Beach Rats is definitely something to see in the theatre, if it’s playing in your area. It was shot on 16mm. It’s riveting.
My review of Beach Rats is now up at Rogerebert.com. My second review this week of a film directed by a woman.
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Sheila, amazing review. Longing, yearning, such powerful cinematic feelings! Some of my favourite moments in film are to do with the mismatched geography of desire — of bodies arranged at angles — of stuttering eyelines — this is everywhere of course but damn can queer cinema deliver — for men in particular who need to find a mumbled covert way to look. Will definitely keep an eye out for Beach Rats, thank you!
“mumbled covert way to look” – that is so insightful, Jessie!
As far as I know, the director is “straight” – so there’s been some (slightly combative) questions at QAs about whether or not she should be allowed to tell the story of gay men. Sigh. Her answers, so far, have been very thoughtful. She was interested in the FEELINGS – her first film was also about angsty yearning teenage sexual feelings.
This isn’t to say that of course we don’t need more queer filmmakers. We need more perspectives, in general!
It’ll be interesting to see the response to it – it’s not a “coming out” story … it’s as though this kid is living in 1957 as opposed to 2017. And – I imagine – that’s true for a lot of kids, who don’t grow up in a neighborhood where it’s messaged to them early that it’s okay, here’s a rainbow flag pin, so-and-so is gay too – it’s okay.
// mismatched geography of desire — of bodies arranged at angles — of stuttering eyelines //
This is beautifully put. The cinematography here is a stunner – and these boy bodies are just … the way they are filmed is just so appreciative, but there’s a clogged-up feeling too – an ache – this is how Frankie looks at other men. AND – crucially – it’s how gay men look at HIM. He is CANDY to them. He knows it. But there’s still a passivity in him about it – almost an arrogance – although that’s not the right word. He knows he’s an object. He knows the response he gets on the web-cams when the guy on the other side of the screen sees his face, or his body. Instead of strutting that – he sort of leans back into it. Plausible deniability maybe? He doesn’t want to declare himself. He doesn’t see himself as gay. Clearly he is – but he’s not at the stage yet where he can just BE that. and “date” guys. No WAY. He’ll date that girl (and THAT is a very interesting element – who this guy is with HER) … but he’ll fuck men. It’s a complete SPLIT in his mind.
I look forward to hearing your reaction when you see it.
I’m doing a QA with the director tomorrow at Lincoln Center. I’m really excited about it!
Or who knows, maybe he’s not “split.” Maybe he’s bi. Either way, he doesn’t even have the language to navigate any of that.
Haven’t read the review yet, but this poster is amazing!
Très Beau Travail!
The poster is a great representation of what the whole damn film is like. Scene after scene after scene … it’s too much!