Category: International Film

Acclaimed Danish director Christian Tafdrup’s breakthrough film ‘Awakening’ is now available on Dekkoo

Danish actor and director Christian Tafdrup made a big splash on the international film scene last year with the shockingly violent thriller Speak No Evil.

Back in 2008, he took a similar aim at taboo subject matter with the 39-minute drama Awakening, which has recently been restored by the cult distribution label Altered Innocence.

Awakening stars “True Blood” alum Allan Hyde as Carsten, a sixteen-year-old boy who is taking a trip to meet his girlfriend’s parents at their summer house.

Throughout the weekend, Carsten becomes increasingly bonded with his girlfriend’s father, played by Lars Brygmann. It seems these two men share the same secret – and their time together, which involves a furtive kiss, puts their carefully-constructed relationships in major jeopardy.

Though it may sound racy, Tafdrup handles the developing friendship between two closeted men of differing ages with a great deal of sensitivity and heartfelt honesty.

Watch a clip from Awakening below. The full short film is now available on Dekkoo.

Short Film Spotlight: Fire at the Lake

The short film Fire at the Lake follows Felix (Hervé Lassïnce), a French farmer who lives an isolated day-to-day with his elderly mother (Isabelle Rama). When he returns home from guarding his cows in the pasture, he’s shocked to find her lying unconscious in bed.

Before he can contact the proper authorities, Felix gets a notification from an attractive younger man (Pierre Moure) who has contacted him on a dating app. At that moment, something inside of him snaps. Instead of checking on his mother’s well-being, Felix flees, driving several miles away to meet up with the alluring stranger in person – and their encounter proves incredibly steamy despite the strange circumstances.

An Official Selection of the Cannes Film Festival, Fire at the Lake is baffling and captivating in equal measure. This twisted, mysterious and sexually-charged short film from writer-director Pierre Menahem that examines what happens when repressed desire is finally unleashed.

Watch a short trailer for Fire at the Lake below. The full short film is now streaming on Dekkoo.

‘Phantom Project’ is a playful and quirky supernatural rom-com from Chile

Phantom Project stars Juan Cano as Pablo, a young actor who dreams of landing a role in a film.

In order to pay the bills, he works as a simulated patient in medical schools and strange alternative therapy sessions. It’s not just his career that has hit a snag. His romantic and social lives are also in trouble.

He’s still in love with his successful ex-boyfriend and his roommate has disappeared without paying rent, leaving behind several problems… including a ghost who is now haunting his living space.

With nowhere to go but up, Pablo becomes more determined than ever to fix his situation and finally turn his dreams into a reality.

From writer-director Roberto Doveris, Phantom Project is a delightfully off-beat supernatural gay comedy with humor and heart to spare.

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

Short Film Spotlight: Burning Soul

Made on a shoestring budget back in 2016 as a film school graduation project, the gorgeously shot 14-minute short Burning Soul marks debut Australian writer-director Cedric Desenfants as a filmmaker to watch. He is able to pack a visual punch and a ton of emotion into one short film despite limited means.

This deeply homoerotic film is set in 1727. A ship from the Dutch East India Company is wrecked on a hostile coastline. Pieter and Hendrick, played by Teo Falck and Rasmus Hansen, are two of the shipwrecked men, friends who behave more like brothers. They grew up together, sailed together and have – so far – survived together.

When Hendrick discovers the true nature of Peiter’s heart, the men are taken into a storm where their friendship and faith soon collapse.

Desenfant has stated that his work as a filmmaker lives in a balance between an unconditional love for classical arts, history and a commitment to diversity in storytelling. All of that – and more – is on display in Burning Soul.

Watch the trailer for Burning Soul below. The full short film is now streaming on Dekkoo.

‘Drag Race’ alum Maxi Shield stars in the wild crime comedy “The Winner Takes It All”

Featuring Sydney drag icon and “RuPaul’s Drag Race: Down Under” alum Maxi Shield, The Winner Takes It All is a farcical queer comedy that pays loving homage to the early works of John Waters.

Jessica Marchi stars in the film as Kiki, a wealthy socialite who confides in her best friend Maxine that her husband is cheating on her. In danger of losing her rather large fortune, Kiki elicits Maxi’s help to uncover the truth about her husband’s adultery.

The pair soon learn, however, that not all is as it seems. Throw in a gigolo, a porn star and non-stop lashings of camp and you are in for one of the funniest and most joyously, knowingly and proudly stupid rides of your life.

From first-time director James Demitri, this transgressive new comedy has all the makings of a campy LGBTQ+ classic.

Watch the trailer for The Winner Takes It All below. The film is now streaming on Dekkoo.

Short Film Spotlight: Adjustment

From director Mehrdad Hasani and screenwriter Farzad Ahmadi, this challenging new 16-minute drama tells a story about one child’s bravery in the face of major adversity.

Adjustment follows Shahrokh, a 9-year-old boy who isn’t afraid to play around with his gender expression, despite constant bullying from other kids and aggressive pressure from within his own deeply religious family.

Though he’s been humiliated, pushed aside and victimized, Shahrokh stands firm in his identity. He decides to come out to the people of his village. Having been through a variety or ordeals, Shahrokh shows up or school dressed in girl’s clothes.

While he has an uphill battle ahead, he finds an unlikely ally in his male teacher, learning that being yourself is always the right move – despite anyone else’s reaction.

Watch the trailer for Adjustment below. The full short film is now streaming on Dekkoo.

Dekkoo Presents: The Summertime Sizzle Collection

Summer may be in full swing, but we’re about to turn up the heat even more!

With a diverse selection of feature-length films from around the globe, The Summertime Sizzle Collection is practically guaranteed to make you break a sweat.

Grab your swim trunks and get ready to hit the beach with these seasonally-appropriate gems – featuring men juggling their attractions, falling in love or getting straight-up down and dirty in gorgeous locales under the hot summer sun.

Included are the films Dry Wind, 8 Years, Gameboys: The Movie, Hawaii, He Loves Me, Jess & James, Longhorns, Orpheus’ Song, Screwed and These Peculiar Days.

The Summertime Sizzle Collection is available now to all Dekkoo subscribers!