Tag: Gay

‘Godless’ tackles the taboo topic of sibling passion

The film ‘Godless‘ was added to the Dekkoo library this week. It’s a film that deals with a taboo topic using intelligence and sensitivity. It screened at numerous film festivals around the country and comes from director Joshua Lim who also directed ‘The Seminarian‘.

After the death of their father, Nate (Craig Jordan) moves in with his mother, but his elder brother, Steven (Michael E. Pitts) continues his studies out of state. The brothers use this distance to end the incestuous physical affair they’ve shared since puberty. However, when their mother dies in a car accident, Steven returns for her funeral. During this time of mourning, the two brothers’ unrelenting love for each other threatens the secret they had buried.

Nathaniel Grey for Frontiers Media said, ‘What carries this film is that through the chemistry and performances of Jordan and Pitts, you want to know more about them. You wonder how have they retained their sanity and composure over the years while holding strong to their forbidden but shared love.’

He goes on to say, ‘…the film provides a great opportunity to experience a rarely offered and controversial topic.’

‘Godless’ is now playing on Dekkoo!

 

Short films go a loooong way!

We love the short film format. Just like a short story, a short film forces the filmmaker to be concise and exact with the tale he or she wants to tell. And while a short film is just that – short, it does not diminish its ability to tell a great story.

So far this week we’ve added two short films to the Dekkoo library that we think you’ll enjoy.

‘The 6 Gays You’ll Date Before You Die‘ is a short that plays like a pseudo-public service announcement. It outlines the six types of guys every man will ultimately date before they finally choose to settle down. It’s hilarious, a bit goofy and sadly, completely accurate!

‘Buddy‘, a short film from The Netherlands (which we absolutely had to have in our library once we saw it), is more dramatic story of two friends, former lovers, who share a scary moment together.

Take a peek at both and consider what elements of the story are purposely excluded in favor of other pieces of information being included and how do those decisions help the humor, drama or action of the story.

 

DEKKOO DISPATCH 004 – ‘TEENAGE KICKS’

Title – ‘Teenage Kicks‘

Director – Craig Boreham

Starring – Miles Szanto, Daniel Webber, Anni Finsterer, Ian Roberts

Release Date – October 15, 2016

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A sexy and heartbreaking tale of family, friends, and repressed longing converge together in the explosive ‘Teenage Kicks‘. An expansion of his earlier short film, ‘Drowning’ (using the same actor – sexy Miles Szanto) Craig Boreham picks up the flag of another Australian director, Ana Kokkinos (‘Head On’, 1998) by exploring queer themes in migrant communities in Australia.

Seventeen-year-old Mik just wants to get stoned and watch porn with his best friend Dan like any other teenager. Things take a turn when he’s caught peeping on his masturbating brother which then sets a series of events in motion that result in his death. The family is ripped apart by the tragedy and Mik tries to find solace with his brother’s pregnant girlfriend and Dan who’s sadly distracted by rich-girl Phaedra who he starts dating.

A whirlwind of teenage emotions and intense angst, ‘Teenage Kicks‘ shakes up the gay coming-of-age genre with a deeply compelling style, spirit, and a lot of sexiness!

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Watch it with: That Australian guy you’ve been meaning to have over

Mix it with: Foster’s Lager

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DEKKOO DISPATCH 003 – ‘CONCRETE NIGHT’

Title: Concrete Night

Director – Pirjo Honkasalo

Starring – Johannes Brotherus, Jari Virman, Anneli Karppinen, Juhan Ulfsak

Release Date – November 11, 2013

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Today we bring you ‘Concrete Night‘, Finland’s entry for the 87th Academy Awards. A moving, lyrical, and stunning film constructed by an award winning cinematographer turned director, the film focuses on young Simo as he struggles to find his way in an otherworldly Helsinki surrounded by the presence of both good and evil influences.

The film is without question one of the most beautifully lensed black and white films in the past five years. As we watch Simo playfully fight with his brother, skinny dip with his best friend, and become lost in an amusement park we’re constantly moved by an unyielding camera eye that doesn’t back down from the goal of piercing Simo’s outer layers.

Kyle Turner, in a critical essay on ‘Concrete Night‘, had this to say about its style, ‘Other queer films, or even films with latently queer films, generally shy away from bleakness, trading it in for melodrama or comedy (unless you go the genre route). But Pirjo Honkasalo paints a search for self as a Kafka-esque nightmare, the landscapes of Helsinki reminiscent of the chiaroscuro in Orson Welles’ ‘The Trial’ and David Lynch’s ‘Eraserhead’. The harsh contrast between dark and light creates jagged little edges on every object in every frame, transforming a falling feather in the air recalling the prologue from Lars von Trier’s ‘Antichrist’ not a symbol of solace or safety, but something more sinister and duplicitous.’

If your internet is fast enough make sure to choose 1080p to see ‘Concrete Night‘ in all of its intended glory!

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Watch it with: Yourself or a friend that appreciates a
critical discussion after a film.

Mix it with: Cappuccino

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Dekkoo Dispatch 001 – ‘Were The World Mine’

Welcome to the Dekkoo Dispatch, a brand new regularly occurring newsletter, where we will celebrate and discuss a title that is available on Dekkoo. Our goal with the Dekkoo Dispatch is to provide context and insight into the amazing content available on Dekkoo.

Today, we’re discussing ‘Were The World Mine‘ from 2008.

Title: Were The World Mine

Director: Tom Gustafson

Starring: Tanner Cohen, Wendy Robie, Judy McLane, Ricky Goldman, Nathaniel David Becker

Release Date: March 31, 2008

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Based
on his earlier short film “Fairies” (2003), Tom Gustafson (written along with
his partner and husband Cory Krueckeberg) directs the gayest musical adaptation
of a Shakespeare play ever put onto the silver screen.

Timothy just wants to sail through High School, avoid the bullies that tease him in gym, and imagine that the sexy captain of the rugby team, Jonathan, secretly desires him. But when rehearsals for the senior production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream begin, led by Ms. Tebit (Wendy Robie from Twin Peaks in a role that will make every gay boy who had a favorite teacher in high school positively swoon!), things quickly spiral out of control when a magicalflower that can make people fall in love with whomever they first see
(regardless of gender!!) falls into Timothy’s lap.

‘Were the World Mine‘ was one of the last gay films of the 2000’s to be shot on 16mm
film stock which creates a distinct grain texture that immensely contributes to
the fantasy-like world heightened by some fantastic original musical interludes
and songs from gay artists like Patrick Wolf and Mika.

‘Were the World Mine‘ is a spectacular queer fantasy where anything is possible – with
a little Shakespearean magic of course.

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Watch it with: Your Prince Charming, but your high school girlfriend who you used to be in musical theater with is fine, too!

Mix it with: A delicious Moscato or desert wine.

 

90% laughs with 10% body fat!

Since 2010, producer/director J.C. Calciano has been creating Steam Room Stories, a sketch comedy series following gay men at their most candid and confessional while relaxing in the gym sauna. The series has been compiled into three extensive volumes and we’ll be releasing them all over the next few weeks.

Today, we’ve added volume 1 to our library so strip down, grab a towel and get ready for the steamiest gay web series ever made.

Steam Room Stories: Volume 1 is now available on Dekkoo!

 

‘Paternity Leave’ from director Matt Riddlehoover DELIVERS!

‘Paternity Leave might be the world’s funniest ‘gaymantic’ comedy’ – San Diego Gay and Lesbian News

‘A little bundle of cinematic joy…it’s a labor of love, laughter, and a few tears.’ – Kansas City LGBT Film Festival

Greg, a 30 year old web designer, is settled into a stable and healthy relationship with Ken, a criminal defense attorney. Caught in a moment of passion on the eve of their four-year anniversary, Greg soon begins feeling nauseated, fatigued, moody and “most unfortunately” fat. At his wit’s end and his boyfriend’s insistence, he sees a doctor who’s stumped and refers the couple to a specialist. To everyone’s amazement, Greg is pregnant. Shock, stress and fear settle in, and Greg’s relationship gets put to the ultimate test. Paternity Leave poses a modern answer to the age old question: ‘Are we ready to be parents?’

Paternity Leave is now available on Dekkoo.

 

#DoYouDekkoo?

A tense, probing drama set in the rural South.

After his mother dies, Sequan, a sensitive teenager from Brooklyn, moves in with relatives living in a small town plagued with secrets hidden deep within its lush, rural Alabama terrain. Confronting ignorance and danger, Sequan finds refuge in a friendship with a troubled girl who astutely hones in on his true sexuality and introduces him to her cute brother.

Rivers Wash Over Me is now playing.

In addition, do not miss filmmaker Blake Pruitt’s devastatingly candid short documentary 20MALEGAYNYC. We just added it to our library yesterday and it’s already garnering a lot of views.

 

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Another gay classic and SO. MUCH. MORE.

Dazzling. Astonishing. Fascinating.

These are just a few of the words that have been used to describe director Ira Sachs classic gay film, The Delta. A compelling character study revolving around the confused relationship between a 17-year old Memphis student and a Vietnamese immigrant, it’s a fascinating tale of sexual and racial differences. It was a very controversial film upon its initial release but still holds up after 20 years.

The Delta is now playing on Dekkoo!

In addition, this week we added several other great titles to our library. Be sure to check them all out.

Three’s A Crowd – This comedic web series about two men falling in-love while an ex is still in the picture is sure to delight.

The Surface – An emotional romantic drama that bridges the gap between two generations of gay men.

The Pride & Pretence of Eirik – Actor, writer and vlogger Jeffrey Self stars in this hilarious web series about Eirik, a self-absorbed gay man finding his way.

BoysTown The Series – A great series about eight leading men who heat things up in L.A.

Undetectable – A gay man living with undetectable HIV must confront the guilt tormenting him after betraying and infecting his terminal ex-lover.

It looks like you’re going to be busy this weekend!

 

#DoYouDekkoo?

Gabriel – A delightful short film from Spain!

With so many great gay films to choose on Dekkoo we wanted to make sure you didn’t miss Gabriel.

Director Benjamin Chimoy presents a skillfully-made short film about Gabriel, a 32-year-old Spanish man living with his boyfriend Lars far away from his conservative family. In the days leading up to an imminent visit from his mother, Gabriel starts reflecting on his upbringing and remembering his childhood and his sexual coming-of-age.

Gabriel was a hit on the gay film-festival circuit and we’re thrilled to offer it on Dekkoo.

We hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Brian

#DoYouDekkoo?