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Two Interesting Characters in an Implausible Story

interested_observer | San Francisco, CA USA | 03/10/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Newly arrived in West Hollywood from Colorado, homeless India (Joe Lia) first gets stiffed on his porn acting wages and then gets chased into a parking garage by two tire-iron-wielding rednecks. A drag queen porn director, Destiny (Allan Louis), shows up with a revolver to rescue India and confiscate for India the nice coat of one of the rednecks. Destiny allows India to move in under various conditions, including spending two daytime hours daily in the nude. Destiny already has a butch Lesbian, Lester (Minerva Vier), in the household. India has a chance to lead a more settled life.



India isn't fully trusting and wants to go after the director who didn't pay him. India and Destiny work something out.



India latches onto another homeless guy, Spencer (Lance Davis), who has an interest in blowing up his parents.



India has become a convert to non-violence and the reclamation of the lost. So when India notices a name and address on the redneck's (Guy's, played by Adam Larson) commandeered coat, he decides to return the coat and possibly find a latent gay person, under the theory that bashers have sexual orientation issues. After some turmoil, the film moves to its conclusion.



The skin and sex shots are generous and well photographed. All the younger male characters show something, and India shows all.



The strengths of the movie are the performances of Joe Lia and Allan Jones, the cinematography and the editing. The title sequences (including the portion of the 2004 platform of the Texas Republican Party dealing with homosexuality) are done well too. Lia is convincing as a relatively naive character who makes the effort to do well in a hostile world. Jones maintains a dignified flamboyance while barely suppressing hostile rage against the straight world. These strengths keep up interest in the movie.



There is a very good commentary by Producer/Director Everett Lewis and Joe Lia. The two also field questions at the 2005 Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.



The script calls for the creation of friendships and bonding at a pace that would not happen in real life. For example, if you had attempted a bashing, been stopped and robbed of your coat at gunpoint, how would you act if later the bashee got out of a car, held out your coat, and said you could have it back? There are at least three cases of snap decisions to have someone as a roommate. How much disbelief must one suspend?



Characters and actions feel forced to conform to the writer's program and do not flow naturally. For example, one character starts out as a homophobic bully, gets suicidal after a same-sex friend moves away, comes out to a domineering brother, chases after the departed friend in a homophobic despiration, and then changes again, lots of acting range on a forced march.



There is scene after scene with pistols drawn or expressions of hostility to either the straight or gay worlds. The film does end up showing a path to a constructive, non-violent acceptance. India emerges into a higher state of being than his mentor, Destiny, who can't give up using fire or pistol shots to make points in a hostile world. The message is a gay kiss is like a bomb to the straight world. This is the key to the movie's redemption."

Brilliant, honest

RSMM | Boston, MA, USA | 07/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"FAQs may not be entirely realistic, but that's not its point. It is a beautiful, well-crafted, touchingly acted, inventively directed independent film about disenfranchised, abused young gay people who protect and care for each other after being victimized by violent familial and societal fallout from our current (7/2006) government-endorsed homophobic culture. It is warm, loving, moving, angry, sexy, politically accurate, honest, triumphant. Straight people may not get its message nor be able to process its images--as with most of Everett Lewis' films, so they may want to buy something more accessible like "Latter Days" or "Brokeback Mountain" (both wonderful films, but more mainstream)."

A Film with Heart

T. Jackson | Austin, TX | 03/11/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I just rented this and really loved it. Yes, the other reviewer on here is correct that it has some flaws. And yes, there are a few plot points that are rushed and require some suspension of disbelief. But why do we watch movies anyway? Isn't it to be entertained more than to see complete reality? Don't we want to see the world the way we wish it could be? The movie does succeed on these levels. India is new to the streets of L.A., ripped off by a porn producer and then bashers attempt to attack him. Enter the fierce drag queen Destiny, who brandishes her gun and chases them off. Destiny adopts him as part of her family, just as she has already adopted Lester, a butch lesbian. India decides that he, too, wants to save people. He starts with Spence, who has been abused, wants to bomb his parents and becomes India's boyfriend. He then rescues one of his bashers, who he has decided is a latent homosexual. Yes, it all wraps up pretty easily. But wouldn't it be great if we all formed our own wonderful rainbow families and rescued each other? The film has its heart in the right place and was very interesting and moving. For an indie film, I thought the acting was really good, with the exception of the actress playing Lester, who I thought was a bit weak and not very butch. This movie has a great message. So many gay people have felt the way these characters felt: betrayed by the straight world, betrayed by our families, unsafe and always having to sleep with one eye open. This movie is going to be one of my favorites for a long time."

Bitter sweet violent love story

Geminiguy | Bloomington, IN | 06/04/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Well, okay... this isn't really all that violent... even with all the pulling of guns and such. After a drag queen intercedes on the potential gay bashing of a young hustler, this story takes off. The hustler, India, moves in with the drag Queen named Destiny. Also living with Destiny is a lesbian named Lester. What ensues is "family-like mayhem" as these three become a family. Destiny doesn't mind when India brings home other guys as long as he uses a condom... and she demands 2 hours of nude time a day from all the house guests. There are other sub plots, like love brewing between Destiny and a cop... as well as India and a "bitter" boy who intends to enact vengance on his parents. Also entering the fray of gay times are the two would-be-gay bashers who provide this films main unbelivable plot line.

The acting was fair. Joe Lia, the central character, was the only one who seemed spot on the entire time. He seemed enduring and he really got into his part... and I mean "really" got into it. Lance Lee Davis was decent but he kind of flopped a bit when he went on his revenge rantings. The two men playing the would-be-bashers were ok actors but the script gave them nothing credible to work with. Minerva Vier (Lester) was good as the lesbian, but her character was the least developed. It would have been interesting to see her happy ever after... but it never came.

The plot and script were weak but still entertaining enough to keep my attention. Sure, some of the lines were pretty left-field but the story was pretty potent as it delt with love in an unaccepting world. Still... when things got hairy... it got that way pretty fast. The violent angles of the film were forced... but considering the film had such a "minimal" budget, it is understandable.

I liked the movie because it was gritty... and it had no polish to it. It offered some decent acting... but the main reason I like the film is because Joe Lia does such a good job with his role. It may not be ground breaking, but it does have its moments."