This one's a beautiful, tender, quiet romantic drama with a moody atmosphere, set in a tight knit Welsh fishing community. It's a touching story about a man waking up sexually in the middle of his life, and how he, his family, and everyone around him deal with it, which makes it emotional and sentimental without ever getting over the top. The slow burn plays out against a landscape that's as bleak as it is gorgeous, where quiet, closed off men are stuck inside rigid ideas of what masculinity should be. Some people might be reminded of "God's Own Country," but I think both films are lovely in their own way. Jack is a middle aged guy who co-owns a mussel farm with his rough around the edges brother Dyfan, and the tension between the two of them is simmering under the surface right from the start. Dyfan's three sons all help out with the work, while Jack's sulky teenage son Tom keeps skipping out. Jack's been with his wife since they were both 16, and...
The bearded and bespectacled Eugenio, a scruffily handsome thirty-something from Argentina's well-off middle class, has moved into the house of his uncle so he can look after it for the summer and at the same time work on his novel in peace. When the younger Martin comes knocking on his door to ask him for some summer yard work, the duo realize they used to play together in childhood in the same neighborhood and Martin's hired straight away to do odd jobs around the house. What Martin doesn't tell Eugenio is that he's actually homeless and sleeping in the park, though by the time Eugenio finds out, the two have spent enough time together for Eugenio to suggest Martin sleep in the house's shed. The house-sitter might have an ulterior motive for keeping his worker close. Eugenio would like nothing more than being manhandled by the help. The next 90 odd minutes is a slo cat and mouse game where both the the guys are sorta attracted to each other and want things to happen but don't know how, when and where to start. Martin once takes a leap and kisses Eugenio but he acts surprised. When Eugenio realizes what he is missing, he goes back looking for Martin and the ending is really beautiful. The smile on both their faces just killed me.
People may think of this film as cock-tease but trust me there is so much more to it. The film maker explore ideas of the gay male gaze and desire as well as more complex issues of class. The film is full of erotically charged atmosphere, which never seems to translate into any action. You get excited because the actual doing of the deed would interrupt the joy and innocence of the games of almost-foreplay, which is so prolonged. Performances from both principal actors is quite good and they are both freakishly good lookin. Something very sexy and raw about both of them specially Eugenio. The sexually charged scenes where Eugenio is trying to peak into the bathroom when Martin is taking a shower or the one when Martin unzips his pants and takes off his shirt is HOT! to say the least. The guys were in just shorts for most of the movie and so was I while watching the film because it is summers where I am right now and trust me, the heat from the movie was no less evident.
I absolutely loved the film and i hope you will too. (7.5/10)
Comments