When Boys Fly

I showed this to some 20-somethings who harken from small towns and are currently going to school where the closest gay bar is 3 hours away.

My purpose was to expose them to one aspect of gay life that is the topic of much discussion, as well as experience, so that, at the very least, if they are ever confronted with this aspect of gay life and its various situations that are integral to it, they can at least make an "informed choice".

They certainly got into the "cuteness" of the physiques, and were quick to point out how the younger lad of the couple was totally into his older partner just by the way the younger lad looked into his partner's eyes.

But the drug use and the antics of the "gay party boys" drew strong negative response.

I don't know that this movie affected my 20-somethings to the point that they will never attend a Circuit Party; I do know that they don't view Circuit Parties as something "mysterious"/"intriguing" - filled with adventure and lust and romance - even a gay rite of passage.

This film, like the somewhat better Circuit, purports to be an expose of the circuit party scene and the dangers therein.

Although Circuit admits to being a work of fiction and this film is meant as a documentary, I felt there was more truth in Circuit than in this film.

In both cases, the films rely heavily on the appeal of the very thing they are condemning to sell tickets. Both films show a lot of the seedier facts of the scene amid buffed bodies, fantastic costumes, sparkling glitter, pounding music and oceans of drugs, I couldn't help feeling that both were hurt by this underlying dishonesty.

The reason that I would give Circuit higher marks than this one is that in Circuit, the film-maker admits on camera that although he's condemning the scene, he loves it.

Everybody has an opinion about the whole Circuit Party craze, but often the films about the subject are basically made by a bunch of apologists. Apparently, none of these guys are able to really find community unless it's accompanied by drugs and sex. Oh, and being white and having a great body doesn't hurt either. This documentary (which at times seems a bit forced) aspires to be hard hitting, but it's yet another version of "Valley of the Dolls."

This documentary is mercifully short and concise. I am ambivalent about some of the characters. People like Brandon seem like a nice guy, but the documentary strives to make him look like an outsider when, with his looks and body, he's already rather clearly an object of desire. (All the forced shots of him eating alone while gazing upon the gay guys at another table and of him painting in a field are supposed to emphasize his "outside looking in" status but end up looking artificial. We KNOW the camera is there, and we know he is the subject so it's hardly a revealing shot of some candid moments.) His conversion to the circuit scene happens rather quickly although he does come across to me as the smartest of the group.

The less said about Jon and Todd the better. The filmmakers telegraphed the denouement of their relationship so far in advance that we knew exactly what would happen. How each man handled what happened was the real surprise. I found myself hoping Jon is doing well.

And then there's Tone, whom we are supposed to see as the tragic character, but instead he's incredibly annoying. Nothing about him seems real, every moment he is mugging for the camera (there is a scene with him trying to be funny while eating an apple that comes off as bizarre and very forced.) Tone is really nothing more than a real life Neely O'Hara, at least as the film wants us to believe. I wouldn't doubt that he got into a wig pulling fight with Susan Hayward in the lavatory.

No need to see this and Circuit, see one or the other. This documentary really has nothing new to say.

I will try very hard not to air my grievances with gay culture but before I begin my dissertation I'm inclined to preface my comments. As a gay black male 20something I'm appalled to read comments that insist that such behavior that takes place in "When Boys Fly" is something we (gay culture) should all identify with. I find these narrow-minded assessments truly and ironically limit the scope of diversity and tolerance that our community so boastfully touts. It's clear that even those of us who demand diversity and tolerance amongst our brethren - that we ourselves do not embrace such noble notions.

It's obvious that my follow posters share a similar disdain for the content of this documentary and not so much for the documentary itself. Some have seemingly confused a personal dislike of the content, even certain or all individuals with the documentaries merit as a credible "documentary." Clearly some have also called that into question as well. I personally choose to acknowledge that this documentary has no obligation other to depict the "truth" as it unfolded before them. This in my opinion gives this documentary merit as it provides objective material insomuch as an unbiased insight into a very "exclusive" niche in the gay world. Albeit a niche (subculture) that perpetuates an ongoing view of gay culture as being an elitist clique of excursionists who are youth-obsessed Caucasian males controlled by little more than an unhealthy preoccupation with looks, aesthetics and vanity and above all else INSTANT GRATIFICATION. A sentiment echoed by a follow poster:

Author: Ripshin from Texas I honestly can't stand these people, a sorry group of low-rent white trash. Toned bodies do not make a man, and the low intellect of the subjects, along with their total lack of class, make this a difficult film to watch.

While I choose to reserve judgment on these individuals the thought is more succinctly espoused by another poster:

Author: info ed (info ed@AOL.com) Apparently, none of these guys are able to really find community unless it's accompanied by drugs and sex. Oh, and being white and having a great body doesn't hurt either. This documentary (which at times seems a bit forced) aspires to be hard hitting...

I guess in the end I enjoyed the documentary for what it was…disheartening and unflattering as the content may have been for me - there's no need to kill the messenger!!

This shallow film about the gay "circuit" scene is a badly directed, filmed and edited flick about a subculture that may be interesting, but is ultimately incredibly unsympathetic.

I honestly can't stand these people, a sorry group of low-rent white trash. Toned bodies do not make a man, and the low intellect of the subjects, along with their total lack of class, make this a difficult film to watch.

The vacant eyes, moronic expressions and idiotic behavior of the "subjects" are appalling, and the fact that the "filmmakers" possibly risked the lives of some of the guys, on occasion, is quite disturbing.

And, has anyone seen a more pitiful gay man than "Todd"??????