"Crush"
Gay Romantic Love
Amos Lassen
I just finished watching an advance screener of Michael J. Saul's new film "Crush" and let me say from the get-go that it literally blew me away. The film is made up of four stories, each of about twenty minutes about different aspects of gay romance and each story is quite moving. We see also what love is and how it affects the characters. What I especially like about the film is that although the stories are about gay men, what they have to say is true for any gender and that love is what it is no matter the gender of those involved. The first story is "Don't Ask" and it is about an interracial couple—Cameron (Stephen Tyrone Williams), an African American and James (Sean Edward), A Caucasian. I note the fact tat they are of different races only because it is so evident in the film. In no way does this fact influence how they feel about each other or the plot of the film but it is nice to see an interracial couple so much in love and portrayed as such on the screen. The two have been together for four years and for most of that period Cameron has been on duty in Iraq. We meet him when he is on leave before his second tour. The two are obviously very much in love and they want to spend as much time together before he leaves. When they do go out to meet friends, Cameron is forced to defend himself to a pacifist when she wants to know why he is still fighting in a useless war. Cameron and James are deeply in love and we see the pain in both of their eyes when Cameron leaves and James stays home and lives in fear that his lover may not return. There is no real resolution here as the focus of the film is on the love they share and how it is a reflection of what so many go through on a daily basis. "Bloodline" is the story of Gerald (Rob Westin), a cute gay Goth who finally is able to talk to the good looking Asian, Christian (Nick Endres), who is in his class. Gerald has an idea that Christian was interested in him and he learns that he is right. There is a hitch here—Christian is a vampire. In a very short period the two seem to fall in love and hide their feelings. Of course, Christian has something else to hide as well. The two guys turn in incredible performances and I really did not want this story to end. The ending is left open but the viewer can surmise where the two are going. My favorite of the four is "Strokes", a story about hero worship. The actors are wonderful and the script is a jewel. Jorge Diaz is Michael Lopez, an art student who has gotten the job of intern to the artist whose work he adores, Robert Brooks (Marc Sicilani). Michael soon learns that his hero is not at all when he thought he was; he is just not a nice person and is both eccentric and reclusive while still being an artist of genius. He has no respect for those around him and Michael's dreams are smashed even though he is turned on sexually by the man. As I said before, Diaz is excellent but Sicilani is as good and the two guys dominate the screen. Finally, there is "Breathe" which as one of the cutest boys you will ever see—Kyle Fain. Michael Saul, the director of all of the shorts, narrates this film and it speaks to everyone who has ever fallen in love for the first time (I guess that is everyone). Dennis Yeap plays a quiet, young gay boy who is a loner. He just happens to harbor feelings of love and lust for the most popular and best looking boy at his school. He aches over this young man and then when his parents become friends with his desire's parents, he has that much extra pain especially when the two families take a camping trip together. What a beautiful film that is sure to awaken memories for all who see it! The writing is gorgeous, the cinematography stuns and the boys are just too cute. (By the way, I learned from the extras on the DVD that this is the director's autobiographical contribution to the film). It is rare to get a collection of shorts where each film is a gem but here one is. I found myself thinking about until late into the night.
