Ligne d'eau

Cracking with the electrifying potential of a forbidden attraction, this often bleak film will warm you with the energy bound up in those first stolen kisses, the thrill of first furtive glances at a hot rippling body, the shuddering tingle of a first touch. If you let it, Skyscrapers will carry you away in its slowly building rhythm, the asymmetry of the lead character's life jolting you as he tries to reconcile the fire of his desires with the cold harshness of his reality. The haters in these reviews seem to forget that not everyone lives the experience of a comfortable, well adjusted middle class life. This film is no anachronism, nor is it throwback; ugliness still abounds in our world, and this film is a reminder that everyone deserves the freedom to find beauty.

Acting is good. Casting is good. Cinematography is Good. Everything seems to be good. It's just that the story line itself makes no sense. It will will keep you hanging and will haunt you forever. Also, I don't see the connection between the 2 lead male characters. It seems that they only enjoy each others company. More of a lust than love. And the ending. Tsss. Disappointing, heartbreaking and sad.

In many post communist countries, where people used to have lives lined up and where the one who was standing out was the enemy of the society - such perception still exists. The proof is that in several countries lately, the constitution was adjusted to a union between a man and a woman solely.

Poland is a very religious country and related prejudice against sexual minority is certainly projected into the questioning men which keeps them in the closet - such as in the example of a main character Kuba who is exploring not only the water of professional swimming facility but also his sexuality. In a way, he represents the society's ideal of a man: if one behaves as a male, has a woman (or women) around, then he is fine. Even though, deep inside, he might be feeling differently.

On the other side, the character Mihal represents a more progressive minority person since he is out to himself and has a close relationship with his mother. Unfortunately, sometimes the visible guys such Mihal gain more attention from the radical group members as well.

Other characters portray misconception, stereotypes and misunderstandings about homosexuality – which are still present in the contemporary post-communist societies, such as in the statement (about homosexuality) of Kuba's girlfriend, "Why do you do this to me?"

Apparently "Floating Skyscrapers" is Poland's first 'in-your-face' gay feature. It's a particularly glum affair that will almost certainly not make you glad to be gay in Poland and which only goes to reinforce the stereotype that most Polish men are heterosexual boors who might enjoying screwing around with someone of the same sex so long as no-one knows about it and there is no real commitment. Well, maybe not since one half of the couple on display is a sensitive soul and boy, does he suffer for it. There is a fair bit of nudity, both male and female, (our hero has a girlfriend), and a lot of anguished soul-searching. What there isn't is much in the way of uplift. In other words, this is the kind of film that queer cinema ditched a long time ago. I found it painful to watch.

Kuba (Mateusz Banasiuk) is a promising competitive swimmer who spends his time training, refereeing between his argumentative mother and girlfriend, and getting blowjobs in the changing room toilets (supposedly from other young men, although the sound effects make it seem like he's got a hungry labrador in there with him). Then he meets Michał, and perhaps both young men will come out of the closet. But in Poland, that's not necessarily an easy thing to do...

There are too many padding scenes in this - shots of cars driving through multi-storey car-parks or of Polish underpasses add little and could easily have been cut (or perhaps replaced with further shots of the fortunately-endowed Mr Banasiuk in the shower). But it's a pleasing enough film: not a new story by any stretch of the imagination, but seeing a well-worn plot set in a different location always adds an air of originality. And the nudity - both male and female - is nice! Banasiuk does well in the lead role, seeming remote and unemotional until the affair with Michał starts, whereupon he warms noticeably (although one suspects he's never going to be the life and soul of the party). But acting honours go to Marta Nieradkiewicz as the wronged girlfriend held prisoner by the love she realises is hopeless, and to Katarzyna Herman as the clingy yet realistic mother.

Heralded as Poland's first-ever 'gay film', this is worth watching not just for its novelty, not just for the nudity (or did I mention that already?), but also because it is an engrossing human interest drama that's a good way to spend 93 minutes.