is struggling to stay focused on his studies – and not on all the shirtless jocks, hot frat boys and handsome intellectuals at his new school. His self-discipline is tested, however, when a manipulative college senior enters the picture. Meanwhile, Damien’s cousin Kendall embarks on his own journey of self-discovery when he reconnects with a cute church boy from his past. Binge the first season of H.I.M. now on Dekkoo!

A single, awkward business man finds himself attracted to his hunky, ride-share driver but loses any chance with him when they pick up an annoying passenger who wants the driver for himself. ‘Luber’ is available to stream now on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week: A stunning debut from South African filmmaker John Trengove,

The Breeding is a Boldly Provocative Thriller

Winner of the “Best Feature” award at the 2018 Harlem International Film Festival, writer-director Daniel Armando’s The Breeding is a boldly provocative erotic thriller about a young African American artist whose obsession with a taboo fetish leads to life-altering consequences.

The story centers around Thomas (Marcus Bellamy), a thirsty queer New York City cartoonist who finds himself distracted and aroused by the men he’s drawing. While his boyfriend is away, he seeks out aggressive sexual experiences. A chance restroom encounter with a recently divorced financier named Lee leaves Thomas curious about exploring the taboo fetish of “race play.” But when the game goes past role-playing and becomes all too problematically real, chilling actions are taken that will forever change the trajectory of these men’s lives.

Part Fatal Attraction, part Get Out, The Breeding is a deeply edgy film that uses the style and tropes of erotic thrillers to examine race-relations, sexuality and cultural identity.

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

New This Week – 1/10/20

Thomas, a queer cartoonist, draws inspiration from his secret erotic escapades. A chance encounter leads him to explore the taboo fetish of “race play.” But when things get too real, lives will be forever changed. ‘The Breeding’ is available to stream now on Dekkoo!

This intimate film reveals the legendary man with the white saran wrapped pants, undersized leather vests, and Dutch-boy haircut who is the iconic Peter Berlin. Watch ‘That Man: Peter Berlin’ now on Dekkoo!

Charlie’s a mess. His best friend’s not talking to him, he can’t concentrate on his work…and now the clock’s ticking on his french exam. But the courage to speak can come from the most unlikely places. Stream ‘The Language of Love’ now on Dekkoo!

‘I’m Coming’ is a comedy short film which explores the dangers (or advantages) of online dating. Everything is good until something goes wrong, and then what’s more important, the truth or your reputation?

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Coming next week: Darryl Stephens plays Pete Logsdon-just a guy in Philadelphia who happens to have a history of getting involved with married men.

New This Week – 10/25/19

In this provocative, sexy new Dekkoo-original series, a young man enters into a passionate three-way relationship with an established gay Palm Springs couple… only to learn that “adding a third” could bring a whole new set of skepticism, jealousy and secrets. Binge the first season of ‘The Third’ now, only on Dekkoo!

In a small-town strip mall, Jude spends 15 minutes waiting for the results of a rapid HIV test. The short film, ‘The Mess He Made’ is available now on Dekkoo!

A young man of Chinese-Cambodian descent dies, leaving behind his isolated mother and his 4-year male lover, who grieve but don’t speak a lick of each other’s language. Stream ‘Lilting’ now on Dekkoo.

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Coming next week: Besides yet ANOTHER Dekkoo exclusive, we’re unleashing three unique horror themed shorts just in time for Halloween!

Now Available: Fireflies

Ramin (Arash Marandi), an Iranian refugee living in Mexico, is trying to come to terms with his past, one that has left permanent scars on his body and soul. As he strolls through the port of Veracruz – a place where transient souls collide in search of a better life – the haunting memories of his long-distance lover begin to fill his heart with a profound sense of loneliness and repentance.

Ramin’s friendship with Leti (Flor Eduarda Gurrola), the young woman who runs the small hotel where he stays and teaches him Spanish, and an attraction to ex-con Guillermo (Luis Alberti) help him find himself as a gay man in a new home.

Beautifully shot and strikingly naturalistic, writer-director Bani Khoshnoudi’s touching cross-cultural drama Fireflies won the top prize in the Ibero-American Competition at the Miami Film Festival. Watch the trailer below. The film is now available on Dekkoo.

New This Week – 9/27/19

Ramin is a young gay man in his 30s who fled the repression in Iran and arrived to Veracruz after traveling clandestinely on a boat from Turkey. While coping with the distance that he has taken with his loved-ones, he begins to discover a freer life here, far from Iran. Watch ‘Fireflies’ exclusively on Dekkoo!

The critically acclaimed ‘Mala Mala’ explores the intimate moments, performances, friendships and activism of trans identifying people, drag queens and others who defy typical gender identities in Puerto Rico. ‘Mala Mala’ is available now on Dekkoo!

Randy has a huge crush on hunky co-worker Jack, but Ray can’t figure out if Jack is gay – until Jack discovers a GAYDAR gun that could change everything. Watch ‘Gaydar’ now on Dekkoo!

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Coming next week: ANOTHER brand new gay film arrives exclusively on Dekkoo!

Eyes Wide Open is an extraordinary portrait of forbidden love

Powerfully moving and quietly humane, Eyes Wide Open, Haim Tabakman’s, debut feature is an extraordinary portrait of forbidden love in an ultra-Orthodox Jerusalem community.

Aaron (Zohar Strauss) leads a quiet life. Each day he heads from his tidy apartment where he lives with his four children and his wife Rivka (played by an actress with the unlikely name of Tinkerbell) to his butcher-shop to his synagogue to pray.

Aaron is a tzaddik, a righteous man, and when Ezri (Ran Danker), a beautiful twenty-something man arrives at his shop in a rainstorm looking for shelter, he gives it. But something more happens as sexual desire develops between the two men. Ezri wants to kiss Aaron, but Aaron tells Ezri that it’s a challenge for them to pray about. Ezri takes Aaron to a spring outside the city, and desire bubbles to the surface between the two men.

As their gay love is consummated, the love between Aaron and Rivka becomes troubled. And a self-appointed “God-squad” of Jewish thugs warns Aaron that Ezri is a they don’t want in their neighborhood.

Beautifully insightful and almost delicate in its storytelling, Eyes Wide Open, is a stunningly essential film in the cannon of queer filmmaking. With not an extra word, frame or movement, director Haim Tabakman and screenwriter Merav Doster craft a truly gorgeous and unforgettable film.

Eyes Wide Open is available now on Dekkoo.

Front Cover is a Romantic Gem

A tender, funny look at clashing cultures and love, Front Cover is an absolute delight for the urban fashionista in us all.

The film follows a handsome, openly gay New York City fashion stylist named Ryan (played by Jake Choi), who rejects his traditional Asian upbringing. When Ryan is given an assignment to style Ning (James Chen), a famous Chinese actor, for an important photo shoot, his attitudes begin to change. After a rocky start, an unlikely friendship develops between them, leading Ryan to re-examine his roots and consider an enticing new path for his life and career.

A bittersweet dramatic comedy, which looks at the Asian American experience with humor, irony and insight, Front Cover is a romantic gem. Enjoy the trailer below and catch the full film now on Dekkoo!