Coming Clean

There are three real gems in this good compilation of five shorts. The absolute best is "The Last Romantics". It tells the story of a dangerous and edgy encounter in a cinema. The bearded guy is certainly worth public disapprobation to have a grope with in the back row! I loved the way the stories about the incident were told in different ways - the younger lad facing the camera matter-of-factly and telling us what had happened openly and unashamedly. Then the more lascivious way the same story is recounted in bed by the other participant to his lover. I loved the fact that memories were not exact. The little coda of the lover telling a tale and its conclusion was a neat touch too. It was so real.

The other excellent film was "Carlito Leaves Forever". Simple and direct. At least Carlito had a choice to leave - in the olden times he wouldn't have. And he has something - or someone - to leave for so it wasn't pessimistic.

I loved "Sandra Calling". The two lads had suffered the same sorts of losses and the acting was convincing in articulating their pain. In the contest of the "morning after" it was even more poignant.

There's always an utter dud. "My Only Earth is in the Moon" please step forward. Arty and boring. Fast-forwarded.

"Savage Fire". A bit too odd for my liking. I didn't hate it but just didn't get into it. It doesn't bring down the overall mark.

So a good collection brought down to a seven by one bad film.