Los agitadores

A new Marco Berger film is always an occasion so I sat down yesterday evening to treat myself to what I hoped would be an event. I needn't have bothered with the little saucissons, cherry tomatoes and box of chocolates beside me - what was presented on screen was crass and uninteresting.

We were regaled to a veritable eyefest of horny, attractive, semi-naked or naked hunks on screen for 100 minutes. Yes, for those who find lads like this attractive, this was eye candy to the extreme. But what they were doing was neither credible nor interesting. The whole time, apart from when some girlfriends turned up, was spent getting into homosexual positions, pretend humping of each other, dares that random guys would snog each other with tongues, taking photos of each others willies. Yes, yes, straight guys muck around but this was relentless. It's not crédible at all.

A previous reviewer has alleged that this particular film at least has a plot, unlike previous films from this director. My assessment is that the film is virtually plotless unlike several of the more recent films he made. There were little things happening but never followed through on, such as the probable rape of one of the girls. And there was the theme of the two closeted guys (one of whom rejects reality) amongst the multitude of alleged straights which was so barely touched upon that the first time we see them making out, it's impossible to discern who one of them is. This plot line is the one that leads to an act of violence that is not explored further in the film and to whose build-up is not plausible.

OK, I watched it all. Apart from drinking in the bodies on display, I was waiting for something consequential to come about. It didn't, not even at the end.

I'd marked this as a four. Reading back on my review, I've reduced it to a three. Watch if you like, but with very low expectations.

One of the worst movies I've ever seen. There is zero plot. The characters aren't believable and frankly it's just boring from beginning to end. It could have been so much better if the perspective of Poli and his (maybe unrequited) relationship with his friend had been explored. Instead Poli is mostly mute and we get no sense of how he thinks about himself and his sexuality in this setting and friend group.

The dialogue is extremely repetitive and not credible. Almost half the movie is just the characters calling each other 'homo'. I think even homophobes would get bored of this chat pretty quickly.

I really don't understand why this is being considered a queer movie. It's a movie about straight men. It's not even homoerotic, the nudity is sterile and not sexy. Much of it is actually disgusting (one character vomiting on another in a shower). I found it to be deeply unsexy. Ultimately it's a movie about a group of unpleasant straight men with one closeted character who barely speaks.

Do yourself a favour and avoid this.

Horseplay is just a remake of Taekwondo, but with more nudity and homoerotic moments. There are identifiable themes emerging from the horsing around, but none of these were explored. Therefore, it leaves the film lacking in substance. I believe the person who made Taekwondo is responsible for Horseply, so I am at a loss as to why they would make a similar film without building the characters or explore the hinted themes to build a narrative that is relateable and teachabe! To be honest, I have seen adult films with better plots. So watch for the eye-candies and not for the storyline because one doesn't exist.

The first temptation is to see it as a kind of Taekwondo II. And to appreciate more the first part.

Many guys, nude , talking, wasting time, gay, hetero, looking for love or define their sexual identity, girls, a lot of photos and a beautiful house.

Some homoerotism.

Real good looking guys.

And a very - very-very gentle suggested story if you have not impression of self illusion.

I can not be very critic about this film but its basic virtue is to send the thoughts to Taekwondo , working just as precious kick to see that , again.

Is it enough ?

I suppose so. I appreciate Marco Berger job and I respect his perspective about a theme who seems very closed by him. Cinema represents experiments and Los agitatores is one of them.

Seen at BFI Flare in London (wonderful festival!)

Quite a let down. Inevitable comparisons to Taekwondo, but whereas that film succeeded because of the development of the characters and the building of tension between them, this failed. The narrative is s-l-o-w, yet (with one exception) the relationships between the characters aren't properly explored, even though there is plenty of time for that.

The ending is unexpected, but lacks impact because the audience doesn't feel anything for the characters involved.

Sure the.guys are hot, and the photography lovely - with those slow drawing shots on male bodies. But the whole film felt like it had been created from pieces off Taekwondo's cutting floor.