Sun Kissed

I stayed after the film for a Q & A with the director in the hopes that he could explain the film. In fact, someone even yelled from the rear of the theater, for an explanation. All the filmmaker could say was that he was a fan of surreal films. This was apparently his bow to surrealism. That didn't explain the awkward editing, the jumping from one point in the time line to another, the not knowing what was real and what was imagined, nor the confusing film in general. I will say the two leads acted well, and looked even better. I'd love to see what they could do in another film. While I support new filmmakers and wish them the best, this film needs direction and a new edit.

amazing negative comment i just read here about this movie..... i couldn't agree less- it's indie-fayre - and it's unconventional narrative in the strong sense of the word- it's good because you can leave it and it's working on several levels - so don't try and reduce it to one single rational story.

If i had a criticism of it it is that it stereotypes mental illness as always being something around uncontrollable feelings of murder, blood and sharp knives - this is it's biggest flaw for me and in a way it's a BIG flaw and totally unforgivable. i could imagine why it was booed in San Francisco because many dated mainstream films used to portray gay protagonists in this light. but the director does play with this expectation, leaving you guessing about the outcome.

As a gay love affair its optimistic in it's conclusions - and as a portrait of intimacy it is very brave and rich.

There are several reasons to consider 'Sun Kissed' an exceptional movie. What most impressed me is the light it throws on the male world that hates discovering itself as gay, even though this impulse is a reality of its own soul depths. Contemplating the evolution of Leo, we witness his slow sexual awakening, in painful conflict with the prejudices of the character, obsessed with the idea "I am not homosexual." So it is he, the supposed heterosexual, who appears inwardly divided to the point of schizophrenia, in contrast to Teddy, who knows very well that he is "completely" gay and draws a remarkable inner balance from this consciousness, in spite of his moments of despair. As such he shows himself to be healthier and more mature than Leo, even taking a certain protecting and enlightening role toward him.

It is also possible to take into consideration the philosophical aspect of this love story, urging us to reflect about fate, death and the meaning of life, and the sense of love in its relation to solitude. Do we love only because, otherwise, this solitude would be unbearable? And over these issues hangs a meditative and poetic spirit that ennobles the sexual side, naturally predominant. The loneliness of these two souls in the middle of the loneliness of Nature creates a nearly magical atmosphere. I felt incited to view this captivating movie again, as one might listen again to the music of a great master. Professor George Balan, Germany

This movie knocks on the door of being a great romance with some hot man to man sex scenes, ut it never opens the door, just leaves the viewer and the two lead characters unfulfilled. Why is it that writers/directors shy away from taking story from average to tasteful art? This is just another average gay movie....nothing new to see here!

I'm greatly (and, it seems, unusually) blessed in being able to enjoy things without understanding them. I have no idea what Sun Kissed is "about": whether Leo and Teddy are one person, or two, or none; whether this is a coming out story or a psychological allegory or a murder mystery, or all three, or something else; whether anybody was murdered or when; whether anything in this movie actually happened or not. I don't know, and I don't care. I was very gratified to learn from previous reviewers that Patrick McGuinn refused to provide any explanations when interviewed. Good for him!

I happen to love movies like this, that defy understanding, that force me either to accept them on their own terms and see if I can enjoy them, or reject them. I gave Sun Kissed a chance, and I'm very glad I did.

I understood nothing, and I enjoyed every second, from the first frame to the last note in the dark. I don't know what it was, and I don't know why, but I sure did like it. It was a rich, lush, sensual, engrossing experience that I'd welcome again any time, anywhere.