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!

 

Gypsy 83
Two goth misfits living in Sandusky, Ohio – musician Gypsy Vale (Sara Rue) and her younger queer protégé Clive Webb (Kett Turton) – decide to run away together to New York City so Gypsy can participate in an epic Stevie Nicks-cosplay event called “Night of 1,000 Stevies.” Along the way, they encounter other misfits that pave the way to their salvation, including washed-up singer Bambi LeBleau (played by the late, great Karen Black) and a confused Amish runaway (Anson Scoville). An indie hit when it was first released in 2001, Gypsy 83 is a touching queer coming-of-age flick from writer-director Todd Stephens (the filmmaker behind Another Gay Movie, Edge of Seventeen and the upcoming Swan Song). The film was recently remastered by the cult film label Altered Innocence.

 

No Hard Feelings
Parvis (Benjamin Radjaipour), the son of exiled Iranians, copes with life in his small hometown by indulging himself with pop culture, Grindr dates and raves. After being caught shoplifting, he is sentenced to community service at a refugee shelter where he meets siblings Banafshe and Amon (Banafshe Hourmazdi and Eidin Jalali), who have recently fled Iran. As a romantic attraction between Parvis and Amon grows, the fragile relationship between the three is put to the test. They find and lose each other throughout a summer of fleeting youth, an intense first love, an attempt at a joint future and the stark realization that, in Germany, they are not entirely equal. A critically-acclaimed new romantic drama, No Hard Feelings won the coveted Teddy Award for Best Queer Feature Film.

 

Cousins
Lucas (Paulo Sousa) lives with his religious Aunt Lourdes (Juliana Zancanaro) in a quiet, remote country town in Brazil. With nothing much else going on, the youngster spends his days gardening, playing keyboard and trying to avoid his aunt’s meddling attempts to set him up with the local girls. His life, however, is about to change drastically. He finds himself unexpectedly sharing a roof with Mario (played by screenwriter and co-director Thiago Cazado), a trouble-making distant cousin who has recently been released from prison. When pious Aunt Lourdes leaves for a religious retreat, Lucas and Mario become friends… and much, much more. Cousins is writer-director team Mauro Carvalho and Thiago Cazado’s second feature film following their debut romance About Us.

 

Socrates
When his mother dies, fifteen-year-old Socrates (Christian Malheiros) quickly finds his already tenuous life in the favelas of São Paulo pushed to the brink. Guided by an often-explosive temper, the volatile youth is desperate to find a job in order to keep the rent paid and to stay off the streets. When he crosses paths with the mysterious Maicon (Tales Ordakji), whose sketchy offer of quick cash takes Socrates to a wholly unexpected place, the young orphan must decide where his life is headed, what kind of person he is and who he will become. All the while, he’s desperately searching for his mother’s remains in order to say goodbye one last time. An astonishing film from writer-director Alexandre Moratto, Socrates won the coveted Someone to Watch Award at the 2019 Film Independent Spirit Awards.

 

Heartstone
In a remote fishing village in Iceland, teens Thor and Christian (Baldur Einarsson and Blaer Hinriksson) experience a turbulent summer. As one of them tries to win the heart of a girl, the other discovers that he is harboring romantic feelings for his best friend. When summer ends and the harsh nature of Iceland takes back its rights, it’s time to leave the playground and face adulthood for the first time. A gorgeous, emotional coming-of-age film, Heartstone won over critics all over the world. The Playlist said it’s “beautifully shot, touchingly performed and delivered with a thrillingly atmospheric sense of place.” And Screen International said it’s “affecting as well as perceptive in how it intimately depicts the blossoming of youth… just the right amount of confidence, compassion and clear-eyed style.”

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!

 

Papi Chulo
From John Butler, the acclaimed writer-director behind 2016 hit Handsome Devil, comes a heartfelt comedy starring Matt Bomer, Ryan Guzman, Wendi McLendon-Covey and more! After a newly-single local TV weatherman (Bomer) is put on leave following an on-air meltdown, he directs his energy into home improvement and hires a middle-aged Latino day laborer named Ernesto (Alejandro Patino) to help. Despite a language barrier and having nothing much in common, the two men develop an unexpected but profound friendship in this darkly comedic reflection on class, ethnicity and companionship in contemporary Los Angeles. The performances are superb in this touching new buddy comedy that aims to break down all sorts of long-standing social barriers.

 

I Miss You When I See You
Jamie (Bryant Ji-Lok Mak), on his way to visit his uncle in Melbourne, stops by Sydney to see his old school friend Kevin (Jun Li), who lives in a group home due to crippling depression. It’s been over a decade since they last saw each other back in Hong Kong, but the two reconnect as if no time has passed. Jamie gives Kevin an open offer to visit him in Hong Kong anytime – an offer Kevin cannot refuse. Now back in his homeland, Kevin quickly overstays his welcome, and his presence causes a rift between Jamie and his suspicious girlfriend (Candy Cheung). Through it all, the true reason for Jamie and Kevin’s estrangement hangs over them like a raincloud, a reason further elucidated in a series of flashbacks to their confusing, treacherous school years. Director Simon Chung‘s I Miss You When I See You navigates a tense landscape of modern masculinity.

 

Monster Pies
Does anyone ever forget the time they felt the incredible force of first love? Mike (Tristan Barr) has always felt like an outsider. When his English teacher pairs him up for a class assignment on “Romeo and Juliet” with hot new kid William (Lucas Linehan), Mike can’t believe his luck. As the two spend more and more time working together on a monster movie version of the Bard’s classic tale, they soon realize their feelings for one another may be more powerful than either is truly ready for. A touching and original tearjerker from Australia all about the encompassing power of first love, Monster Pies is sure to move even the hardest of hearts. Originally released in 2013, the film earned rave reviews and won the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature at the Melbourne Queer Film Festival.

 

One Kiss
Antonio (Leonardo Pazzagli) is a star basketball player on his high-school team, but that doesn’t mean he’s popular. Soft-spoken, awkward, and still grieving over his older brother’s death, he’s excluded from his teammates and considered dumb. Blu (Valentina Romani), who has a reputation for her sexual exploits, defiantly rides her scooter past graffiti labeling her a “slut.” Lorenzo (Rimau Ritzberger Grillo), new in town as well as newly adopted, relies on his extravagant sense of fashion and elaborate imagination to distract him from the bullies at school. These three teens form a friendship and a defense against the closed-minded bullies who constantly berate them. Reminiscent of ’60s New Wave forerunners like Truffaut’s Jules et Jim and Godard’s Bande a parteOne Kiss is a story of outsider friendship and the consequence of honesty.

 

Heartstone
In a remote fishing village in Iceland, teens Thor and Christian (Baldur Einarsson and Blaer Hinriksson) experience a turbulent summer. As one of them tries to win the heart of a girl, the other discovers that he is harboring romantic feelings toward his best friend. When summer ends and the harsh nature of Iceland takes back its rights, it’s time to leave the playground and face adulthood for the first time. A gorgeous, emotional coming-of-age film, Heartstone won the hearts of critics all over the world. The Playlist said it’s “beautifully shot, touchingly performed and delivered with a thrillingly atmospheric sense of place.” And Screen International said it’s “affecting as well as perceptive in how it intimately depicts the blossoming of youth… just the right amount of confidence, compassion and clear-eyed style.”

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.

Read More
Blake Pruitt Shorts (c) Blake Pruitt

This Weekend’s VOD Favorites

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.

 

Blake Pruitt Shorts (c) Blake Pruitt

Blake Pruitt Shorts (c) Blake Pruitt

Blake Pruitt Shorts

2012-2015, United States

Enjoy three gorgeous short films from young New York City-based filmmaker Blake Pruitt. Immensely talented, Blake is an up-and-comer worth keeping an eye on. His work has screened and won awards at film festivals all over the world. First up on this collection is 20MALEGAYNYC, a short documentary comprised of interviews with ten young gay men whose honesty and controversial opinions shed light on the experiences of gay urban 20-somethings today. The second short, Camchat, follows a young guy named Alec who encounters various men in online chat rooms – where experiences range from purely sexual to purely emotional. The final short, Read Aloud, follows Justin, a film editor who starts dreaming of being in front of the camera. When a new relationship begins developing, Justin has to decide if he wants to follow his dreams or settle down.

Read More

Our Top 15 Gay Movies of 2017!

2017 was a great 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, Call Me by Your Name). Check out our Top 15 Gay Movies of 2017 below and make sure to pick up your copies on DVD and Blu-ray at TLAgay.com! All but one of our top 15 are currently listed and we’ll be posting the final straggler (looking at you again, Call Me by Your Name) for pre-order as soon as it’s announced – most likely once it has finished making the award show rounds.

 

B&B (c) Breaking Glass Pictures

B&B (c) Breaking Glass Pictures

15. B&B

Director: Joe Ahearne

Lovers Marc and Fred (Tom Bateman and Sean Teale) initiated a major legal battle after they were refused a double bed at a remote Christian guest house. They came out of their court case victorious and now they’re back at the establishment to claim their conjugal rights. Triumph, however, quickly turns to terror when a scary Russian neo-Nazi also checks in. Their weekend of celebratory fun soon becomes a bloody battle for survival. B&B is a whip-smart and brutally funny dark comedy-thriller that has been earning rave reviews from critics – some of whom have even compared it to the work of Alfred Hitchcock. The Hollywood Outsiders, specifically, called it “a film Alfred Hitchcock would be proud of.” The Horror Society said it’s “frickin’ fantastic and a trailblazer for LGBT cinema.”

Read More
Heartstone (c) Breaking Glass Pictures

Just Came Out: Heartstone

In a remote fishing village in Iceland, teenage boys Thor and Christian (Baldur Einarsson and Blaer Hinriksson) experience a

turbulent summer. As one tries to win the heart of a girl, the other discovers that he has been harboring new feelings toward his best friend. When summer ends – and the harsh nature of Iceland takes back its rights – it becomes apparent that it’s time to leave the playground and face adulthood.

 

Written and directed by Gudmundur Arnar Gudmundsson, based on his own experience growing up in a small fishing village, the core of Heartstone features a strong, beautiful friendship between two boys, and shows how their environment and inner conflict drive them apart, before the bond they share manages to reunite them again. Speaking of the film, Gudmundsson said “I believe Heartstone is a story that carries an important message for everyone, especially youth. A story of brotherhood, self-acceptance, strong girls and the importance of family.”

Read More
Heartstone (c) Breaking Glass Pictures

A Conversation with Gudmundur Arnar Gudmundsson, the Director of Heartstone

Enjoy this interview with writer/director Gudmundur Arnar Gudmundsson, the man behind the gorgeous and powerful new coming-of-age drama Heartstone from Breaking Glass Pictures. This conversation was taken from the official press kit for Heartstone. We found it interesting and wanted to pass it along for your reading pleasure.

 

The film takes place in a remote fishing village in Iceland and follows teenage boys Thor and Christian (Baldur Einarsson and Blaer Hinriksson) as they experience a turbulent summer. As one tries to win the heart of a girl, the other discovers that he has been harboring new feelings toward his best friend. When summer ends – and the harsh nature of Iceland takes back its rights – it becomes apparent that it’s time to leave the playground and face adulthood.

Read More
Heartstone (c) Breaking Glass Pictures

Heartstone Trailer

In a remote fishing village in Iceland, teenage boys Thor and Christian (Baldur Einarsson and Blaer Hinriksson) experience a turbulent summer. As one tries to win the heart of a girl, the other discovers that he has been harboring new feelings toward his best friend. When summer ends – and the harsh nature of Iceland takes back its rights – it becomes apparent that it’s time to leave the playground and face adulthood.

 

Written and directed by Gudmundur Arnar Gudmundsson, based on his own experience growing up in a small fishing village, the core of Heartstone features a strong, beautiful friendship between two boys, and shows how their environment and inner conflict drive them apart, before the bond they share manages to reunite them again. Speaking of the film, Gudmundsson said “I believe Heartstone is a story that carries an important message for everyone, especially youth. A story of brotherhood, self-acceptance, strong girls and the importance of family.”

Read More