I guess that the coming out experience will be an evergreen subject for gay film makers but this is far from the best version of this story I've seen. The dialogue here could have used a lot of work. While the premise is fun and the film isn't too cringe-inducing, there could have been a lot more innuendo between the boys and the parent's dialogue could have been more related to what the boys were saying. If the one boy HAD come out to his parents just the previous day, there should have been some evidence of that in the parents' conversation and there wasn't. Just for laughs compare this to Boychick (2001) which is readily available on you-tube. It may just be my experience with Jewish mothers but the mother in that rings a lot truer despite the films being more than a decade older.
... View More"Shabbat Dinner" is a 14-minute short film from 2012, which means this one will have its 5th anniversary next year. The writer and director is Michael Morgenstern and this is probably his most known work. Let me start by saying that i have no clue what a Shabbat Dinner is, but this is also completely irrelevant in the film's context. The real problem here is, like so many other times with gay-themed short films, the complete lack of realism. A few points: One boy who has his coming-out would be okay. 2 is just too much of a coincidence. Why would the one boy talk to the other about his coming-out? They weren't friends or something. And please don't say he felt that the other boy was gay too. Outside the grown-ups were talking and this was intentionally trivial and bland, but it's also trivial and bland for the audience. Why would a boy who just admitted for the first time that he was a homosexual get busy right away with somebody who is basically a complete stranger. With his parents and the other boy's parents in the next room? Sorry, but I just cannot take this film seriously and shame on the awards bodies who considered it quality filmmaking. I highly recommend to stay away.
... View MoreI'm so glad they did a smart way of adding in a tradition that I never knew about until I saw this movie. The title really stood out well in this film!The actors were even brilliant too. Chris and Dan's characters were very clear and easy to hear even if they are meant to be playing as awkward teenagers. I'm telling ya, some actors that play teen roles really make their characters too obvious whereas William and Virgo were so easily understood which keeps the storyline at its best! Although near the end, I wondered did Williams father knew the boys were having sex because the room was dark or was he drunk? That scene made me quite curious, oh well that never bothered me since the boys will be talking again ;)Well done Mr Michael Morgenstern for creating this cute lil film :D
... View MoreI saw this film at the MGLFF and I liked it. A very well written short film; Great cast, and well directed. There we moments that I was laughing hard.This is an interesting story of a young boy who is intrigued at having his very first gay friend and seems interested in what it means to be gay. The lead character does a great job at his young age. The camera work could have been better but besides that overall this is a great short film and is definitely worth seeing. The films ends at and interesting note that I will leave for you to watch.I hope this short film plays in several other festivals!
... View More