24 Nights

Although this is hardly the greatest film ever made. it was my favourite of the ones I went to see in the recent Gay Film Festival here in Wellington. I think the main reason was that it was such an ordinary film, about characters who just happened to be gay, but, with relatively few changes to the plot could have been about straight relationships. So it is typical of the genre the American romantic comedy, though fortunately not as sentimental as these can sometimes be (sorry, but we Antipodeans like a little bite to our comedies!). Also, not having any "big names" in the cast, it has to rely on a set of believable characters, who were mostly well acted. Otherwise it is typical of the genre, with the usual "who will end up with whom and you can bet it won't be as they intended" type of story-line. So go & see it, and I hope the video or DVD comes out soon.

I was thrilled finally to see a film with a gay protagonist that didn't have the de rigueur baggage which nearly every other "gay film" of the last few years seems to include: drag queens, one-dimensional hag best friends, all-consuming searches for sleazy sex, melodramatic "coming out" scenes or AIDS crises. Many a good gay film has been made with these themes or characters, but too often lately gay cinema has become preoccupied with providing the above spectacle as a shorthand archetype -- in place of any real substance or story.

24 Nights was funny, honest and moving precisely because the characters had actual personalities -- rather than simply the abbreviated (and grossly stereotypical) personality traits which inform nearly every gay character of recent films. In this movie, the sexuality of the characters (both gay and straight) is not the forefront of their stories, but merely one of the varied factors of their lives. The drama comes not from the object of the main character's lust, but from the journey he makes in coming to terms with the issues of his life and overcoming his obsession with the past.

The delightful surprise of the film is that all of the above is accomplished in a package that is truly hilarious in places while deeply moving in others. Turner's script and direction are peerless and the acting is wonderfully strong and heartfelt -- particularly Kevin Isola, Stephen Mailer and Aida Turturro, with a scathingly funny turn by Mary Louise Wilson.

Initially I was sorry we bought it and had wished we'd only rented it, but now having seen the entire flick, I realize it's a keeper and don't know if I should store it in my DVD library in the Gay film section or in the Holiday film section. At first it seems a little fluffy and badly filmed until you realize it's intended innocence and that the parts that appear badly filmed are flashbacks, like an old home movie or a distant memory that fades from it's true colors. It grows on you and is a welcome change from the boy meets boy - boy loses boy - boy gets boy back formula since you don't really know how it ends. The actors seem to be a little more professional and above the level that you normally see in films like this. It struck me that this might actually have been based on a true life event.

Where has this film been hiding? It turned out to be the best DVD i ever took a chance on. "24 Nights" has bumped "A Christmas Story" off my number one Christmas viewing list. I cannot wait to see what Mr.Turner will do with Easter, I'll be there.

How can it be that this brilliantly crafted, beautifully written and perfectly acted film is without distribution- still?

I caught this film at a festival (Rehoboth Beach IFF) last year and would have seen it twice had I not caught its last showing. It's at times both hilarious and poignant and the family scenes ring so true and so funny that I consider 24 NIGHTS to be made of the anti-matter of another favorite slice-of-holiday-life film, Bob Clark's A CHRISTMAS STORY.

In 24 NIGHTS, writer-director Kieran Turner gives us a wonderful and unique perspective on love, family and Santa Claus through the eyes of memorably rich characters and with sharp dialogue and a really charming story.

I look forward to seeing this film again and again and to making it a regular Christmas 'watch' along with IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE and the aforementioned A CHRISTMAS STORY.