lyonsdavidc

25 years on from when it was first in cinemas, Melbourne Queer Film Festival screened it away and it was wonderful to see what i had watched on DVD many times in a cinema and hear an audiance laugh along at the jokes, still as entertaining all these years on.

So much in the film is still relivant today from the way family violence is depicted to the tear filled converstation as a son confirms to his mum his gay.

The soundtrack of this film is also impressive and commented on by so many people I have dicussed this movie with, the music give a celebratory feel to the story.

I saw this film at the Melbourne Queer Film Festival 2021 and didn't always follow the story but did enjoy the final race and how that was presented.

Unfortunately, the screening was a focus of protests aimed at drawing attention to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis and a few points the screening had to be stopped while protestors were removed from the cinema.

As the film doesn't comment on the Israeli and Palestinian conflict, I was surprised it had drawn such attention. What the film does comment on is topics I have seen better covered in other films and TV, Topics like sport people finding their identity and coping with the pressures of elite competition, I think Barracuda (TV Mini Series 2016) has a lot of similarities to this film and having more time as a mini series covers the themes better.

I was confused by the view point of the "Adults" in this film and I am not sure why the coach, assistant coach, house supervisor and the parents are presented this way. This is an enjoyable watch if you want to see young adults in speedos and the last section resolves the storylines well and includes a run representation of the swim race.