Venus as a Boy

I'm not going to explain anything about this film. If you live it, if you hate it, I think that says a lot about who you are. I'm not saying that it defines you negatively or positively, but it puts you into one of two camps. I know exactly which one I fall into. Loved every second of this film.

This film hits on visual, relational, and cultural levels.

Each character felt real, while also representing how disjointed identities and values might attract and repel each other within our current counter/cultural landscape. Themes of expression, success, anti-Blackness. Femininity, spirituality, and playfulness/responsibility coalesce in this film that insists on setting its own course.

The film feels equal parts sweet and tense, whimsical and serious, all while remaining realistic, fresh, and genuine.

I wish I could watch it for the first time over and over!

P. S. We live for trace lysette. Yes hunny.

Ty Hodges wrote, directed and starred in this himself. I haven't seen anything he has done before but I hope I see more after this. This movie is so honest and open. The story telling is amazing, layered and artful. It explores a lot of very relevant things; social class, sincerity in art, love and identity. It is not done in a "shove it in your face" or preachy way, instead it feels genuine. Like you're just watching someone's life. There are more artistic scenes exploring the character's state of mind that are done so well. All the characters are written pretty well, even those more in the background feel real. Projects like this need more mainstream recognition cause they are few and far between.

If the intent was to display how 'different' and 'out of touch' the art culture is with everyday people, then mission accomplished, I guess. Otherwise, that was just some bizarro story about the starving artists and the rich elite they have to satisfy to succeed.

I get the message that Hunter wanted to be true to himself and his art and he was going to stand on principle, and I thought that was about the only good part of the story. However, that was a long journey for a pretty common movie theme. I can't imagine a large segment of society relating to this movie. I'm sure the 'critics' will love the diversity and portrayal of culture, but that is their world. For most of us, it was just a P. T. Barnum spectacle that wore off after the first 20 minutes, IMO.

One last point, what the heck is with all the smoking? I thought we were past glamourizing cigarette smoking in the movies?

This was a beautiful film. Every frame is like a poem to Los Angeles and the talented, struggling bohemians that make it a wild and magical place.

The acting is pitch perfect and the characters are creatures you fall in love with.