With the launch of the brand-new TLAgay.com, the Gay Cinema Video On Demand experience we have been offering for a long, long time was upgraded and improved. We have expanded (and continue to expand) our selection of new and old gay-themed movies available for your viewing pleasure. Here’s just five of our current favorites, from various years, that you may have missed – ALL available to watch INSTANTLY! These aren’t our TOP 5, by any means – just a handful of flicks we want to highlight.

 

Hidden Kisses (c) Breaking Glass Pictures

Hidden Kisses (c) Breaking Glass Pictures

Hidden Kisses

2017, France

16-year-old Nathan, lives alone with his father Stephane. A newcomer to his high school, he is invited to a party and soon becomes smitten with Louis, a boy from his class. They find themselves seemingly out of sight and kiss each other sweetly… not realizing that someone has taken a picture of them. Soon, the photo is published on Facebook and a storm overtakes their lives – putting them face to face with severe bullying and rejection. A highly-publicized film that originally aired on French television in 2016, this deeply affecting film is now available on DVD and VOD in the United States. Lead actors Berenger Anceaux and Jules Houplain are both adorable and have great chemistry together. Hidden Kisses is a heartfelt, thoughtful, beautifully directed film that will linger with you long after the final credits have rolled.

 

Alex and Leo (c) Breaking Glass Pictures

Alex and Leo (c) Breaking Glass Pictures

Alex and Leo

2010, Germany

Alex and Leo is a German comedy that features six characters in search of love, director Ives-Yuri Garate and screenwriter/star Andre Schneider bring a light touch to a hip urban tale. Alex (Schneider) walks in on his boyfriend fucking someone else – and out he goes – much to the relief of his friends Tobi (Udo Lutz) and Steffi Graf (Sascia Haj) (and yes, the character not only has the unusual name of a famous tennis star, she’s also a gossiping astrological therapist). Delicious German porn star/actor Marcel Schlutt stars as Leo, who, after a dinner party, reveals to his girlfriend that he’s got sexual feelings for men and it’s best that they break up. Six weeks later they all have a wild night at a Berlin performance art club. Leo goes out with his friend, who happens to be a patient of Steffi’s and Alex goes out with his friends. Tobi is smitten with a gorgeous waiter, but he loses the power of speech whenever he sees the man. On a wondrous night, Alex meets Leo, and Tobi discovers his waiter (and they go home together). But what about Steffi? Alex and Leo vibrates with the energy of the hip Berlin streets and clubs where it was filmed.

 

Jitters (c) TLA Releasing

Jitters (c) TLA Releasing

Jitters

2010, Iceland

On an English immersion trip to Manchester, uptight Icelandic teen Gabriel’s roommate ends up being the free-spirited Marcus. They become friends and on their last night together, share a tender kiss. But their brief romance is ended when they go their separate ways and return home. Family and friends notice a change in the thin, handsome Gabriel, who realizes he is gay but decides to keep it a secret. But he has little time to mope, for between parties and excursions, his friends have their own set of problems; there is a girl who likes him and is frustrated at his lack of response; his troubled friend desperately wants to meet her real father; and Gabriel’s best friend is developing a drinking problem. When Marcus returns to the scene, it forces Gabriel to make a serious decision. An attractive, energetic ensemble cast and a driving, pulsating soundtrack are highlights of this teen comedy/drama that is filled with young people’s traumas, but still remains buoyant and insightful.

 

Stand (c) TLA Releasing

Stand (c) TLA Releasing

Stand

2014, France/Russia

Anton and Vlad (Renat Shuteev and Andrey Kurganov) are a handsome, happy couple living in modern day Russia – peacefully making a life for themselves in the comfortable privacy of their Moscow apartment. But everything is about to change. Driving home after taking a wrong turn, they confront what they believe is a vicious gay bashing. For Anton, the burden of what they may have witnessed outweighs Vlad’s fear of probing too deeply into the incident. Anton talks his skeptical lover into launching their own risky amateur investigation into the hate crime, inevitably leading grim consequences. An important, topical drama Stand is both essential and gripping, if ultimately deeply disturbing (especially considering Russia’s current influence on global politics).

 

Soundless Wind Chime (c) TLA Releasing

Soundless Wind Chime (c) TLA Releasing

Soundless Wind Chime

2009, Hong Kong/Germany/Switzerland

Spare, elegant and moving, told through flashbacks and memories, the emotionally rich Soundless Wind Chime tells of the journey of Ricky, searching for his own lost soul and discovering the past of his Swiss lover, Pascal. With the love story as the central anchor of the film there are other fragments swirling around that make for a perfect, completed puzzle. While this sounds confusing, the film is so gracefully constructed by writer/director Kit Hung, it all works. Ricky is Chinese and Pascal, Swiss. Their love story is told in English, as that’s the language they spoke. Pascal was rough street trade; his abusive boyfriend sent him to the streets to pick pockets. Tiring of his creepy partner, Pascal flees their seedy apartment. At a street cafe he meets a very shy Ricky, a waiter. Breaking through Ricky’s private nature, their shared attraction took hold. Their relationship was marred by jealous spats, punctuated by intensely passionate lovemaking. Shot with an intimacy and intelligence seldom seen in an indie, Soundless Wind Chime is a superb debut feature from Kit Hung; one that will open new doors for all those open to its pleasures.

 

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