Hole

The other near us in a powerful , moving portrait. A beautiful crafted short documentary about the every day routine of a disabled man. Not for mercy, compassion or a fist of tear but as testimony about different way to define and assume the life. A great film because, in many senses, it is just a seed, the story of Ken Harrower becoming stronger and more intense a time after the film end.

This film's simple, no-frill, gritty storytelling makes the subject so much more hard-hitting.

It opens with Billy's waking up in the morning; his little struggle of pushing the blanket away, sitting up and putting on his trousers in real time. For most audience who wouldn't have a real life experience with a disabled person, this opening sequence is so simple yet effective to make them understand Billy's physical challenge and what it should mean in other areas of his life too.

Then when his cute young nurse appears followed by Billy's visit to a porn video booth, I have expected that the two might run into each other there (having seen so many gay themed shorts over the years...). But no, this film is much more and better than such a cliche.

We all need love, intimacy and sexual gratification. Billy too.

This was the second film for which I scored a 5/5. I saw it at Outfest last night in LA. There were six shorts shown. Each one had qualitative value based on the kinds of stories being told. As good and/or great all the others were, this short, in particular, made me want to stand and bellow "BRAVO!!!" I had no idea where the story was headed for the first many minutes of the film. We experienced a not-oft-seen routine play out for the main character and when what you THINK is the big reveal unfolds, there is some surprise and, perhaps for a few viewers, a sense of gratitude for the guy, as in "good for him!" Alas, an obstacle presents itself and you think, "well, that's that" and the film goes on you are left wondering how it will tie up. The ultimate revelation is one of the most astoundingly charitable events I have experienced in film. Just marvelous!