$30

I saw this movie when it was shown in the cinema in London during a short-movie festival. Although it is a short movie the story is splendid and was performed beautifully. The story is about a young boy who's father brings him to a hooker as a gift to his sixteen's birthday. The boy seems to be very shy and uncertain, the hooker, played by Sara Gilbert, tries to relax him when she understands he is still a virgin. Then the movie takes an interesting turn when the two start talking about their perception and reasons of having sex, delaying the actual act with every discussion.

It definitely was the best movie of the entire festival.

Funny trivia: Sara Gilbert, who plays the hooker in this short movie, wasn't officially "out of the closet" yet when this movie was shot.

This is quite a neat little film that perhaps romanticises recognisable figures - the hooker with the heart of gold, etc - to reassure those on the cusp of realising their sexuality that it's OK to accept who are you. It's a familiar story told from a gay angle - and from both ends of the sexual spectrum - and is pretty much a talking heads picture. Roseanne's Sara Gilbert is the hooker in question, an experienced sexual professional who is paid by the father of Erik MacArthur for an hour of sex with his boy.

She realises almost immediately that Scott is gay, and goes out of her way to show him kindness and put him at ease. She teaches him, by the film's end, that it isn't necessary to question why people are the way they are but just to accept them for who they are. It's one of storytelling's oldest messages, but it's told with a sensitivity and good-naturedness that makes it worth a viewing.

It's not too often that a fairly complete story can be told in a short film, but $30 does it well. The believability is there from the start, so the story just falls into place. A great coming of age story, for both of the leads. Pay attention to what Sara Gilbert is watching on TV, by the way!

A father buys his teenage son Scott (Erik MacArthur) an hour with prostitute Evelyn (Sara Gilbert) for $30.00. Evelyn pretty much figures out he's gay immediately and they just talk. That's about it really.

This is well-made short with very realistic dialogue and two great performances by Gilbert and MacArthur. Also there's an opening and closing sequence at a beach which pretty much tells you what happens. Touching, moving and just great. A very quiet and interesting coming of age and coming out story. A 10 all the way. This is included in one of the DVD "Boys Shorts" collections (sorry, I don't know which one). Also written and directed by openly gay Christopher Landon--son of the late Michael Landon. I think his father would be proud.

A good film seems enough about a simple story - not conventional gift from a father to his son birthday, conversation of by with the prostitute, the fair atmosphere and surprising realistic dialogue, beautiful acting and just impressive storytelling. A film as seed of different, mixed emotions about a coming of age, forms of loneliness, joy and peace and deep honesty. Short, lovely but, for understand this definition, to see it, maybe twice, is just a good idea.