This Weekend’s VOD Favorites

The Gay Cinema Video On Demand experience at TLAgay.com has your entertainment needs covered! We’re always working to expand selection of new and old gay-themed movies available for your viewing pleasure. Here’s just five of our current favorites that you may have missed – ALL available to watch INSTANTLY! Stay home, stay safe and enjoy a movie!

 

7 Minutes
A bold new drama from writer-director Ricky Mastro, making his feature debut after a long series of acclaimed shorts, 7 Minutes tells the story of Jean (Antoine Herbez), a 55 year-old policeman who discovers his son, Maxime (Valentin Malguy), and another man hanged in a hotel room. The autopsy shows that Maxime died from an overdose of GHB, just seven minutes after his boyfriend. During an evening organized by Maxime’s friends, Jean discovers a nightclub that his son used to frequent. There, he meets the seductive young Fabien (Clément Naline). Desperately trying to learn more about the events that led to his son’s untimely death, Jean goes to the club several times more and is quickly welcomed by the other patrons. As Fabien becomes increasingly attached to him, Jean starts mixing his mourning with the desire to discover his son’s world.

 

45 Days Away from You
After a recent breakup with “a man who shall not be named,” young bachelor Rafael (Rafael de Bona) finds his romantic life spinning out of control. With a change of scenery in order, he sets out on journey of self-discovery – an adventure that will take him from Brazil to England, Portugal and Argentina. Along the way, he seeks the counsel of his nearest and dearest friends. There’s Julia (Julia Correa), an amorous single actress trying to land her breakthrough role; Fabio (Fábio Lucindo), Rafael’s straight-boy buddy, who is trying to maintain a long-distance relationship; and Mayara (Mayara Constantino), a dear friend who gave up a promising career in favor of marriage. Over the course of his 45-day trip, Rafael grows closer to the people in his life who really matter and learns that all it takes to mend a broken heart is time… and the support of a few good friends.

 

Socrates
After his mother’s sudden death, Socrates (Christian Malheiros), a 15-year-old living on the margins of São Paulo’s coast, must survive on his own. As he faces isolation because of his sexuality, his search for a decent, worthy life reaches a breaking point. Filmed with a micro budget of under twenty thousand dollars, Socrates is the debut feature film from Brazilian-American director Alexandre Moratto. Socrates is the first feature produced by the Querô Institute in Brazil where it was co-written, produced, and acted by at-risk teenagers from local low-income communities, with the support of UNICEF. The film earned rave reviews from critics and won numerous awards at film festivals all over the world – along with the coveted “Someone to Watch” award at last year’s Film Independent Spirit awards.

 

Martyr
For Hassane (Hamza Mekdad), a young man from an impoverished neighborhood, life has stopped making sense. All he has left is a close group of friends, brought together by a shared sense of marginalization and hopelessness. Hassane’s strange sudden drowning at Beirut’s rocky shore sparks a mob procession and strips apart the bond of youth and friendship, forcing his friends to grapple with loss and powerlessness, and with the cold heavy truth of their friend’s dead body. The funeral is transformed into a heartfelt farewell to the beauty and sensuality of life, youth, friendship, and love.

 

A Little Lust
16-year-old Rocco (Andrea Amato) has two aims in life: to finally get laid and to go see his favorite pop star in concert with his best friends – sassy and tomboyish Maria (Carolina Pavone) and nerdy and quiet Mauri (Francesco De Miranda). When a bullying incident at school forces Rocco to come out of the closet to his divorced, middle-class Italian parents, their liberal leanings are severely tested. Luckily, his two friends stand by him and quickly latch on to his impulsive plan to run away from home… in his parents’ stolen car, no less. The three buds are planning to go see their favorite singer in concert. They don’t realize, though, that they’re being followed hot on the heels by Rocco’s neurotic mother (director Veronica Pivetti) and his eccentric grandma (Pia Engleberth) – to hilarious effect. A vibrant and funny Italian family comedy, A Little Lust also has a sweet, romantic twist you won’t want to miss.

 

 

Summertime Sizzle: 30 Gay Movies Available Now On-Demand That Turn Up The Heat!

As temperatures rise outside, we got to thinking about our favorite sweaty, beach-side, summertime-based gay movies. Below, you’ll find THIRTY different flicks available RIGHT NOW on-demand to put you in a seasonal mood! The genres may be varied, but all of these films do a great job turning up the heat (draw the shades and adjust your A/C accordingly).

 

Bromance
Take a trip back to 1996. When four friends go on a camping trip in a remote part of Argentina, sexual tensions quickly bubble to the surface. Once in virtual seclusion by the beach, Juli, the only girl of the group, quickly recognizes that the boys seem to have a closer relationship than what she would consider “normal” (it’s only ’96, after all). The line between friendship and love fade further for two of the boys in particular as their desire becomes too much to bear. When what started as a simple getaway quickly becomes tinged with sex, romance and conflict, everyone is forced to confront who they really are for the very first time. Starring Javier De Pietro, the scrumptious star of Absent and Sexual Tension: Volatile, Bromance uses a clever found-footage aesthetic to deliver a thoughtful and supremely sexy meditation on young, burgeoning gay love.

 

Eating Out: The Open Weekend
In the fifth and seemingly final (unless we get lucky) installment of the beloved, relentlessly sexy and hysterically funny Eating Out series, Zack and Benji (returning stars Chris Salvatore and Aaron Milo) open up their relationship for a weekend of fun at a gay resort in Palm Springs. After Zack runs into his ex-boyfriend Casey (Daniel Skelton), Casey lies and tells him he met someone new to avoid Zack’s pity. When Casey reacquaints with an old high school friend, Peter (Michael Vara), he manages to convince him to pretend to be his boyfriend despite Peter’s reluctance that it will interfere with his promiscuous weekend opportunities. As sexual tensions start to mount between Benji and Peter, Zack becomes increasingly dissatisfied with his relationship while Casey longs for a stable relationship of his own. A sexy and outrageous comedy, Eating Out: The Open Weekend serves up plenty of eye-candy and raunchy fun along with the pursuit of finding true love.

 

Esteros
Sexy and heartfelt, Esteros tells the story of two men who get a second chance at love. Childhood friends Matias and Jeronimo reunite in their hometown of Paso de los Libres, Argentina, on the banks of the Uruguay River. The summer before high school, their friendship transformed into something deeper, but their mutual attraction never came to fruition. More than a decade later they meet again, and the chemistry between them is palpable, but now Matias has a girlfriend who has traveled to his hometown for Carnival. Seeing his old friend, now so comfortable and confident, reawakens Matias’ feelings. This unexpected opportunity forces him to reassess his choices and to figure out whether he can turn his back on marriage in favor of the man he’s always loved. A powerful film that elicits feelings of nostalgia for the forgotten romances from our past, Esteros offers a satisfying glimpse into what might have been (and what might still be).

 

Everything is Free
Ivan (writer-director Brian Jordan Alvarez) has relocated to a coastal town in Colombia to focus on his painting. After some time apart, his straight best friend and former roommate, Christian (Peter Vack), comes to visit, bringing his younger brother, Cole (Morgan Krantz), along. The initial pleasantries of beach side camping and late-night partying fade more quickly than expected, after Ivan and Cole (who generally identifies as straight) start secretly sleeping together. When Christian finds out, the otherwise idyllic summer affair brings out difficult and surprising emotions in not just the three men but also their diverse circle of fellow American expats and tourists. Frank and playful, Everything Is Free navigates gay cinema tropes with self-awareness, humor, gravity and a very modern sensibility.

 

45 Days Away from You
After a recent breakup with “a man who shall not be named,” young bachelor Rafael finds his romantic life spinning out of control. With a change of scenery in order, he sets out on journey of self-discovery – an adventure that will take him from Brazil to England, Portugal and Argentina. Along the way, he seeks the counsel of his nearest and dearest friends. There’s Julia, an amorous single actress trying to land her breakthrough role; Fabio, Rafael’s straight-boy buddy, who is trying to maintain a long-distance relationship; and Mayara, a dear friend who gave up a promising career in favor of marriage. Over the course of his 45-day trip, Rafael grows closer to the people in his life who really matter and learns that all it takes to mend a broken heart is time… and the support of a few good friends.

 

Happiness Adjacent
Happiness Adjacent explores the romance that blossoms between Hank (Adam Fried), a nice gay Jewish boy traveling alone on a tropical cruise, and Kurt (Ian Dick), a bisexual man vacationing with his wife, Kate (Rachel Alig). While Hank isn’t looking for a relationship, he can’t deny his immediate attraction to Kurt and their intense connection. As Hank struggles to get past his own issues and his past failed relationships, he can’t help but wonder if Kurt is secretly looking for a way to break up the monotony of his seemingly stale marriage. Is this just a vacation fling, or is it a chance for both men to find true happiness? Shot entirely on location on the iPhone 6S Plus, Happiness Adjacent is the terrific ninth feature film from writer/director Rob Williams – the same guy behind Shared Rooms, The Men Next Door and Make the Yuletide Gay.

 

Hawaii
The sexual tension practically spills off the screen in this sweaty, titillating romance from award-winning director Marco Berger (the same guy behind Absent, Plan B, Sexual Tension: Volatile and Testosterone). Hawaii follows Martin and Eugenio (Manuel Vignau and Mateo Chiarino), two former childhood friends who reunite during a hot summer in the Argentinean countryside. As they work together to restore Eugenio’s summer home, a game of power and desire ensues the two buddies to grapple with their sexual attraction and reconsider their relationship. With gorgeous cinematography, a lush setting and compelling lead performances, Hawaii is an intimate character study that percolates with lustful longing. Have a towel ready before you watch it. You are bound to break a sweat!

 

He Loves Me
Director Konstantinos Menelaou‘s sexually explicit relationship drama He Loves Me is an exploration of the unconventional nature of love and its ability to survive against the fear of loneliness, psychological traumas and the problems that come with life in the big city. The collapsing relationship shared by two men finds an outlet for escape on an isolated beach. Once there, they feel free to expose their deepest emotions. Their wounded relationship might not survive the vacation, but it’s certainly a glorious place to feel things out. Super-sexy lead actors Sanuye Shoteka and Hermes Pittakos are artists and performers who were a real-life couple at the time that He Loves Me was shot – and the script for the film was greatly influenced by their relationship.

 

Holiday
During a time of turmoil in Ecuador, sixteen-year-old Juan Pablo (Juan Manuel Arregui) travels to the family hacienda in the Andes, where his uncle (Peky Andino), facing a corruption scandal, has taken refuge with his wife and teenage children. There he meets Juano (Diego Andrés Paredes), an enigmatic and very self-assured seventeen-year-old black-metal fan from the nearby pueblo. As these two young men get to know each other a little bit better, Juano begings to open up Juan Pablo’s eyes to a new and liberating universe. As his country and family begins to seem like it is heading for the abyss, the budding friendship between the two boys develops into a fragile romance… and Juan Pablo starts to define himself, despite the chaotic nature of his surroundings. A sweet romantic fable of young love against the odds, Holiday bubbles with tension and excitement.

 

Jess & James
Jess (Martín Karich) is a bohemian young man with secrets to hide from his shrewd parents. James (Nicolás Romeo) feels trapped living with his irritable mother. After meeting for a sexual encounter, these two young men set off on a spontaneous road trip across rural Argentina to reunite with Jess’ estranged brother. Alone their journey, they confront strange occurrences and engage in a menage a trois affair that brings them even closer together. Their newly found affection grows, all while discovering a fresh vision of freedom and happiness. Don’t miss this colorful and relentlessly sexy gay road movie!

 

Last Summer
Writer/director Mark Thiedeman’s Last Summer tells the story of two high school sweethearts, Luke and Jonah (Samuel Pettit and Sean Rose), who spend their final months together over the course of a long, quiet summer in the rural South, contemplating their uncertain future. Jonah, sensitive, quiet and artistic, prepares to leave his small town for college, leaving Luke behind, but all he wants is for Luke to ask him to stay. But Luke, an athlete struggling through summer school, knows that his boyfriend needs to experience the world beyond their home. A beautiful melancholy romance, Last Summer takes on an almost other-wordly vibe. It’s set in an idealistic American South where Luke and Jonah’s relationship is never questioned or taken as anything other than a normal high school romance. Their struggle isn’t with the outside world, but with the passage of time.

 

Lazy Eye
Dean (Lucas Near-Verbrugghe), a graphic designer living in Los Angeles, notices a sudden change in his vision. Around the same time, Alex (Aaron Costa Ganis), an ex-lover from 15 years prior, contacts him unexpectedly in hopes of rekindling their relationship. When the two meet at a vacation house in the desert near Joshua Tree, secrets are revealed and passions are rekindled that threaten to upend both of their lives. Forty-eight hours later, neither will ever be the same. Written and directed by Tim Kirkman, the Emmy, Gotham, GLAAD and Independent Spirit Award-nominee behind Dear Jesse, Loggerheads and The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me, Lazy Eye is a thoughtful and thoroughly sexy romance about roads not taken, unfinished business and the struggle of adjust to progressive lenses.

 

The Longing
Erik (Hendrik Scheider) is vacationing with two German friends in an opulent beach house owned by the father of one of them. They spend their days snorkeling, lounging about, eating, watching Brazilian soaps and, when the mood strikes them (and to make a few bucks), making R-rated love in front of a live webcam. Erik’s mindless days come to an end when a sexual tryst on the beach becomes violent, ending in the death of his nameless trick. While agonizing over the incident, Erik, a muscular beauty, meets Miguel (Aldri DAnunciaao), a fresh-faced young man and TV actor. The two fall in love but Erik’s secret and intensifying guilt begins to haunt the relationship. The Longing is sensual, yet ominous drama of youth, desire, love, cross-cultural tensions and fate.

 

Malila: The Farewell Flower
Former lovers Shane and Pitch reunite after years apart and try to heal the wounds of their past. Shane is haunted by the tragic death of his daughter, while Pitch suffers a grave illness, rejecting medical treatment as painful and ineffective. A talented artist, Pitch creates beautiful structures made out of flowers and banana leaves as a way to cope with his deteriorating health. Meanwhile, Shane trains to become a Buddhist monk, in an effort to build karma for Pitch… to either keep him alive or to help him along in his afterlife. A remarkably beautiful, spiritual film from Thai director Anucha Boonyawatana (the same director behind the queer films The Blue Hour and Down the River), Malila: The Farewell Flower is as close to transcendent as cinema gets.

 

Martyr
Shot in Beirut and Italy with Arabic dialogue, Martyr is probably the sexiest cinematic meditation on grief that we’ve ever seen. The film follows the intimate friendship between Hassane (Hamza Mekdad) and his three closest male companions. The boys meet up regularly at a popular Mediterranean beach to swim, drive and show off their firm, bronzed young bodies. When death strikes one of them, the three others must literally grapple with their friend’s passing, carrying the body back to the man’s family and ritually washing it before his funeral. Director Mazen Khaled tackles weighty themes with a voyeuristic eye, subverting expectations with ample homoeroticism – nudity, masturbation, longing glances – and keeping tensions at a low simmer. This is a thinking man’s erotic drama.

 

Orpheus Song
Enis and Philipp, two hot macho dudes from Berlin, become workout buddies at their local gym – each spotting the other. The two hunks quickly fall into an intense friendship. When Philipp wins a trip to Greece, he invites Enis along and the two have a great time. But during a hike, they become lost and tempers flare, escalating to a violent scuffle. A mysterious young man, Hercules, happens upon them and leads them to a magical underground cave. During the night, fueled by forbidden fruit Hercules has warned them against eating, passion ignites between Enis and Philipp. The next day, nothing between the two will ever be the same. This wildly erotic variation on Greek mythology will quickly have you falling under its sensual spell!

 

Palace of Fun

Palace of Fun
In a paradise of sun and sea, three young people on the brink of adulthood navigate the complexities of love, sex and secrecy with disastrous consequences. Lily and Finn meet one drunken night in a club and begin the perfect summer romance – until they meet up with Lily’s younger brother Jamie and sexual alliances are tested. As the temperature rises outside, the heat between these three individuals brings tensions to a boiling point. An intimate look into the strains of familial bonds and awakened romance, Palace of Fun explores how far young people will go to keep up appearances and maintain their identity. As secrets are revealed, you can’t help but become compliant in the debauched behavior of these dubious characters. Palace of Fun envelops the viewer in an irresistible world of questionable morals and fervent intentions.

 

Rock Haven
The coastal California community of Rock Haven is the perfect place for cute eighteen-year-old Brady and his loving mother to begin a fresh start. Their mission: to spread the word of the Lord. But while roaming the beach one day, Brady meets Clifford, a young man who is the complete opposite of him: outgoing and athletic as well as incredibly handsome. Their initial encounter stirs up feelings of desire that Brady has been suppressing. Once Clifford makes it clear that their attraction is mutual, Brady’s conflicting feelings of religious obligation and natural impulse go into overdrive, and the two young men must navigate their confusion, lust and beliefs in order to come to a mutual understanding. Writer/director David Lewis crafts an emotionally realistic drama that instead of shying away from the complex nature of sexuality and spirituality embraces both topics uninhibitedly.

 

Screwed
A gorgeous feature-length debut from talented writer-director Nils-Erik Ekblom, Screwed takes us to the Finnish countryside for an unforgettably romantic summer. Seventeen-year-old Miku is trying to come to terms with his sexuality and find his place in the world. After his parents find out that he threw a wild party while they were away, he is ordered to spend the summer with them at their cottage. A flirtation soon develops between he and Elias, the irresistible boy next door. As they spend the summer together, escaping the turmoil offered up by their uniquely dysfunctional families, a passionate relationship quickly blossoms. But the boys soon realize that love is not as easy as it seems… especially when it comes to first love.

 

The String
Set in arid Tunisia, tall, quiet Malik (Antonin Stahly-Vishwanadan), a 30-year-old Parisian architect, returns to his homeland after the death of his father. He’s greeted warmly by his over-bearing, petulant mother (the legendary Claudia Cardinale) and is immediately confronted with her expectation that he stay and get married. This now strange world of his youth, his mother’s pressure and his barely hidden homosexuality set off anxiety attacks in Malik, who finally finds relief when he meets the darkly handsome handyman, Balil (Salim Kechiouche). They begin a tentative relationship, but Islamic mores, a still class conscience society, and the ever-presence of his mother threaten their young love. The String is a riveting story of forbidden romance that doubles as a character study of people lost in rapidly changing cultures. Don’t miss this engaging, insightful and undeniably sexy drama.

 

Sunburn
Set within the luxurious confines of a modern vacation villa in the Portuguese countryside, the stylish new thriller Sunburn examines a close-knit group friends who share a long (and slowly teased-out) history. Our four protagonists come together for a peaceful weekend retreat by the pool. Unfortunately, their calm is quickly shattered by a phone call from David, a former friend, previously ostracized by the group, who seems to have left a strong and lasting impression on each of them. After a long absence, he’s back in town and planning to stop by. It’s at this point that Sunburn starts ramping up the dread. A reckoning, of some sort, is coming. What happened between David and the rest of the group to inspire such mixed emotions?

 

Taekwondo
You can almost smell the sweat coming off the screen in this excruciatingly hot new film. In a beautiful country house in a chic suburb of Buenos Aires, Fernando (Lucas Papa) and his buddies are having a “boys only” weekend. Disconnected from the outside world, they do little more than bask in the hot sun, play in the swimming pool, smoke pot and drink – naked or half- naked pretty much the entire time. Fernando decides to invite a newcomer, Germán (Gabriel Epstein), a close friend from his Taekwondo class. Germán is quickly welcomed into the group. Fernando doesn’t realize, though, that Germán is attracted to men. Little by little, the two dudes get more intimate and the simmering sexual tension hits a boiling point. Assembling one of the hottest casts in gay movie history, prolific queer director Marco Berger (Absent, Hawaii, Sexual Tension: Volatile) has outdone himself.

 

These Peculiar Days
An adolescent coming of age tale, These Peculiar Days tells the story of eight friends who graduate high school and celebrate by staying in a cabin in the woods. Just before the trip, Isabel (Sofia Sylwin) breaks up with Roman (Gerardo Del Razo) when she finds out he’s been cheating on her with Oscar (Carlos Hendrick Huber). When Roman tags along to try to win her back, it turns this pleasant weekend into a ticking time bomb that will be set off by their unstoppable sexual impulses. Soon, the lines between their sexuality begin to blur as allegiances and love affairs are quickly made and broken. An unabashedly erotic look at modern sexual fluidity between young adults from acclaimed writer-director Chucho E. Quintero (Velociraptor), These Peculiar Days is both fresh and endlessly compelling.

 

3-Day Weekend
Prolific writer-producer-director Rob Williams (Long-Term Relationship, Back Soon, Happiness Adjacent, The Men Next Door, Out to Kill, Shared Rooms) served up a shaken and stirred cocktail of sexual intrigue, humor and drama in this 2008 film about an unlikely group of friends and lovers. Long-term couple Simon and Jason, along with Cooper and his boy toy du jour, meet annually for a three-day getaway. Looking to spice up the tradition, they add a twist – each invites one attractive, single friend to their mountain retreat. Soon a frisky former college roommate, an often naked yoga instructor, Jason’s bashful coworker and a high-priced rent boy arrive to stir things up. From bed-hopping to break-ups, this is seventy-two hours they’ll never forget.

 

Tumbledown
Inspired by shocking true events, underground queer cinema cult favorite writer-director Todd Verow’s Tumbledown is an explosive cocktail – an emotional roller coaster ride through the dark sides of sexuality. A complicated love triangle develops after hunky Jay (Verow himself) meets bartender Nick and invites him to spend the weekend with him and his partner in their country cabin. Soon, copious amounts of sex, drugs and alcohol lead to a dark obsession and even darker complications. Something happened. Not everyone remembers. And there seems to be video evidence of the whole sordid affair. Always bold and never less than riveting, Tumbledown is sure to leave you breathless.

 

Vacationland
Also from Todd Verow – set in Maine and inspired by his own teen years – Vacationland tells a story of gay lust in high school between Joe, a theater geek, and his best buddy, Andrew, a football star. Joe has been edging his way out of the closet for some time, but Andrew is still resolutely having sex with women. They both have girlfriends, but the charade is wearing thin. Unhappy at home, Joe moves in with an older gay man and becomes his caretaker and artist’s model. The boys continue to play hetero in public until the girlfriends decide to get these two boys to start playing with each other. The scene in which the boys first make love, while the girlfriends peer around the wall, is pretty damn memorable. As their relationship develops, they explore the local gay scene where old issues begin to surface.

 

Voyage (c) Breaking Glass Pictures

Voyage
Get ready for a sexually explicit, highly erotic drama from Scud, the acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker behind Amphetamine, Permanent Residence, City Without Baseball and Love Actually… Sucks. Voyage centers on a young psychiatrist who embarks on a lone journey from Hong Kong, along the coast of Southeast Asia, to overcome his depression. On the sea, he records stories of people departed from this world prematurely, and reflects on the sad experiences he encountered with former patients. Meanwhile, what awaits him on the shore is the ultimate irony of life. This director always pushes boundaries and a whole lot of male nudity and explicit sex scenes… and we’re quite happy to report that Voyage is no exception. Stream it now and enjoy!

 

Wasp
Having left England for a romantic escapade in the south of France, Olivier and James (Simon Haycock and Hugo Bolton) invite their friend Caroline (Elly Condron) along at the very last minute. She was just left by her long-time boyfriend and is in need of a change of scenery. The trio arrives in a little provincial village, somewhat cut off from the world. Though everything seems calm between the pool, sunshine and a village visit, Oliver finds himself more and more intrigued by Caroline. A tension of sexual jealousy and possessiveness soon escalates between the three.

 

Wild Awakening
A trashy and delicious, totally erotic forbidden love story, Wild Awakening is equal parts drama and gay soap opera! Siblings Emma and Toni inherit their family’s horse riding school – a place where men are seemingly forever running around shirtless. Though they’re the rightful owners, neither Emma nor Toni seem well equipped to keep the business going. Emma is still young and Toni has an uncontrolled and promiscuous gay sex life – which is the subject of much gossip within their close-knit community. Leadership responsibilities fall to Ramon, the capable foreman. Things get tricky, though, when both Emma and Toni fall in love with his smoking hot, sexually fluid son Aaron. Stacked full of the hottest Latino men you’ve ever laid eyes on, and dripping with sensuality, Wild Awakening is about as much fun as you can have with your clothes on!

 

You & I
Jonas (Eric Klotzsch) invites his best friend, Phillip (George Taylor), to come along with him on a trip through Berlin for the summer. They haven’t seen each other since they spent time together in London. So they pack up their Mercedes camper and take off across uncharted territory, stopping to take photos and enjoy a laid-back road trip. The fact that Phillip is gay has never been an issue for either of them. However, when they pick up a hitchhiker named Boris (Michal Grabowski), who shows Jonas some interesting spots and starts to make moves on Phillip, the friendship between the two besties starts to fray. Maybe three’s a crowd after all? By the end of the summer, things between Jonas and Phillip will never be the same again.

45 Days Away from You is a globe-trotting break-up comedy

As we’re all spending a lot of time indoors, we’re going to take the next few weeks to highlight some of our favorite films available RIGHT NOW, on-demand at TLAgay.com! Stay in, sit back, relax and make it a movie night.

After a recent breakup with “a man who shall not be named,” young bachelor Rafael (Rafeal de Bona) finds his romantic life spinning out of control. With a change of scenery in order, he sets out on journey of self-discovery – an adventure that will take him from Brazil to England, Portugal and Argentina. Along the way, he seeks the counsel of his nearest and dearest friends. There’s Julia (Julia Correa), an amorous single actress trying to land her breakthrough role; Fabio (Fabio Lucindo), Rafael’s straight-boy buddy, who is trying to maintain a long-distance relationship; and Mayara (Mayara Constantino), a dear friend who gave up a promising career in favor of marriage. Over the course of his 45-day trip, Rafael grows closer to the people in his life who really matter and learns that all it takes to mend a broken heart is time… and the support of a few good friends.

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20 Gay Films to Stream This Valentine’s Day!

The Gay Cinema Video On Demand experience at TLAgay.com has your entertainment needs covered! We’re always working to expand selection of new and old gay-themed movies available for your viewing pleasure. With hearts a-flutter this Valentine’s Day, we decided to put together a list of some of our favorite recent gay romances – ALL available to watch INSTANTLY!

About Us
Diego (co-writer/director Thiago Cazado) is leaving his hometown in Brazil to attend a film school in California for four years. He will have to leave behind everything he has ever loved… including Matheus (Rodrigo Bittes), a handsome young man with whom he fell madly in love and shared a brief passionate affair. Ten years later, back in Brazil, Diego decides to write a novel about their relationship using his camera instead of his pen. This heartfelt biopic shows how passion can increase our motivation in life, but also how making tough choices can affect that passion. Romantic and intimate, filmed with a handheld, fly-on-the-wall intimacy, About Us brings us right into the middle of a tricky relationship – portrayed with aplomb by the two lead actors, both relative unknowns with talent to spare.

The Blonde One
In the suburbs of Buenos Aires, Gabriel (Gaston Re) has just moved in with his colleague, Juan (Alfonso Baron). Shy and reserved, Gabriel is reluctant to follow Juan’s wandering hands and meaningful looks. With a revolving door of beauties streaming out of Juan’s bedroom, his machismo seems firmly in place. However, the attraction between the two men is undeniable. What starts out as a sexual relationship based on convenience of location soon develops into the engrossing evolution of a tender and intimate relationship, which is as sweet as it is heartbreaking. But, as reality begins to set in on their homemaking fantasy, something needs to give… or does it? Written and directed by Marco Berger (Plan B, Hawaii, Sexual Tension: Volatile), The Blonde One is one of the year’s hottest gay movies.

Bromance
Welcome back to the fall of 1996. When four friends go on a camping trip in a remote part of Argentina, sexual tensions quickly bubble to the surface. Once in virtual seclusion by the beach, Juli, the only girl of the group, quickly recognizes that the boys seem to have a closer relationship than what she would consider “normal” (it’s only ’96, after all). The line between friendship and love fade further for two of the boys in particular as their desire becomes too much to bear. When what started as a simple getaway quickly becomes tinged with sex, romance and conflict, everyone is forced to confront who they really are for the very first time. Starring Javier De Pietro, the scrumptious star of Absent and Sexual Tension: Volatile, Bromance uses a clever found-footage aesthetic to deliver a thoughtful and supremely sexy meditation on young, burgeoning gay love.

Brotherly Love
Brotherly Love is the movie adaptation of the Lambda Literary Award-nominated novel “Seventy Times Seven” by Salvatore Sapienza. Which “calling” do you answer? The one you feel from God or the one you feel about your true authentic self? That is the exact dilemma that Brother Vito (played by writer/director Anthony J. Caruso) is facing. He’s gay, but devoted to his less-than-accepting religious community. Soon, he must decide between becoming a Brother or declaring his love for Gabe (Derek Babb). Shot entirely in Austin, TX and with a local cast and crew, Brotherly Love is a fresh take on the traditional gay love story. You’ll also be happy to know that “The Golden Girls” plays a surprisingly significant role in this touching new romantic drama.

Center of My World
After a summer away at camp, Phil (“Dark” star Louis Hofmann) returns home to find that his mother and twin sister aren’t speaking to one another. Not willing to confront his family during the last days of the summer holidays, Phil escapes to hang out with his best friend, Kat (Svenja Jung), eating ice cream and playing dress-up. As the school year begins, a new student arrives – the handsome and mysterious Nicholas (Jannik Schumann). Smitten, Phil watches his crush as he runs around the track after school, and is thrilled when Nicholas returns his feelings. However, when first love’s volatility comes to light, Phil realizes he must deal with the problems of his past in order to deal with the issues of his present. A touching must-see, Center of My World was chosen as an Official Selection and won numerous “Best Feature Film” and “Best Director” awards at festivals around the globe.

Crazy All These Years
A poignant yet humorous look at life, death and the damage caused by running away, this new drama focuses on Ben (Christopher Howell), a gay man who returns home to his small Tennessee town to care for his ailing, cantankerous mother (Cinda McCain). As mother and son struggle to find common ground, Ben is forced to examine his previous romantic relationships – and the many broken hearts left in his wake. The most broken of those hearts belongs to Joe (James Fuertes), an ex-lover who is equally troubled and excited to reunite with Ben. Written and directed by Jeff Swafford, the creator behind the gay series Three, Crazy All These Years began life as a stage play, but the emotional impact lends itself well to the cinematic world. Don’t miss this thoughtful family romance-drama.

Do You Take This Man
“Rent” star Anthony Rapp leads an impressive ensemble cast in this touching comedy-drama about a long-term gay couple having last-minute jitters before they get married. On the eve of their wedding, Daniel (Rapp) and Christopher (Jonathan Bennett) are having their closest friends and family over for dinner. But when a long-lost friend of Christopher’s shows up unexpectedly, and their already stressful day spirals out of control, the couple realizes they must rely on the kindness of their pals and relatives to get through the event in one piece. Co-starring familiar faces like Thomas Dekker, Mackenzie Astin, Marla Sokoloff and “How I Met Your Mother” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star Alyson Hannigan, Do You Take This Man is a realistic and absorbing look into what it takes to make a relationship work in this day and age.

Fair Haven
After a long stay in ex-gay conversion therapy, James (Michael Grant), a young piano prodigy, returns home to his family farm and his emotionally distant father, Richard (Tom Wopat). After Richard pressures James to give up his music career and take over the farm, James agrees as a way to make up for his past. Soon, however, James finds himself face-to-face with his former lover, Charlie (Josh Green), who wants to help him turn away from his new beliefs and family expectations, and follow his dreams of studying music. A touching and deeply romantic drama, Fair Haven is often heartbreaking, but ultimately life-affirming. The performances, across the board, are terrific. Veteran character actor Tom Wopat is excellent as the reserved, conflicted father and young up-and-comers Josh Green and Michael Grant make their forbidden romance palpable (and very sweet).

The Falls
In this must-see romantic drama, which earned two sequels (both of which, The Falls: Testament of Love and The Falls: Covenant of Grace, are also available on-demand), two Mormon missionaries fall unexpectedly in love and risk their future in the Church to be together. RJ and Chris (Nick Ferrucci and Benjamin Farmer) are poster boys for the Mormon Church: both have pretty girlfriends, were Eagle Scouts at a young age and have perfect academic records. Now, it’s their turn to serve a mission and experience the Mormon rite of passage. Unknown to them, serving a mission will not only open the doors to strangers’ households – where they preach the Gospel – but it will open up secrets in their own lives – and feelings that they’ve long kept buried. The Falls captures the lives of two American teens struggling to make sense of the conflict between their worlds, their desires, and each other.

45 Days Away from You
This one is more of a break-up movie, but sometimes that’s just what you want on Valentine’s Day. After a recent break-up with “a man who shall not be named,” young bachelor Rafael finds his romantic life spinning out of control. With a change of scenery in order, he sets out on journey of self-discovery – an adventure that will take him from Brazil to England, Portugal and Argentina. Along the way, he seeks the counsel of his nearest and dearest friends. There’s Julia, an amorous single actress trying to land her breakthrough role; Fabio, Rafael’s straight-boy buddy, who is trying to maintain a long-distance relationship; and Mayara, a dear friend who gave up a promising career in favor of marriage. Over the course of his 45-day trip, Rafael grows closer to the people in his life who really matter and learns that all it takes to mend a broken heart is time… and the support of a few good friends.

Hawaii
The sexual tension practically spills off the screen in this sweaty, titillating romance from award-winning director Marco Berger (the same guy behind Absent, Plan B, Sexual Tension: Volatile and Testosterone and The Blonde One – listed above). Hawaii follows Martin and Eugenio (Manuel Vignau and Mateo Chiarino), two former childhood friends who reunite during a hot summer in the Argentinean countryside. As they work together to restore Eugenio’s summer home, a game of power and desire ensues the two buddies to grapple with their sexual attraction and reconsider their relationship. With gorgeous cinematography, a lush setting and compelling lead performances, Hawaii is an intimate character study that percolates with lustful longing. Have a towel ready before you watch it. You are bound to break a sweat!

In Bloom
Two young men find their seemingly solid relationship threatened when temptations and unease begin to pull them apart. During one hot summer, blond, pot-smoking and dealing Kurt (Kyle Wigent) and cute, but moody grocery store clerk Paul (Tanner Rittenhouse) begin a committed relationship. Best pals, roommates and lovers, they have an amazing rapport. But when rich-kid Kevin (Adam Fane) enters the picture with romantic designs on Kurt, an unsatisfied longing is exposed – threatening their love in the process. A richly textured examination of gay male relationships, In Bloom is a warm, funny, intelligent, sharply-written, painfully honest, well-acted drama.

Last Summer
Writer/director Mark Thiedeman‘s Last Summer tells the story of two high school sweethearts, Luke and Jonah (Samuel Pettit and Sean Rose), who spend their final months together over the course of a long, quiet summer in the rural South, contemplating their uncertain future. Jonah, sensitive, quiet and artistic, prepares to leave his small town for college, leaving Luke behind, but all he wants is for Luke to ask him to stay. But Luke, an athlete struggling through summer school, knows that his boyfriend needs to experience the world beyond their home. A beautiful melancholy romance, Last Summer takes on an almost other-wordly vibe. It’s set in an idealistic American South where Luke and Jonah’s relationship is never questioned or taken as anything other than a normal high school romance. Their struggle isn’t with the outside world, but with the passage of time.

Lazy Eye
Dean (Lucas Near-Verbrugghe), a graphic designer living in Los Angeles, notices a sudden change in his vision. Around the same time, Alex (Aaron Costa Ganis), an ex-lover from 15 years prior, contacts him unexpectedly in hopes of rekindling their relationship. When the two meet at a vacation house in the desert near Joshua Tree, secrets are revealed and passions are rekindled that threaten to upend both of their lives. Forty-eight hours later, neither will ever be the same. Written and directed by Tim Kirkman, the Emmy, Gotham, GLAAD and Independent Spirit Award-nominee behind Dear Jesse, Loggerheads and The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me, Lazy Eye is a thoughtful and thoroughly sexy romance about roads not taken, unfinished business and the struggle of adjust to progressive lenses.

Love or Whatever
Things are going well for Corey (Tyler Poelle). He’s a successful young therapist who recently purchased a gorgeous pair of engagement rings. Corey plans to propose to his long-term boyfriend Jon (David Wilson Page). Jon, however, might not be ready for such an important life-long commitment. In an effort to sew his wild oats, Jon begins having an affair with a woman (Jenica Bergere). Worse yet, it turns out that she’s one of Corey’s patients! The formerly happy couple is soon broken apart and Corey is devastated—that is, until his brassy, lesbian sister Kelsey (Jennifer Elise Cox) introduces him to the wonders of social media and how easy it is for gay men to get laid these days. Faster than you can log into Grindr, Corey begins seeing a hunky guy named Pete (Joel Rush). Pete seems to have everything a young, successful gay guy could ask for, but when Jon comes crawling back for forgiveness, Corey finds himself with a very difficult decision to make.

Mixed Kebab
Happily filled with contradictions, tall, dark and handsome Bram (Cem Akkanat) lives a mysterious life in Antwerp that is very different from his conservative, religious upbringing. By day he is the dutiful son and brother, but by night he is a casual drug dealer partying around town and hanging out with the very cute Kevin (Simon Van Buyten). Rumors fly around the neighborhood about Bram’s “inclinations,” so his father lays down the law that his eldest son needs to be a role model for his younger brother Furkant (Lukas De Wolf) who’s a hoodlum turned Islamic fundamentalist. Subsequently Bram flies off to Turkey to meet his future wife (who happens to be his cousin), but not without bringing his newfound friend with him. The platonic friendship with Kevin rapidly turns to a seductive love affair that will shake up everyone’s old-fashioned values.

My Big Gay Italian Wedding
Antonio and Paolo (Cristiano Caccamo and Salvatore Esposito) are a perfectly happy young couple, living together in Berlin and finally making plans to get married. They decide to celebrate their nuptuals in the small Italian village where Antonio grew up. While his mother immediately supports his intentions, her husband, Roberto, the conservative town mayor, is much more reluctant. Paolo, who has not spoken to his similarly conservative mother in a long time, is also tasked with getting her to the wedding as a condition of their marriage. Throw in a couple of wacky roommates and the aisle to the altar is soon paved with hilarity, hijinks and lots of love. A merry movie of matrimony, My Big Gay Italian Wedding is filled with slapstick and romance.

Screwed
A gorgeous feature-length debut from talented writer-director Nils-Erik Ekblom, Screwed takes us to the Finnish countryside for an unforgettably romantic summer. Seventeen-year-old Miku (Mikko Kauppila) is trying to come to terms with his sexuality and find his place in the world. After his parents find out that he threw a wild party while they were away, he is ordered to spend the summer with them at their cottage. A flirtation soon develops between he and Elias (Valtteri Lehtinen), the irresistible boy next door. As they spend the summer together, escaping the turmoil offered up by their uniquely dysfunctional families, a passionate relationship quickly blossoms. But the boys soon realize that love is not as easy as it seems… especially when it comes to first love.

Sodom
It’s the beginning of a beautiful friendship when former pianist Michael (Pip Brignall) happens upon 20-year-old soccer player Will (Jo Weil). It’s Will’s bachelor party – and his friends have left him naked and handcuffed to a lamppost! After rescuing him from this compromising situation, Michael takes Will home and an immediate attraction blossoms. But does Will, about to be married, have the courage to pursue his obvious interest in this elegant, attractive older man? Or will these guys merely pass in the night? Sexy and intimate, this new British import features a pair of powerhouse performances from Jo Weil and newcomer Pip Brignall. Their connection is palpable from the second they share the screen together in this intimate and quietly emotional new must-see romance.

Soundless Wind Chime
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.

Our Top 10 Gay Movies of 2019

Happy New Year, Fellas! 2019 was another incredible year for movies… and movies centered around gay men in particular. Not only was there a wealth of titles to choose from, but many of them rose above the gay movie niche and made a huge splash on the international film fest circuit. Some even broke through into the mainstream (looking at you, Rocketman, burning out your fuse up there alone). Check out our Top 10 Gay Movies of 2019 below and make sure to pick up your copies on DVD and Blu-ray at TLAgay.com!

Editor’s Note: We limited our considerations to titles that we have available currently on our site (including pre-orders). So, while films like Portrait of a Lady on Fire and This is Not Berlin may be phenomenal, they don’t qualify for this particular list as they haven’t been announced yet for DVD, Blu-ray or VOD.

45 Days Away from You
After a recent breakup with “a man who shall not be named,” young bachelor Rafael finds his romantic life spinning out of control. With a change of scenery in order, he sets out on journey of self-discovery – an adventure that will take him from Brazil to England, Portugal and Argentina. Along the way, he seeks the counsel of his nearest and dearest friends. There’s Julia, an amorous single actress trying to land her breakthrough role; Fabio, Rafael’s straight-boy buddy, who is trying to maintain a long-distance relationship; and Mayara, a dear friend who gave up a promising career in favor of marriage. Over the course of his 45-day trip, Rafael grows closer to the people in his life who really matter and learns that all it takes to mend a broken heart is time… and the support of a few good friends.

Rocketman
As flashy and colorful as it’s subject, this rollicking musical biopic chronicles the early life and career of Reginald Dwight, better known to the world as Elton John (played by total cutie-pie Taron Egerton in a performance which, if we’re being honest, blows Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury out of the water). Visually stunning performances of some of Elton’s best-loved songs are used to tell the story of a rise to rock and roll greatness that includes addiction, depression and complex personal and professional relationships. And unlike some recent musician biopics, Rocketman doesn’t try to downplay Elton John’s sexuality. Big portions of the film focus on his tumultuous affair with talent manager John Reid (played by “Game of Thrones” star Richard Madden) and his deep, abiding affection for lyricist, partner and best friend Bernie Taupin (played by Jamie Bell).

Sauvage/Wild
Sauvage/Wild, filmmaker Camille Vidal-Naquet‘s riveting and vibrant erotic journey of a 22-year-old male prostitute named Leo, features a stunning performance from Felix Maritaud (BPM, Boys, Knife+Heart). Leo trades in love as much as lust and wanders through his life without rules or restrictions. Through a series of encounters that offer a glimpse into the complicated and visceral world of male sex work, Leo finds himself searching for affection anywhere he can get it – whether it’s the unrequited love for his hustler friend Ahd (Eric Bernard) or in the arms of an older, vulnerable client. Will Leo choose his freedom and the dangers that come with it, or the comforts of a stable relationship? After all, in this unpredictable world, who knows where he’ll end up?

Climax
From notoriously upsetting director Gaspar Noe (Irreversible, Enter the Void, Love) comes a hypnotic, hallucinatory, and ultimately hair-raising depiction of a party that descends into delirium over the course of one wintry night. In Climax, a troupe of young dancers gathers in a remote and empty school building to rehearse. Following an unforgettable opening performance lit by virtuoso cinematographer Benoît Debie and shot by Noé himself, the troupe begins an all-night celebration that turns nightmarish as the dancers discover they’ve been pounding cups of sangria laced with potent LSD. Tracking their journey from jubilation to chaos and full-fledged anarchy, Noé observes crushes, rivalries, and violence amid a collective psychedelic meltdown. Starring Sofia Boutella and a cast of professional dancers, Climax is Noé’s most brazen, unforgettable and visionary statement yet.

Kanarie
Drafted during Apartheid by the South African Army, Johan Niemand’s love for Boy George and Depeche Mode lands him a spot in the SADF Choir called the ‘Canaries.’ Against a landscape where law and religion oppress individuality, Johan and the Canaries have to survive military training and go on a nationwide tour, entertaining people whilst fortifying belief in the military effort and promoting the cause of both Church and State. Then an unexpected romance on the battlefield forces Johan to reckon with his long-repressed sexual identity. Examining the effects of nationalism on the soul, while also exploring the tender brotherhood among misfits, this musical comedy revels in the discovery of finding your voice and learning to fly.

Sorry Angel
Paris, 1993. Jacques (Stranger by the Lake star Pierre Deladonchamps) is a semi-renowned writer and single father in his thirties. While on a work trip to Brittany, he meets Arthur (Vincent Lacoste), an aspiring filmmaker in his early twenties, who is experiencing a sexual awakening and eager to get out of his parochial life. Arthur becomes instantly smitten with the older man. From writer-director Christophe Honore comes a mature and deeply emotional reflection on love, loss, youth and aging. In its inter-generational snapshot of cruising, courtship and casual sex, Sorry Angel balances hope for the future with agony over the past in an unforgettable drama about finding the courage to love in the moment, no matter how turbulent.

The Blonde One
In the suburbs of Buenos Aires, Gabriel has just moved in with his colleague, Juan. Shy and reserved, Gabriel is reluctant to follow Juan’s wandering hands and meaningful looks. With a revolving door of beauties streaming out of Juan’s bedroom, his machismo seems firmly in place. However, the attraction between the two men is undeniable. What starts out as a sexual relationship based on convenience of location soon develops into the engrossing evolution of a tender and intimate relationship, which is as sweet as it is heartbreaking. But, as reality begins to set in on their homemaking fantasy, something needs to give… or does it? Written and directed by Marco Berger (Plan B, Absent, Taekwondo, Hawaii, Sexual Tension: Volatile), The Blonde One is one of the year’s sexiest and most romantic gay movies.

Knife+Heart
Easily one of the year’s most acclaimed gay films, this sexually explicit throwback thriller from visionary writer-director Yann Gonzalez is an absolute must-see! Vanessa Paradis is incredible as Anne, a savvy French woman who produces third-rate gay porn. After her editor and lover Lois (Kate Moran) leaves her, she tries to win her back by shooting her most ambitious film yet – with the help of her trusted, flaming sidekick Archibald (Nicolas Maury). But when one of her actors is brutally murdered, Anne gets caught up in a strange investigation that turns her life upside-down. Shot on 35mm and featuring a killer retro score from the band M83, Knife+Heart is an ultra-stylish and blood-soaked ode to 1970s-era Brian De Palma, Dario Argento and William Friedkin.

End of the Century
In his excellent debut feature, writer-director Lucio Castro offers both a sun-soaked European travelogue and an epic, decades-spanning romance. When Ocho (Juan Barberini), a 30-something Argentine poet on vacation in Barcelona, spots Javi (Ramón Pujol), a Spaniard from Berlin, from the balcony of his Airbnb, the attraction is subtle but persistent. After a missed connection on the beach, a third chance encounter escalates to a seemingly random hookup. But are these two merely beautiful strangers in a foreign city or are they part of each other’s histories—and maybe even their destinies? Castro deliberately unfolds mystery after mystery, leading the audience on a journey of discovery as the two leading men discover themselves and each other. With sumptuous cinematography and tangible chemistry between the actors, End of the Century is a love story that echoes across time.  Winner of Best Film at the Buenos Aires Film Festival and Best First Film at the Frameline: San Francisco LGBTQ Film Festival.

Pain and Glory
In maverick filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar’s Pain and Glory, Antonio Banderas plays Salvador Mallo, a film director in physical decline who reflects on his past as his present comes crashing down around him. Some of these reflections are in the flesh, others remembered: his childhood in the ‘60s, when he emigrated with his parents to a village in Valencia in search of prosperity; his first adult love in the Madrid of the ‘80s; the pain of the breakup of that love while it was still alive and intense; writing as the only therapy to forget the unforgettable; the early discovery of cinema; and the void, the infinite void created by the incapacity to keep on making films. Pain and Glory talks about creation, about the difficulty of separating it from one’s own life and about the passions that give it meaning and hope. In recovering his past, Salvador finds the urgent need to recount it, and in that need he also finds his salvation.

25 Gay Movies to Stream Over the Holidays!

There’s nothing wrong with taking some much-needed time during your long holiday vacation to relax on the couch. If you’re looking for some light (or heavy) gay-themed entertainment, TLAgay has you covered. Here are twenty gay movies to stream over the Holidays!

Bathroom Stalls & Parking Lots
Brazilian transplant Leo (writer-director Thales Corrêa) embarks on a trip to San Fransisco when he finds out his regular American fling Totah is also visiting the city. Upon arrival Leo joins his friend Donnie (Izzy Palazzini) on a quest through the clubs of the Castro district, hoping to a casual encounter to show Totah they could be compatible beyond the bedroom. Meanwhile Donnie’s straight friend Hunter (Oscar Mansky), a hopeless romantic, tags along in an attempt to teach Leo how to turn a casual sex relationship into a more meaningful one. While bar hopping, following clues, and adventures into seedier venues, they face unforeseen obstacles that challenge the way they approach relationships in the modern day, and may even end up putting their own friendship at risk.

Beautiful Something
Edgy, absorbing and raw, Beautiful Something follows four diverse men as they navigate life during one sublime night. This narrative takes a fresh and unsentimental look at the links between young and old, black and white, sex and love, desire and art. As all four comb the Philadelphia streets looking for connection, they often settle for something quick and dirty. However, tonight is much different. Inspired by real-life experiences, Beautiful Something explores the deeper meaning of how giving one’s self to love, and its necessary vulnerabilities, helps us turn the corner from seeing the world as a child to seeing the world as an adult.

The Blonde One
In the suburbs of Buenos Aires, Gabriel (Gaston Re) has just moved in with his colleague, Juan (Alfonso Baron). Shy and reserved, Gabriel is reluctant to follow Juan’s wandering hands and meaningful looks. With a revolving door of beauties streaming out of Juan’s bedroom, his machismo seems firmly in place. However, the attraction between the two men is undeniable. What starts out as a sexual relationship based on convenience of location soon develops into the engrossing evolution of a tender and intimate relationship, which is as sweet as it is heartbreaking. But, as reality begins to set in on their homemaking fantasy, something needs to give… or does it? Written and directed by Marco Berger (the same filmmaker behind Plan B, Hawaii, Sexual Tension: Volatile, Absent, Taekwondo and more), The Blonde One is one of the year’s hottest gay movies.

Boys
Following one man through two timelines, Boys, the newest feature from director Christophe Charrier, is a gripping and compassionate study of first love and the lingering sting of loss. We first meet Jonas (BPM: Beats Per Minute star Felix Maritaud) in the present, where he’s having a rough go of it. He’s prone to starting fights at the local gay bar, and his boyfriend has had enough of his infidelity and alcohol-soaked antics. His volatile behavior may stem from a traumatic incident in his past. The film flashes back to 1997, where Jonas (played as a high school kid by Nicolas Bauwens) meets Nathan (Tommy Lee Baik), the rebellious new student who will become his crush. The boys venture into the night on their first date unaware that it’s about to change their lives forever. Don’t miss this searing mystery.

Cas
From filmmakers Joris van den Berg, Matt Guerin and Reid Waterer comes a sexy and thoroughly entertaining collection of three short films that examine the different effects the addition of a third party has on a modern gay relationship. In Cas, Pepijn and George’s steady, seven-year relationship is shaken after they allow a hot young student named Cas to sleep on their couch while he finds a place of his own. Gradually, both men fall head over heels for the attractive younger man’s laconic charm, forcing them to reconsider their many long-term plans. Is Cas’s presence endangering their relationship or is he a blessing in disguise? In Tri-Curious, last minute anxiety threatens to ruin a young gay couple’s first threesome together. The final short in the collection, Bed Buddies, is a comedy about three gay friends who wake up after sleeping together and try to make sense of the unclear line between friendship and love.

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This Weekend’s VOD Favorites

The Gay Cinema Video On Demand experience at TLAgay.com has your entertainment needs covered! We’re always working to expand 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.

Tumbledown
Inspired by true events, writer-director Todd Verow‘s Tumbledown is an explosive cocktail – an emotional rollercoaster ride through the dark sides of sexuality. A complicated love triangle develops after hunky Jay (Verow himself) meets bartender Nick and invites him to spend the weekend with him and his partner in their country cabin. Soon, copious amounts of sex, drugs and alcohol lead to a dark obsession and even darker complications. Always bold and never less than riveting, Tumbledown is sure to leave you breathless.

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Photo Gallery: 45 Days Away from You

After a recent breakup with “a man who shall not be named,” young bachelor Rafael (Rafeal de Bona) finds his romantic life spinning out of control.

With a change of scenery in order, he sets out on journey of self-discovery – an adventure that will take him from Brazil to England, Portugal and Argentina. Along the way, he seeks the counsel of his nearest and dearest friends. There’s Julia (Julia Correa), an amorous single actress trying to land her breakthrough role; Fabio (Fabio Lucindo), Rafael’s straight-boy buddy, who is trying to maintain a long-distance relationship; and Mayara (Mayara Constantino), a dear friend who gave up a promising career in favor of marriage. Over the course of his 45-day trip, Rafael grows closer to the people in his life who really matter and learns that all it takes to mend a broken heart is time… and the support of a few good friends.

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