By Roger Costa
BIG BOYS
Taking home two major awards at last year’s LA Outfest, the Audience Award for Best Film and the anticipated Outstanding Performance for Isaac Krasner, this darkly funny, sensitive and immersive coming of age story draws from its director’s personal experiences. Leaving an impressive mark, which proves him to have a keen eye for the queer universe, first-time director Corey Sherman (who also serves as co-writer and editor) acchieved a unique and very honest drama that deals with provocative themes with contagious empathy.
He delicately follows the transitions of Jamie, a 14-year-old chubby kid who is about to enter maturity. Getting ready to go camping with his brother and favorite cousin, he clearly demonstrates jealousy when he learns someone else is coming for the trip. That’s Dan, his cousin’s “uninvited” boyfriend. Turns out the initial feeling of discomfort becomes a quest for approval and connection. Jamie develops an unexpected crush on the much older bear-type guy, gradually leaving marks of his fixation. The same type of transition is also observed through his sense of shame; as they arrive at the camping site, they go on for a swim. Jamie doesn’t take his shirt off, reflecting on his lack of confidence and rejection to his own body shape. Later on in the narrative, after he was forced to face and confront his own dilemmas, we see him going in again, but this time he proudly removes his shirt, setting himself free from guilty.
The process of self-discovery also serves for Dan. As the center of attention for most of the characters, he certainly must have learned how to embrace diversity and improve on patience, compassion and self-control.
With the help of cinematographer Gus Bendinelli composing astonishing lights and angles, as well as capturing the essence and tones of each phase in the narrative, the film escapes from ordinary terrain to firmly pave a way into originality. Rarely seen neither fully explored in the medium, themes such as sexual discovery tend to go on for the casual. Here, Sherman takes a different path where empathy prevails every step the way, even if things won’t favor the expected. The result is a fresh, enthusiastic and relatable look at teen sexuality and vulnerability. His approach to the subjects of acceptance, body shaming, and sexuality examined through the feelings and confusions of Jamie, as well as his drawings and hormonal fantasies, puts him in the frontline as a major voice in queer indie cinema.
Isaac Krasner delivers a breakthrough performance, stealing every scene as well as our hearts. Since the first moments we look at him, observing his neighbors through his window and packing for his camping trip, we connect deeply with his melancholy and sense of displacement. His touching and hilarious performance is the combustible of the film as we experience everything through his eyes. Krasner is a rising star and the future looks very bright for him.
A very confident, humane and heart-warming debut.
(Dark Star Pictures. Now Playing at Cinema Village and Available On Demand.)
AROUND TOWN
The Brazilian film HEAVIER IS THE SKY won the Best Cinematography Award at Brooklyn Film Festival last week. Directed by Petrus Cariry the film stars Matheus Nactergaele and is set in the director’s home state of Ceara. The story follows two strangers who meet on the road and are linked by an abandoned baby. They are seeking better days, economically and emotionally, each running away from oppression and abuse. Actor and journalist Amadeu Maya and producer Roger Costa were at the Festival’s screening where they discussed topics of the film and the challenges to make a film in Brazil.
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