For their 15th collection of gay shorts, Peccadillo goes lusty and British. BOYS ON FILM 15: TIME & TIED gathers nine punchy films that inventively use comedy, drama, sex, romance, suspense and even a touch of fantasy…
Trouser Bar (Kristen Bjorn, 18 mins) is a gentlemen’s shop in 1976 Soho, where customers and staff indulge their love of corduroy while getting fruity in the changing rooms. Brilliantly shot and very sexy, it’s hilariously drenched in florid period style, ludicrous wigs and tight trousers that don’t stay on for long.
Sauna The Dead: A Fairy Tale (Tom Frederic, 23 mins), set at Chariots Vauxhall, follows our hunky hero (director Frederic) running for his life from sex-crazed zombies, wearing just a towel. There’s a strong idea behind this short, which is enjoyably ridiculous as towels magically stay in place.
Closets (Lloyd Eyre-Morgan, 18 mins) follows a gay teen (Waterloo Road’s Tommy Knight) in 1986 who hides in his closet and emerges in 2016, when another teen (Cucumber’s Ceallach Spellman) lives in his room. And they have a lot in common. An inventive look at homophobia and bullying.
G O’Clock (Mitchell Marion, 10 mins) is a bold, complex exploration of chemsex, as a hot paramedic (Phillip Weddell) attends a raucous naked party, where he helps a newbie navigate the blur of sex and drugs. Unflinchingly explicit, the film’s mixed messages will get people talking.
Nightstand (Charlie Parham, 26 mins) is a loose, edgy drama about young Soho barman Ramsey (Amrou Al-Kadhi), who hooks up with an older customer (Nicholas Gleaves) after his shift over three nights. Sexy and urgent, it’s about how some deep-seated issues can only be expressed with a stranger.
Putting On The Dish (Fairbairn & Eccleston, 6 mins) is a 1960s park-bench conversation in Polari between gay strangers. Veering from gossip to sex, it’s rather impenetrable (multiple viewings required!), but it’s also a pungent reminder of how people adapt when being gay can get you arrested.
CrossRoad (Leon Lopez, 11 mins) follows Liam (Mark Kibo Rovira) through a moody night during which he grapples with his response to an incident that threatens to unravel his life. The emotions are strong, although the maze of flashbacks resolves itself a bit too late to provide the proper kick.
Morning Is Broken (Simon Anderson, 10 mins) tells a simple story of an encounter between two young men over the night after a wedding, as they discover a few unexpected shared interests. The sexual tension is strong in this expertly shot and acted short. A lingering, thoughtful gem.
Dawn (Jake Graf, 11 mins) beautifully explores a chance encounter between two lost souls at a pre-sunrise bus stop. Each is struggling with deep issues, hiding from the cruelty around them, and they find hope in this quiet conversation with a stranger. A lovely little film with a lot to say.
• Boys on Film 15: Time & Tied is released on DVD/VOD from Peccadillo on 15th August. The previous 14 editions are available now.
