To kalokairi tis Karmen (Greek) [The Summer With Carmen]

How does one describe this gay film!! An extremely carefully designed and drafted film, it's a film within a film, about pitching a gay film to a producer who wants a “fun, sexy, Greek and low-budget” script. It has meta-commentary on queer filmmaking all over the place, incorporating several life-affirming themes. And to top that when you have gorgeous and handsome naked cast, and a cut dog, one's attention is automatically guaranteed.

Demosthenes and Nikitas often sunbathe at a nude cruising spot in Greece. Nikitas needs to pitch a film idea over the weekend and he has nothing on hand. They both strike upon the idea of making a film about their “summer with Carmen”; a Chihuahua that Demos adopted from his ex-boyfriend Panos, two summers ago. The film then keeps going back and forth between present and two summers ago on what happened thats summer and the way it is presented to us is a film within a film format. We see how Demos had broken up with his boyfriend of 4 years Panos but they kept seeing each other for various family-related reasons. Panos adopted a dog Carmen after breakup but couldn't find time to care for her and this is when Demos brings her to his place. He is also struggling with his sick homophobic father and oscillating between sex and love. Even that summer him and Nikitas are looking to write a script with a possible subject being Nikita's life as the only gay kid on an island growing up.

While brainstorming, Demos and Nikitas discuss balancing serious themes with fun eroticism, and they're determined to keep sex scenes from looking cheesy or porny. This echoes amusingly through the flashbacks, as Demos hooks up wit hot guys even while dealing with parental issues, reaching out to Panos for help. Nikitas works to transform this into a screenplay structure. Nikitas attempts to distill the lessons of Demos’ life events are met with confusion and judgement. To Demos, adopting Carmen from his ex-lover was simply to save the dog. To Nikita it was a sign Demos was still clinging onto the relationship. The meta moments with a sly wink are the most enjoyable; for example how should the film start, how much sex, would dog scenes get expensive to shoot etc. The film is absolutely gorgeous to watch. The audience is treated to some stunning vistas with sun, sea, and lots of casual nudity. Post-coital moments feel natural, without the awkward careful positioning of limbs and sheets to protect anyones modesty. There’s full frontal nudity, lot of it, and it’s no big deal, as the dramedy of a gay friendship that is struggling to adapt as they grow older unfolds.

The film’s humour, like its drama, is gentle and most of the laughs are internal rather than laugh-out-loud. Probably the funniest moment plays out over the end credits as the two fan-cast themselves in the Hollywood version of the movie. With a greek god like look, the actor playing Demos is dashingly handsome while Nikitas is more in your face obvious gay guy. The two men who could not be more different – they are divided by age, profession, demeanour and desire. Yet, it’s their shared experience as insecure people trying to navigate life as openly queer men in contemporary Greece that draws them together, along with a penchant for allowing their imaginations to run rampant. The two actors play upon each other so well and their chemistry as closest friends is incredible. This is a lovely exploration of a friendship and the roles we play with each other, often without knowing it. This film is a sexy, funny, stunning film loaded with meta references. I quite enjoyed it. (8/10)