Two men, one gay and one presumably straight, are unsure where to take their new friendship after a bit of sex follows a moment of rescue wherein the questioning kid is handcuffed naked to a lamppost (apparently by friends as a prank) and the handsome, older man comes to his aid with undershorts and a lift on his shoulders. Two-hander from the UK, filmed in Berlin, is well-made but has very little going on. The younger Will (Pip Brignall, 20-years-old but with a receding hairline) cries after gay sex to show us his shame and confusion (not that old one again!); he's also been directed to be a self-conscious 'laugher' (a constant annoyance). Older Michael (Jo Weil) broods like a lovestruck male model (he's "retired" and single, both easy outs by the writer trying to cut this scenario down to its basics). Director Mark Wilshin, who also penned the limited screenplay, caresses his subjects warmly with the camera (with 'sensuous' vibes on the soundtrack), yet we don't get emotionally involved with this couple. Before gay cinema can make strides forward, filmmakers have to show not only vision but a more ambitious agenda apart from when and where the guys are going to get naked. * from ****
Review of Sodom
