Tag: Shakespeare

Pride Month Spotlight: Were the World Mine

“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.”

It doesn’t get better than this swoon-worthy, candy-colored musical about a high school boy who uses magic to turn many of the boys at school gay – just in time for a show-stopping production of a Shakespearean classic. Since its release, Were the World Mine has become a gay musical classic that we will return to again and again.

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Timothy (Tanner Cohen) is a gay boy stranded in a private all-boys school, which is largely obsessed with rugby. Unfortunately, there’s only one thing about rugby that catches Timothy’s interest: he’s obsessed with the super-adorable star player Jonathan (Nathaniel David Becker).

Both boys are students in Ms. Tebbit’s English class (she’s played by the delightful Wendy Robie of “Twin Peaks” and The People Under the Stairs). She’s a teacher with a mission: to excite her students with the literature of the ages. When she decides to cast these two boys as the romantic leads in her production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (and to cast boys in all of the female roles), she proves herself just as mischievous as Puck.

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The rugby Coach and townspeople are up in arms, but for Timothy, it seems like his wildest romantic fantasies may be coming true. He finds, in the script, the recipe for a potion to make people gay. With just a few spritzes from his magic pansy, the entire town (filled with Christian fundamentalists) is soon whipped into frenzy as the glorious production night approaches.

This deliciously surreal confection from co-writer/director Thomas Gustafson, based on his own 2003 short film Fairies, is a true gem. The musical numbers are over-the-top, production values first-rate and the acting is as flawless as the adorable boys on display. Even the top critics agreed back in 2008 when the film first screened. After Elton called it “absolutely breathtaking” and The New York Times said it was “movie musical magic.” It also managed to snag over twenty audience and jury awards during its initial film festival run.

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Swoon all over Were the World Mine RIGHT NOW on Dekkoo! It’s one of our treasured Pride Picks.

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.