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La ville dont le prince est un enfant (1997)
Unique, powerful perspective on a taboo subject
A combination of Bad Education and Les Amities Particulieres in that it involves a triangle of two students at a religious boarding school in 1950's France and a priest who views the older one as a rival. That an older boy or a priest would love a boy is a subject not only tolerated but openly discussed, accepted, and philosophized about to a point that would be impossible in this day and age. It is truly remarkable in that respect.
One would think it would be a tender man who would fall in love with a boy, but the priest shows himself to be quite the emotional sadist. His straying from God's work is brought to light by the Superior who has been observing all along. How is it possible such a man could stray so far is something we are left wondering in an appropriately unsatisfying ending. It is nevertheless highly recommended.
Excellent performance by the older boy Sevrais (Nael Marandin) and the evil, boy-loving priest de Pradts (Christophe Malavoy).
Pianese Nunzio, 14 anni a maggio (1996)
Refreshing portrayal
This is the very timely story of the relationship between a priest and a teen who wants to be one in modern day Naples. It is portrayed as a pure, honest, innocent relationship on the part of both.
While most of the people close to either of them are aware of the relationship after Nunzio moves into the church, it is refreshing to see how they treat it in an almost matter-of-fact manner. There is some minor ribbing by some acquaintances but nothing like the mean-spirited harsh torture a boy in modern America who willingly participated would be subjected to.
When Fr. Borelli refuses to compromise his morals and silence his campaign against the camorristas (mafia), a campaign is launched to have the boy denounce him.
This is one of the most sympathetic portrayals (better than L.I.E., up there with Man Without a Face) ever shown on screen, and is also commendable as showing how social workers and those in one's environment can pressure youths into denouncing even those seen as close friends. An important film in its genre. 9 Caution: explicit scenes but no full frontal nudity.
DATE: 2002-07-18 " - ricrisci
Cidade de Deus (2002)
"What we need is more violence on screen."
City of God may be a good work of art but if I were to prioritize all such good works to be seen in the world, this would not be near the top. I already live in a world with enough violence and misery around me, so when I go to the theater I prefer to see objects of beauty. The message that senseless violence begets only more senseless violence is a good, if trite, one. But all I could think throughout the film was, "Who will shoot whom next?"
All the hoods are older teens, except for a very minor role played by the runts. Seeing mere boys get shot was another turnoff. There was a certain coherence to the movie and if it serves to raise consciousness about the awful plight of Rio de Janeiro's street children, a la Pixote, there may be value to it. I prefer to raise my consciousness in more subtle ways.
The Lost Son (1999)
Better you get lost than watch this
In The Lost Son, a private eye searching for a missing man stumbles upon a child prostitution ring. This film incorporates all of the worst stereotypes you could imagine in a worst-case scenario that exists only in the minds of Hollywood, the press and AG John Asscrap. If you get a chance to see this, you'd be better off getting lost yourself.
Unstrung Heroes (1995)
Love conquers all
Very nice, touching movie. Made me cry. A story of a boy coming of age while dealing with a dying mother and rebelling against his father all in the context of a loving extended family. The (Jewish) cultural angle gave it authenticity. A fine performance by Nathan Watt but that John Turturro is really something. Michael Richards was essentially Kramer again. Interesting in that it is a woman director (Diane Keaton) who brings this story of male family love to the screen. While mom is very loving as well, she sadly and symbolically abandons Steven/Franz by dying and it is the weird (eccentric and harmlessly schizophrenic) uncles who support him thru it all, once again posing the question, "Who really are the crazy (or heroes, for that matter) among us?" I give it an 8.
El Bola (2000)
Quite a switch
El Bola ostensibly resides in a "normal" family however this appearance only serves to disguise the physical abuse constantly being meted out to him by his father. He befriends a classmate who takes him home where he gets acceptance, loving and nurturance he lacks. His friends father is gay, mother lesbian and a good friend working the carnival lets the boys in free for a kiss. It is this "abnormal" family which rescues him from his torture. It is this positive portrayal which I found so uplifting.
Second Best (1994)
First Greatest Father-Son Love Story Ever Shown
This is an exquisitely poignant tale of a love-starved, troubled orphan boy and an emotionally incomplete man who has decided to reach out for what he wants most in life: a son. Jamie very much wants to love the kind man who wants to adopt him but is prevented from doing so by the promise he made to his biological father just before dad went to jail: to love him "best in the whole world forever." In what may just be the greatest dramatic performance by a child ever captured on film (surpassing even that of Freddie Bartholomew in "Captains Courageous" who had held that title for that past 60 years), Chris Cleary Miles demonstrates a precocity which makes one wonder if he hasn't already overcome some great tribulation(s?) in his short life in order to give such a compelling performance. Alternately masochistic, loving, violent and affectionate, the range and depth of emotion he portrays are nonpareil. I am still having trouble believing it was only a movie! It is unfortunate that Miles never acted in another movie; on the other hand, when you start at the top you can only go down.
Others have called this William Hurt's greatest role and I would have to agree. While his transformation from the stiff, detached loner to loving father was beautifully written in the book by David Cook, Hurt interprets this flawlessly. In fact you might say the film's brilliance was relatively easy on the heels of Cook's depictions. Nevertheless every scene in the movie is significant and the editing with the multiple flashbacks was excellent. Why this film did not win all kinds of awards is beyond me.
"Second Best" is second best to none in its genre.
The Next Best Thing (2000)
Does being gay make you an unfit father?
People do not always fit into our neatly prearranged categories. Sometimes we may be comfortably in a category when unforeseen circumstances take us out. This film deals with tough questions such as fatherhood, talking to young children about sexuality, and custody and places them in situations in which real people might actually find themselves. The treatment is excellent and recommended for anyone who might question the appropriateness of gay fatherhood.