Review of Boy Culture (2006) by Jason T — 18 Jun 2007

Gay film is sometimes a bit dull. Queer as Folk has packaged the gay experience into a sleazy, yet clean and successful lifestyle; all gay men are incredibly good looking, wealthy and fun loving. There?s nothing wrong with it, but it escapes the reality of persecution, dangerous drugs and that whole problem with God. Of course occasionally someone will decide to shake it up and show the opposite end of the spectrum?everyone dies of aids, gets gay-bashed or turns straight. Boy Culture does neither, and it?s up there with the greats.

Narrated by the star, ?X??a high-class rent boy with emotional engagement issues?Boy Culture follows his attempts at love with flatmate Andrew, a CK-hot black guy. At the same time he is taking on a new client, Gregory?an 80-something professor eager to touch love one last time. The problem is X has been doing tricks for so long, he has lost the ability to have sex without money being involved. His well defined list of 12 clients (or ?disciples?) have allowed him to afford the lifestyle he likes, and now the possibility of giving it up for love is tearing him apart.

There are some hilarious side characters in this film, including ?Blowey? Joey, a cute effeminate 18-year-old who plays son to X and Andrew?s tumultuous relationship. The lines are quick, slightly corny but right on queue and well delivered. The photography is amazingly sharp and fun (Whilst not surprising in queer cinema, it?s not always a certainty.). However, the shining point has to be the dialogue between X and the ageing Gregory, as the differences and similarities between differing generations of queers are allowed to bleed to the surface.

First published in The Pundit.