When Boys Fly

I will try very hard not to air my grievances with gay culture but before I begin my dissertation I'm inclined to preface my comments. As a gay black male 20something I'm appalled to read comments that insist that such behavior that takes place in "When Boys Fly" is something we (gay culture) should all identify with. I find these narrow-minded assessments truly and ironically limit the scope of diversity and tolerance that our community so boastfully touts. It's clear that even those of us who demand diversity and tolerance amongst our brethren - that we ourselves do not embrace such noble notions.

It's obvious that my follow posters share a similar disdain for the content of this documentary and not so much for the documentary itself. Some have seemingly confused a personal dislike of the content, even certain or all individuals with the documentaries merit as a credible "documentary." Clearly some have also called that into question as well. I personally choose to acknowledge that this documentary has no obligation other to depict the "truth" as it unfolded before them. This in my opinion gives this documentary merit as it provides objective material insomuch as an unbiased insight into a very "exclusive" niche in the gay world. Albeit a niche (subculture) that perpetuates an ongoing view of gay culture as being an elitist clique of excursionists who are youth-obsessed Caucasian males controlled by little more than an unhealthy preoccupation with looks, aesthetics and vanity and above all else INSTANT GRATIFICATION. A sentiment echoed by a follow poster:

Author: Ripshin from Texas I honestly can't stand these people, a sorry group of low-rent white trash. Toned bodies do not make a man, and the low intellect of the subjects, along with their total lack of class, make this a difficult film to watch.

While I choose to reserve judgment on these individuals the thought is more succinctly espoused by another poster:

Author: info ed (info ed@AOL.com) Apparently, none of these guys are able to really find community unless it's accompanied by drugs and sex. Oh, and being white and having a great body doesn't hurt either. This documentary (which at times seems a bit forced) aspires to be hard hitting...

I guess in the end I enjoyed the documentary for what it was…disheartening and unflattering as the content may have been for me - there's no need to kill the messenger!!

Rolov and Halpern have made a beautiful and powerful film with "When Boys Fly." I had never thought of the world of gay circuit parties as something I would find particularly intriguing, yet this film answered questions I didn't even know I had. A must see!

As a gay 20-something, watching this film was one of the most eye-opening experiences I have ever had. I never quite understood the appeal of the circuit party scene. In some ways, I still don't. What is so fun about getting so trashed you have to be taken to the hospital on a stretcher?

I always thought I was missing something - left out - by not experiencing this part of gay culture. However, this brief excursion into these boys' lives is enough experience I will ever need.

The film is engaging throughout and excellently edited, keeping the film rolling faster than its lead subjects. As shallow and confused and lonely as most of these boys appear to be, they are incredibly interesting and fun to watch.

My problem with documentaries is that frequently they use a lot of filler to make a longer film, but with the 62-minute run time of "When Boys Fly," it's just enough to set the scene, make a point, and leave the audience with a great high.

...then I suspect you're possibly in denial about the community of which you are a part. If you're complaining about how shallow and pathetic the people in the film are...take a look around you the next time you're out at a meat-market West Hollywood bar (or in whatever city you live) and see if you can pick out clones of the characters in this movie. I'd put money on it that you can...AND find more than one of each. And why? Because very very sadly, the gay community is known for its addictive, destructive behavior. If it were not true, there wouldn't be a White Party Circuit in the first place. Don't you think? I have a bazillion gay friends and as a singer/songwriter, the gay community comprises at least half of my fan-base (my sister calls me the musical version of Kathy Griffin, even). But I honestly can't think of a single one of my gay friends that isn't a functioning alcoholic. Honestly. Some have drug problems. Most of them have sex indiscriminately and sometimes even unsafely. Many are addicted to pornography. And the majority are indeed self-absorbed, shallow, unreliable and flat out compulsive liars. I wish I could say that's not the case, but I can't. Of course, as with any community or social group, there are exceptions to "the rule". But this film is about "the rule" and those who are essentially trying to imply that this doc only makes your community look bad...well...wake up and smell the coffee, campers. And then become the change you wish to see in your world.

It might be a good thing that I've never seen "Circuit", which is the film that everyone seems to keep comparing this piece to. I got to see "When Boys Fly" when it appeared at the Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival and really enjoyed the experience.

This is a film about a circuit party, one of those big all-night events frequented by gay die-hard participants who will travel across the country. For those of you still in the dark, a circuit party is basically a rave, except the guests are almost all gay and in a variety of age ranges and occupations. Oh yeah, and there's a LOT of sex and drugs.

I saw this movie two days before attending my first circuit party and it both excited and intimidated me. The subjects clearly explain that they attend these events despite the fact that others may think they're lame or laden with too many drugs or simply too expensive. Obviously, these are gay men, and as many of us know, gay men rarely conform to what the rest of society calls "normal", which I suppose is part of what these circuit parties are all about: the chance to express yourself through dance, partying, and hanging with friends.

It all comes out as great fun; the actors/subjects are cute, funny, and for the most part we really care about them. I came out of the theater feeling as hungover as those in film, however, as the moral of the story is crystal clear: too much of a bad thing can be destructive. One should never think one is too smart to get swallowed up by the party scene.