A Revry original, Unconventional is a really well-liked queer dramedy that feels totally different from the usual stuff. The heart of the story is about two pretty eccentric queer siblings and their partners trying to build a family that doesn't follow the traditional rules. It takes a super raw and unfiltered look at queer life, diving deep into things like mental health, addiction, and how complicated identity and relationships can get. It’s not afraid to get messy or show people at their most vulnerable, and it really pushes boundaries while showing a lot of different queer experiences. The first season has nine episodes, and each one is about a half-hour long. The story centers on Noah, a grad student who’s been struggling for years to wrap up his PhD. He’s been with his husband, Dan, for nine years, and they’ve recently gotten married and moved to Palm Springs. While they're trying to figure out how to start a family and have a baby, they decide to shake things up by in...
Said to be filmed over a period of two years, this documentary follows the journeys of seven gay men struggling with meth addiction and recovery against a backdrop of an emerging wave of HIV infection. From grappling with the drug's effects on their physical and mental health to wrestling with their darkest sexual desires, Rock Bottom delivers a chilling portrait of a community in crisis. The makers use and show us the breeding grounds for this crystal meth addiction like the bathhouses, locker rooms, porn sets and bedrooms of those for whom sex is inseparable from meth use.
Our subjects freely describe the rush of empowerment and the liberation of libido that lets them enjoy sex without thought or precaution. They all, over a period of time want to get clean and connect with people and have a loving boyfriend. We see guys in different stages of their lives. Its scary to see how almost all of them understand the downside of the drug but are at a stage where they have become so dependent on it there is little they can do anything about it. By the end of it, we do see some of them managing to battle through the addiction. Surprisingly, there is no mention about how these men or even otherwise, a meth addict can go about sobering up. I am not sure if back when this documentary was released, if 12 step program was not a thing; but from hat I know now., that program and CMA kind of programs have immensely helped the gay community to battle many addictions, specifically meth. So definitely in addition to seeing the journeys of these people. I would have also liked to hear more about the proposed solutions here.
It's scary but a very true and real portrayal of the control that crystal meth had over gay men in NYC. The documentary even though is made at an extremely low budget with a hand held camera most times, but it does manage to get one thinking. (5/10)

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