LEATHER is somewhat of a departure for Patrick McGuinn, in that it feels less transgressive and overtly sexual and delves more into the dynamics of broken families and emotional pain. The story involves a successful, ambitious gay man (Andrew) from NYC who drives to a country house where his estranged father has just passed away, and there reunites with a childhood friend (Birch) who has been his father's caregiver. The two find that they can't seem to rekindle a friendship, but they do find anundeniable attraction to each other. Complicating things is a young, immature gay man (Kyle, the main protagonist's bf) who is still trying to figure out who he is and why he relies so much on his BF for his own sense of self. The three find themselves confronting issues that they have repressed and evaded for too long. Here they're thrown into the forced contemplation of rural life, best exemplified by the above-mentioned local, a leatherworker. Local denizens round out the cast and add color and interesting subplots to the story. The script by Greg Chandler is very thoughtful and multi-layered, and the cinematography (16mm) makes the most of the beautiful setting of Upstate NY. A refreshing film about gay life that is rarely treated on screen. Highly recommended!
