August (Vancouver Queer Film Festival 2011) – movie review
Oh dear God. Who doesn’t know the trouble boy? The handsome, charming heartbreaker who comes to your house knocking after 3 years of not talking to you, after breaking your heart, after abandoning you and leaving you for an adventure? We all do, let’s admit it. I have known one many Troys (the name of the main character in August) who have wanted to come back to my life after being the heartbreakers. Coincidentally the boyfriend of Heartbroken Boy (Jonathan) is also named Raul. Oh, the ironies.
August (showcased tonight at the Vancouver Queer Film Festival 2011) presents you with a strange cinematic approach (back-and-forth-without-really-knowing-much-about-where-the-heck-this-movie-started-or-finished) to telling stories of deception, “sex with the ex”, lies, threeway relationships where the ex always interferes in the idyllic life of the “supposed-to-have-grown-up” heartbroken boy and his Latino charming, loyal and a-tad-too-understanding boyfriend.
While the end will catch you COMPLETELY by surprise, the complex and twisted storyline of inextricably intertwined lives of Troy, Raul and Jonathan is very nicely told in August. My only complaint is that much of the movie’s development happens at Jonathan’s 30th birthday party and the setup to get to that point was WAY TOO LONG. But the movie itself is totally worth watching. And I’d love to hear from you as to what you think was the meaning of the ending of the movie. Totally open to interpretation.
You should also read the synopsis from the Vancouver Queer Film Festival 2011:
Is there anything more tempting and troublesome than “ex sex”? Israeli-American writer/director Eldar Rapaport unflinchingly probes this question in his new romantic drama. Jonathan and Raul are on the brink of moving in together when Jonathan’s ex-boyfriend, Troy, returns to LA. Their well-meaning attempt to all become friends quickly turns into a triangle of desire, jealousy and old memories. While this might sound like the making of a melodrama, Rapaport’s thoughtful direction reveals the precarious quandary of discerning lust from love.
August also offers lots of eye candy. For cinephiles who appreciate beautifully framed shots, Rapaport puts his European filmmaking sensibility to good use. And for those who appreciate beautiful men, the three lead characters—Troy, Jonathan and Raul—will not disappoint. To top off this visual delight, the film is set in LA’s Venice Beach during a heat wave (hello, glistening abs!).
Eldar Rapaport / USA / 2011 / EN / Total time: 100 min
