Tag Desire Will Set You Free

July 16, 2021July 15, 2021 by tlagay

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!

A Stormy Night
Marcos (David Moragas) arrives in New York from Barcelona only to find out his layover flight to San Francisco has been cancelled due to a storm. This leaves him without a place to stay for the night. That’s how he meets Alan (Jacob Perkins), his old college friend’s roommate, who is happy to host him for the night. The two boys have nothing in common, but they will have to spend twelve hours and a New York storm together. Throughout the night, a series of misunderstandings lead the boys to challenge each other’s approach to love, relationships and happiness. They both have secrets to hide that are difficult to hold. And yet, the biggest challenge might be having to say goodbye to each other the morning after.

15 Years
Yoav (Oded Leopold), a successful architect, has everything he’s ever wanted: Dan (Udi Persi), his lover of fifteen years – a younger lawyer who adores him; and his best friend, Alma (Ruti Asarsai) – a successful artist, who is like a mother and a sister to him. However, when Alma announces she is pregnant, it ignites Dan’s desire to become a father himself. But Dan’s parental urges have the opposite effect on Yoav, who is haunted by long buried demons. Yoav’s tight grasp on his life begins to come apart, leading to self-destructive behavior that threatens to destroy his life with Dan, unravel his friendship with Alma, and cost him everything. Sexy and thoughtful with great acting, 15 Years is a must-see.

Desire Will Set You Free
A gay romance with a punk/hardcore aesthetic. Ezra (Yony Leyser), a struggling American writer, meets Sasha (Tim-Fabian Hoffmann), a Russian escort, and he introduces him to his world of clubs and parties – a dizzying and vibrant hedonistic underground. As they journey together through Berlin’s layered history and unique subcultural landscapes, inner desires threaten to disrupt everything. Fast-paced and sexy with eye-popping cinematography and production design, Desire Will Set You Free features an über-large cast of notable figures, including Amber Benson, “Godmother of Punk” Nina Hagen, infamous musician/performance artist Peaches and legendary gay artist/filmmaker Rosa Von Praunheim.

The Revival
A secret relationship between a preacher and a young drifter challenges the equilibrium of a church. When Eli (David Rysdahl) begins preaching at his father’s old church, he is desperate to open the minds of the Old Testament-obsessed, fire-and-brimstone congregation. His plans are quickly derailed when he strikes up a relationship with a fascinating drifter (Zachary Booth). Tensions soon come to a head, with simmering resentments and repressed emotions all leading to a revival that will shake this sleepy Arkansas town to its core. The Revival originated on the stage as a very successful off-Broadway play. Director Jennifer Gerber adapts the story into a film that is edgy, thought-provoking and essential.

Soundless Wind Chime
Elegant and moving, the love story of two young men from different backgrounds is beautifully woven into this gorgeous tapestry of a film. Pascal (Bernhard Bulling) has been in a destructive, violent relationship. Picking pockets for a living, he spends an inordinate amount of time on the streets, scared even in his own home. When he meets the gentle and shy Ricky (Yulai Lü) at a street cafe, he finds a new purpose: to break through Ricky’s reticence to open his heart for love. Their turbulent, passionate relationship is the core of this emotionally rich gem. Shot with an intimacy and intelligence seldom seen in such low-budget indie films, Soundless Wind Chime is a superb feature from Hong Kong-based director Kit Hung.

in Gay Cinema / Image Galleries

March 5, 2021March 3, 2021 by tlagay

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!

Sacrifice
Created and written by lead actor Leigh Smith, the new 18-minute short film Sacrifice follows two protagonists as they enter a new phase in their relationship. James (Smith), a humanitarian rights lawyer, and Blake (Jesse Everett), a military officer, are continually torn apart by their overwhelming sense of duty – and their struggle to lead a “normal and quiet life.” They love each other unconditionally, but their sense of duty is equally as important to both them, especially due to Blake’s military background. Sacrifice aims to show that love is the greatest sacrifice of all, regardless of race, gender and everything in between. The film also pays tribute to those in the military history of Australia who were unrecognized in their service due to their sexuality prior to the fundamental mind-shift in regulations.

Crazy All These Years
A poignant yet humorous look at life, death and the damage caused by running away, the romantic drama Crazy All These Years follows Ben (Christopher Howell). Worn out from his life in New York, Ben returns home to take care of his dying mother (Cinda McCain), only to rediscover the reasons he left. Picking up their contentious relationship, Ben tries to muddle through his mother’s every day demands as well as the unresolved feelings he left behind. His only solace comes from the rekindled relationships with his neighbor Lori (Caitlin Nicol-Thomas) and her hunky brother Joe (James Fuertes), who has since turned “straight” after Ben broke his heart. Can Ben mend these wounds and return to his old life? Or will he leave again… this time for good? Crazy All These Years began life as a stage play, but the emotional impact lends itself well to the cinematic world.

Desire Will Set You Free
A gay romance with a punk/hardcore aesthetic, Desire Will Set You Free takes you deep into the free-spirited, drug-fueled queer-paradise of contemporary Berlin. Ezra (Yony Leyser), a struggling American writer, meets Sasha (Tim-Fabian Hoffmann), a Russian immigrant escort, and introduces him to his world of clubs and parties – a dizzying and vibrant hedonistic underground. As they journey together through Berlin’s layered history and unique subcultural landscapes, their relationship begins to take a new form and inner desires threaten to disrupt everything. Fast-paced and sexy with eye-popping cinematography and production design, Desire Will Set You Free features an über-large cast of notable figures, including Amber Benson (Tara on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), “Godmother of Punk” Nina Hagen, infamous musician/performance artist Peaches and legendary gay artist/filmmaker Rosa Von Praunheim.

Rag Tag
Two friends are reunited and discover their feelings for one another in this drama from British-Nigerian writer-director Adaora Nwandu. Raymond (Danny Parsons), known to his friends as ‘Rag’, was born in London to parents from Jamaica. As a child, his best mate was Tagbo (Damola Adelaja), or ‘Tag’ for short, whose folks were émigrés from Nigeria. As adults, the pair have lost touch. Rag, now a hustler, leaves behind an ex-girlfriend and child in Birmingham to move back to London and reconnect with his best friend, while Tag has graduated with honors from law school and is looking for work while dating Olivia (Tasmin Clarke). Rag finds Tag and they soon become fast friends again – seeming to understand one another and connect on a level others do not. While Rag realizes their true feelings and attraction, Tag is still reluctant to actually go through the “last” step. However, they will do all they can to take care and watch each other’s backs.

Velociraptor
On the eve of an imminent apocalypse, two buddies – one gay, one… lets say “undecided” – wander the streets. Deep in conversation, Alex and Diego (Pablo Mezz and Carlos Hendrick Huber) find themselves forming a deep bond while sharing their fears and desires about sex and intimacy. Once they make their way to Alex’s bedroom, the true nature of their relationship is made clear. The strength of their unbreakable friendship helps them test the limits of trust and loyalty while pushing one another into exciting new realms of sexual exploration. A smart, heartfelt mix of drama, science fiction and romance, Velociraptor is a terrific evocation of what it means to be young man, exploring male friendship and desire in an entirely fresh way. Make sure to check out director Chucho E. Quintero‘s similarly-themed follow-up These Peculiar Days (also starring Huber).

in Gay Cinema / Image Galleries

May 15, 2020 by tlagay

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!

Role of a Lifetime
Amber (Elysse Winn) and her lover Liz (Rain Dove Dubilewski) are moving slow after a romantic evening celebrating their anniversary – along with Amber’s recent Oscar Nomination. Liz wakes up to receive a package from a strange and invasive postal worker, Jade (Larena Danielle), who secretly enters the apartment. Desperate to save their brunch plans, Liz leaves for groceries and Amber is relieved to see the unopened package with an engagement ring. Unnoticed, Jade makes herself at home and soon confronts Amber, trapping her in a series of lethal accusations and riddles before being interrupted by Amber’s persistent manager, Richard (Steve Wolf). Eventually, Amber realizes that while she may not be able to save herself, she may be able to do something to keep Liz alive. Role of a Lifetime is a stylish twelve-minute thriller from writer Kelly Feustel, director Ashlei Hardenburg and the gang at Mattioli Productions.

Kill the Monsters
When young, pretty, and charmingly aloof Frankie (Jack Ball) falls mysteriously ill, his older and wiser partners – overthinking, practical Patrick (Ryan Lonergan), and impulsive, fiery Sutton (Garrett McKechnie) – agree that it’s time to head West, begin new adventures, and seek holistic treatment. From here, the highs and lows of the trio’s journey mirror key points in United States history – from hot sex in their luxurious New York City apartment through a road trip that results in a civil war and possible breakup to an all-out poker war involving scheming, sophisticated, and calculating German and Russian lesbians. Kill the Monsters is a sexy, funny, touching and expertly-crafted black and white indie gem you won’t want to miss.

Hara Kiri
An unconventional, sometimes troubling love story, Hara Kiri follows young gay punk skateboarders August and Beto (Jesse Pimentel and Mojean Aria) during what is, for all intents and purposes, their last day on Earth. These two rebellious soul mates have made a suicide pact. They just want one more day to create chaos, say goodbye to people from their past and gorge themselves on food from every conceivable fast food chain. Attempting to break common trends in gay cinema, writer-director Henry Alberto embraces “the ugly, aggressive and raw side of queer love.” Filmed on the fly in only three days, with dialog completely improvised by the performers, Hara Kiri is a wholly unique and commendably unsettling romance which shines a spotlight on a younger subset of the gay community not often seen.

Desire Will Set You Free
A gay romance with a punk/hardcore aesthetic, Desire Will Set You Free takes you deep into the free-spirited, drug-fueled queer-paradise of contemporary Berlin. Ezra (Yony Leyser), a struggling American writer, meets Sasha (Tim-Fabian Hoffmann), a Russian escort, and he introduces him to his world of clubs and parties – a dizzying and vibrant hedonistic underground. As they journey together through Berlin’s layered history and unique subcultural landscapes, their relationship begins to take a new form and inner desires threaten to disrupt everything. Fast-paced and sexy with eye-popping cinematography and production design, Desire Will Set You Free features an über-large cast of notable figures, including Amber Benson (Tara on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), “Godmother of Punk” Nina Hagen, infamous musician/performance artist Peaches and legendary gay artist/filmmaker Rosa Von Praunheim.

You Can’t Escape Lithuania
After his star actress, Indre (Irina Lavrinovic), murders her mother, rich-kid filmmaker Romas (Denisas Kolomyckis) plans her escape from Lithuania. His ridiculously hunky Mexican boyfriend Carlos (Adrian Escobar) helps them reluctantly. On the road, Romas begins shooting an improvised experimental film of their harrowing trip with his smartphone. As events take an unexpected turn, their secrets, memories and emotions make this journey wilder than any film Romas could have imagined. Stylish and supremely sexy, this gripping gay road movie comes from acclaimed gay filmmaker Romas Zabarauskas, who based it loosely on his own experiences. He funded the movie though Kickstarter… and went naked for donors to raise money (something, you’ll be happy to know, his cinematic counterpart also does in the film).

in Gay Cinema / Image Galleries

January 31, 2020January 24, 2020 by tlagay

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.

Desire Will Set You Free
A gay romance with a punk/hardcore aesthetic, Desire Will Set You Free takes you deep into the free-spirited, drug-fueled queer-paradise of contemporary Berlin. Ezra, a struggling American writer, meets Sasha, a Russian immigrant escort, and he introduces him to his world of clubs and parties – a dizzying and vibrant hedonistic underground. As they journey together through Berlin’s layered history and unique subcultural landscapes, their relationship begins to take a new form and inner desires threaten to disrupt everything. Fast-paced and sexy with eye-popping cinematography and production design, Desire Will Set You Free features an über-large cast of notable figures, including Amber Benson (Tara on Buffy the Vampire Slayer), “Godmother of Punk” Nina Hagen, infamous performance artist Peaches and legendary gay artist/filmmaker Rosa Von Praunheim.

Red Without Blue
Red Without Blue is the groundbreaking documentary about the indestructible ties of family. This visually arresting film chronicles the close, yet sometimes strained relationship between identical twins Mark and Alex as Alex undergoes a transformation into a woman named Clair. Captured over a period of three years, Red Without Blue documents the twins and their parents, examining the Farley’s struggle to redefine their family. Through its portrayal of these articulate and independent twins, each haunted by the painful experiences of their adolescence, the film questions normative standards of gender and identity – as Mark and Clair reassert their indescribable bond as identical twins.

Coming Soon: Brothers of the Night

With four gay-themed movies released or coming soon so far – the kaleidoscopic mind-fuck Baby Bump; the gorgeous black-and-white tour of Helsinki’s underbelly Concrete Night; the punk rock-infused tribute to Berlin Desire Will Set You Free; and the edge-of-your-seat exorcism thriller A Closer Walk with Thee – the relatively new distribution label Altered Innocence is proving to be a powerhouse source for fans of edgy queer cinema. They now have exceptional new doc Brothers of the Night lined up for release in November.

Image Gallery: Baby Bump

Coming to DVD and Blu-ray this September from Altered Innocence, the same label that brought films like Concrete Night and Desire Will Set You Free to the US, Baby Bump is an incredibly strange and sometimes deliberately off-putting modern fairy tale from Polish director Kuba Czekaj. It’s also quite a feast for the eyes, as you’ll see from the image gallery above.

Czekaj has a unique visual style and a bright color pallet that keep you captivated even while the story goes to some extremely bizarre places. One critic remarked that the film is “like something David Lynch would have made if he were an angry Polish kid.”