Review of 100 Men (2017) by Jonathan B — 13 Apr 2018

It took a while for this documentary charting the sexual encounters of a gay New Zealand filmmaker to find its stride but once it did, it became a moving and insightful examination of how attitudes to gay men have changed over the last forty or so years.

Paul Ormaland's film does this by him talking about and tracing 100 men with whom he had various sexual encounters. the vast majority of these are just mentioned briefly in passing, but a number are interviewed at length about their lives and recollections and this becomes a fascinating and honest examination of sexuality and how the gay scene has shifted, evolved and reacted over the years.

It is at times funny, sad and shocking but the matter-of-fact, honest and open style means this very personal examination of gay culture is never voyeuristic or sensationalist. I was left thinking about my own life and just how far things have come and what still needs to be done.