Review of Romeos (2011) by Vivien T — 09 Oct 2011

Lukas is in the final stages of transition from female to male; corrective surgery awaits him with only weeks left to wait. Moving into a new dorm, Lukas is assigned to the womenâ(TM)s ward as heâ(TM)s not yet officially male. He decides to endure and does his best to fit in with the students, going out, having fun, awkwardly, but with determination. Things get confusing when Lukas meets Fabio, a tough-acting, handsome man who is the king of the local gay scene. He sleeps with everyone, retaining glory and leaving his companions with a social status of a "slut". Lukas- previously exclusively heterosexual- starts to fall for Fabio.

Rick Okon does a good job playing Lukas, and an insightful direction guarantees that what is basically your standard âboy meets boyâ? â"story gets fleshed out and gains personality. The story is simple, but it explores its themes thoroughly. And itâ(TM)s good to see a movie that handles transphobia, hypocricy and general intolerance within the gay community, all frustratingly real phenomena. Well constructed, honest and nuanced, âRomeosâ? takes what relatively little itâ(TM)s got and spins it in the smartest of ways.