r/MenLovingMenMedia

No Hard Feelings (2020)

Germany-born Iranian young adult Parvis is gay and out. He leads a debauched lifestyle, spending most of his days sleeping in, frequently visiting nightclubs and indulging in casual sex with random gay men. When he is caught shoplifting, he is forced to serve his community service at a shelter for young adult refugees in Germany, where he attracts the attention of fellow Iranian refugee Amon, and his elder sister, Banafshe (Bana).

Parvis struggles to adapt to the new environment, for his privileged upbringing causes him to be sensitized to the hardships at the shelter. However, he strikes an unlikely bond with Amon over their shared heritage and cultural identity, though Amon quickly withdraws as his interactions with Parvis are frowned upon and detested by the other Iranian refugees at the shelter.

Bana notices her brother’s attraction toward Parvis, and schemes to bring the two together outside the shelter through any means possible, whilst secretly struggling with the risk of deportation for undisclosed reasons herself.

No Hard Feelings is another entry in the slew of LGBTQ European films that explores the themes of refugee displacement, internalized homophobia, and discrimination. But it is also different in that the heart of the film doesn’t just center around Parvis and Amon’s love story, it focuses on Bana, who is a close ally and the heart of the trio, whose feminine perspective lends a touch of softness and grit that balances Parvis’ effeminacy and Amon’s masculinity.

The film isn’t shy about its nude scenes either, particularly with Parvis and his encounter with other gay men. As formulaic as its storytelling premise is, No Hard Feelings elicits incredibly strong emotions and stakes when the scenes demand it. In a way, it also attempts to defy the doomed creative cliches that govern LGBTQ films about refugees and discrimination by ensuring our beloved trio receives the happily-ever-after they deserve.

Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Sky Store, Peccadillo Player.

Trailer https://youtu.be/9rPBmHoxQX4

https://yt3.ggpht.com/DOfpinsDPXjOG6jc7wBNQa4TJbUT4CEiLqPWVuKEsurH1vmwg7SJqqSXLL7k5CC3B-HEthXbEWHWmQ=s0

Before the Fall (2016)

Set in Virginia, Lee Darcy’s world turns upside down following an unintended altercation with his girlfriend on one drunken night, which sees him charged with a felony and losing a lucrative job opportunity in Atlanta. Meanwhile, Ben Bennett is a successful, single gay attorney who is simply counting down the days, showing up to work, earning good money, and praying to God the perfect man will suddenly show up in his life. Neither man shares a common interest, but their paths converge during Lee’s court hearing.

I don’t think I’ve ever had so little to say about a film, and if I ever did, know that Before the Fall absolutely knocks the ball out of the park and takes the cake home for being one of the worst LGBTQ films with a happy ending I’ve ever seen. So bad that it makes Shelter (2007) look so damn good in my books. And that’s because the film focuses on anything but the dynamic and developing relationship between Lee and Ben.

For a ~92 minutes runtime, Before the Fall spends 80% of its story exploring trivial side plots and characters that serve little to advance our protagonists’ relationship in a meaningful way. The writing and lines are cliché, cringey, and absolutely horrible at every given scene. The pacing leaves much to be desired, and while the film attempts to draw the connection between Lee and Ben and how their worlds inadvertently collide, the story flow is poorly handled and leaves viewers with more questions than they began.

One might even say the story in Before the Fall feels highly contrived, particularly the romance between Lee and Ben, that isn’t explored until the final 20 minutes of the film (yes, it’s that bad). The romantic (not even sexual) tension between the two is largely absent, filled by two or three subtle moments from Ben that clearly indicate he has fallen for Lee. The problem, however, lies with Lee, who has done little, if at all, to reciprocate those feelings on a level that feels organic.  Nothing suggests Lee developed feelings for Ben over the course of the film, which makes their happily-ever-after incredibly weird when it is delivered.

I suppose… in an all’s well that ends well manner, the lack of organic onscreen chemistry matters little when our protagonists inevitably end up together. The redeeming quality to this film, I feel, is Lee’s actor, Chase Corner, whose looks resemble a cross between Matt Hussey and Beau Mirchoff. The chiseled jaw, the tousled brown hair, the smoldering look, and those olive-colored eyes are enough to keep viewers engaged and invested in the film.

Do I hate this film? No. Do I think it’s bad? Yes. Do I think Chase Connor and his character make it worthwhile? Kinda. But given the chance, I wouldn’t want to rewatch this B-grade film if I had a choice.