PD

A HARSH, HARD-HANDED, AND SAVING CHRONICLE OF A FORBIDDEN ROMANCE IN THE FACE OF CROSSFIRE.

To talk about this medium-length film is to talk about a one-of-a-kind production. It's speaking in capital letters. It's something that stays in your mind, and in a good way.

While we have the already well-addressed plot of teenage romances, here you won't find a dramatic melodrama (excuse the redundancy) nor a film with stereotypes and clichés already known in independent cinema worldwide. You've been warned because the proposal of its director, the then-novice Oliver Lallart, is not easy to digest.

The performances were sublime. Especially the lead, the newcomer Paul Gomireiux. A fantastic way of portraying his character, in a superb way! It reminded me a lot of the Latin American soap operas of the 2000s, so popular here in Latin America. His dedication to the character was unique and unrepeatable. I think he was the one who took the medium-length film to a higher level than it already had, because his script is as sharp as a knife and makes few, if any, concessions.

Although it seems to have been taken from a feature film (due to the nature of time), he paved the way for his characters to break away from any script or "how-to-act" manual. This is because, behind the scenes, it was revealed that the protagonist, in a crucial scene in the film, experienced something known as a "natural scene" or "natural acting." It was so intense that it was faithfully captured. You really see that scene and realize that Goumereiux gave everything (or almost everything) to the staging. And that's a lot to appreciate from this guy, proving that a great performance can make a difference even if the film doesn't have a huge budget, like Hollywood.

What complaint could there be about something so good? Well, its length. You reach a point where you realize that its length is playing a trick on it. But it's a tiny bit of a stretch when you see the final result: a masterful work about the collapse of myths/stigmas and prejudices in a society around the world, which applauds the unheard of but rebukes what they consider incorrect. Hypocritically, as always.

Anyway, we have this French gem, which I hope will have a wider exposure in the future. Because it deserves it. Everything here was almost perfect, but while there were classic errors due to tight budgets, the cinematography, direction, acting, and production do their job perfectly. And they don't hold back in showing (with what they have) a wonderful work, in a modern time, even if some may not like the director's risky and intrepid approach. But the thing is, in France, things are done differently than on this side of the pond. Always have been. For better or worse.

The title of my review is taken from the song "Nuestro Romance" by Victorio Vergara.

It impress for the fresh, honest perspective about a not comfortable theme. It is admirable for acting, music, the speech of history teacher, the photography and the end. It is one of remarkable balanced support for so many questions. Short, it is , first, a beautiful film about honesty to yourself. Second- fair portrait of the high school life. Not the last - provocative reflection of near , ordinary, every day reality. So, just great.

Simply fantastic. I've rated more than a thousand films and this is only the second time I feel compelled to write a review.

The acting is superb, I've never seen acting on this scale in a short film before. The story keeps you fully engaged throughout and unlike so many other shorts on this topic there is no unnecessary staring off into the distance for what feels like forever or sitting numbly on a bed and not answering someone's questions. People in this one actually make sense. It does have its subtle moments (it's French, after all) but you don't have time for your mind to start wandering and thinking about other stuff.

The chemistry between the two leads is off the charts. I don't even know how many times I've watched this, they are simply captivating together. I'll be forever grateful to the youtube algorithm for this one, it's one of the best things I've seen and I wish it was a feature.

"PD" ("Fag") is a daring and moving story about facing the courage of coming out as gay during the turbulent years of adolescence. Here, Thomas (Paul Gomerieux) is a guy who is attracted to newcomer in school Esteban (Jacques Lepesqueur) and the first chance of encountering comes in the form of a play where both guys end up kissing each other, you know the bottle game. But when school time returns, the rumours are spread that Thomas is homosexual, which sets him apart from everyone and his friends, and even causes Esteban to keep on rejecting him and asking for Thomas to stay away from him.

But comes a plot twist between the two of them when during the many rejections he suffers, Thomas is persecuted by Esteban in a violent manner that always ends with some tenderness, some awkward yet exciting passionate moments between them. Little by little Thomas gets to know that the other dude might be bisexual; and he uses of such fact to break from his shell and make more demands on the other guy. Gotta come out baby...

I absolutely loved the acting, specially Gomerieux, who got the risky role of the shy teen who loves someone who's totally out of his depth, and he deals with loneliness in school except for a gay teacher who lectures his class about the importance of homosexuals and how the kids shouldn't keep calling themselves with gay slurs (best scene in the movie along with the interactions between Thomas and Esteban). The movie teach young gays in how to deal with issues of self-confidence, respect, pride and dignity. I loved the movie for all of those reasons and more. Watch it, find out and you'll be amazed. 10/10.

We've all been there so its easy to identify with. Good sexy gay boys film. Enjoy!