Dare (Adam Salky, USA)

Dare, 2009

In 2005, filmmaker Adam Salky made a short film about a dorky high school kid named Ben who lusts after Johnny, the bad boy at school. Then Salky turned around and made a feature out of that story. This time, however, things are rearranged a bit. Alexa who was just a friend in the short is now a leading lady in this ménage à trois feature.

In the feature, Ben and Alexa have been best friends since they were very young. Now comes a new guy in school who is an asshole. Neither of them like him. When Johnny is cast opposite Alexa in drama class, things change for all three. Johnny becomes sexually involved with both Ben and Alexa. The film is highly salvaged by the space it affords to build each character. The film is told from the viewpoint of each main character. This allows the viewer to feel connected at all times with that character. It also creates a rich balance in a story that otherwise would have been too much to swallow.

Finding Me (Roger S. Omeus Jr., USA)

FINDING ME, 2009

Finding Me is Roger S. Omeus' directorial debut. The film revolves around Faybien Allan (Raymartell Moore), a young Black man who on the surface seems to have it all going on for him: he young, beautiful, and has good friends. Don't let that fool you. Under neath all the hipness of his (external) life is a painful experience. Faybien is battling a homophobic father who taunts him, and in return Faybien grew self hating. But when he meets a self loving gay Black man named Lonnie (Derrick L. Briggs), things change. Lonnie challenges Faybien's dull life by making him confront his own demons. But the harder Lonnie pushes, the more complicated Faybien's life becomes.

The film is one of the handful gay films of color. As such, one can overlook the inexperience of its cast and crew. There is a lot to be desired on the acting, technical and the very image of the film. However, it gets two thumps up for a good story and the wonderful addition it is on the gay films of color section on any bookstore.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.