Category: International Film

A gay artist tries turning tragedy into opportunity in the moving Polish drama ‘All Our Fears’

Triggered by an unexpected tragedy, a religious artist and gay activist tries to get his local community to grieve together in the emotional drama All Our Fears.

Dawid Ogrodnik stars in the film as Daniel, a well-respected young artist from the Polish countryside who finds himself torn between small-town values, urban art galleries, the Catholic church, and his gay identity.

When a queer friend commits suicide after suffering a homophobic attack, he becomes determined to redeem his community with the ultimate work of art – a deeply personal interpretation of ‘The Stations of the Cross.’

All the while, he’s slowly, carefully, and secretly building a relationship with Olek (Oskar Rybaczek), a younger local lover who is not yet ready to embrace his sexual identity.

Based on real events, All Our Fears tells the moving story of one brave man, raised in the countryside and engaged in the activities of the Catholic Church, who attempts to peacefully merge the important aspects of his life while refusing to accept hate and intolerance.

Watch the trailer for All Our Fears below. The film is now streaming on Dekkoo.

Visionary filmmaker João Pedro Rodrigues takes a wild, metaphysical trip with ‘The Ornithologist’

Fernando (Paul Hamy), a strapping young ornithologist, is on an epic journey, searching for endangered black storks along a remote river in Northern Portugal.

Suddenly, he finds himself swept away by the rapids. Rescued by a mysterious pair of Chinese pilgrims, he is soon plunged into a dark, eerie forest while trying desperately to get himself back on track.

As he encounters unexpected and uncanny obstacles – along with a variety of people who put him to the test – Fernando is driven to extreme, transformative actions. Gradually he becomes a different man: inspired, multifaceted and finally enlightened.

From acclaimed Portuguese filmmaker Jọo Pedro Rodrigues, the director behind the sexually explicit queer classic O Fantasma, The Ornithologist is a mind-bending arthouse delight Рa metaphysical gay adventure film packed with delicious homoeroticism and absurdist humor.

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

A religious man faces intense urges in the acclaimed Polish drama ‘In the Name of’

Released to great acclaim in 2013, In the Name of is a powerful, sensitive and complex religious drama about a lonely, but devout Polish priest who is struggling with his sexuality.

The story follows Father Adam (Andrzej Chyra), an attractive man who joined the priesthood at a young age – mainly in an effort to outrun his desires. Having been transferred from Warsaw to the countryside, he is tasked with running a home for troubled boys.

Initially, Father Adam commands great respect as he supervises the boys in work, study and sport. His sexual urges are ignited, however, when the young wife of one of his assistants makes an unsuccessful pass. Though he’s not interested in women, there is one youth in particular that has caught his eye: the strangely quiet, long-haired Lukasz (Mateusz Kosciukiewicz).

His faith and commitment to celibacy prevents him from acting on his urges until a playful game in a wheat field with ignites his passion and compels him to act on his physical desires. When rumors begin to spread about his sexuality, his future at the school and his relationship with Lukasz are threatened.

Winner of the coveted Teddy Award at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival, In the Name of is an impassioned, eloquent and, at times, humorous queer melodrama from director Malgorzata Szumowska about a man of faith consumed with forbidden love and longing.

Watch the trailer for In the Name of below. The film is now streaming on Dekkoo.

Henry Golding and Patrick Sawyers star in the swoon-worthy Vietnam-set romance ‘Monsoon’

From acclaimed writer-director Hong Khaou (Spring, Lilting), the romantic drama Monsoon stars Crazy Rich Asians heartthrob Henry Golding as Kit, a young man who returns to Ho Chi Minh City for the first time since he was six years old, when his family fled in the aftermath of the Vietnam War.

As Kit seeks a meaningful place to scatter his parents’ ashes, he finds himself struggling to make sense of himself in a city he’s no longer familiar with.

His journey brings him an illuminating friendship with Linh, a vibrant young local student played by Molly Harris, and an unexpected romance with Lewis, an American ex-pat played by Parker Sawyers, whose father fought in the war.

Through these relationships, Kit rekindles an emotional, life-altering connection with his estranged family and homeland.

A tender and gorgeously-crafted must see, Monsoon offers up a rich and poignant romantic queer travelogue, reflecting on the struggle for identity in a place where the past weighs heavily on the present.

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

A legendary entertainer and pioneer gets her due in the documentary ‘Miwa: A Japanese Icon’

Male actor Akihiro Miwa came to prominence in Japan back in 1968 while playing the glamorous heroine of the film Black Lizard.

A legendary entertainer and a pioneer of gay activism, Miwa popularized androgyny as a fashion statement, fusing the masculine and the feminine into a new generation of aesthetics. This evolved into performing as a woman and living off-stage as a man.

With glitter, wit, evening gowns and enchanting storytelling, Miwa: A Japanese Icon, the celebrated new documentary from director Pascal-Alex Vincent, looks back over a 50-year career and a fascinating life in Japanese music, film and television.

Having sold millions of records, Miwa continues to fight for gay rights, among other issues. Miwa: A Japanese Icon reveals the life story of this wonderful performer and unapologetic social critic.

Watch the trailer for Miwa: A Japanese Icon below. The documentary is now streaming on Dekkoo.

An Australian teen discovers his sexuality in the tender coming-of-age drama ‘Sunflower’

Set in the outer suburbs of Melbourne, Sunflower follows Leo (Liam Mollica), a seventeen-year-old who leads a seemingly typical life.

While he’s hanging out with his friends, bickering with his Italian family at the dinner table, going to school or making out with his new girlfriend Monique (Olivia Fildes), he’s also guarding a secret he’s been too afraid to confront – a hidden truth buried deep within.

As Leo grapples with his inner turmoil, he finds himself unexpectedly drawn to his best friend Boof (Luke J. Morgan) and a quiet, introverted boy at school named Tom (Daniel Halmarick). These newfound feelings force Leo to confront his true desires and bring him closer to accepting his identity.

Everything changes after a high school gathering when rumors about Leo’s sexuality begin to circulate – shattering his once stable world. Faced with the fear of rejection from those closest to him, Leo must navigate the uncertain waters of acceptance and love.

A masterfully-crafted feature-length debut from Australian writer-director Gabriel Carrubba, Sunflower is a vibrant, sexy and deeply affecting portrait of one young man who finds hope – and himself – in the face of adversity.

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