Get ready for the next gay film about adolescence, hyper-masculinity, and crime.
It seems that the European country of Slovenia has gotten in on the surge of international queer indie films. And what’s their contribution to the rising trend? The film Consequences.
Directed by Darko Štante as his debut project, Consequences has already been celebrated abroad. The film premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival as part of the festival’s robust Discovery lineup. The movie is based on depicting chaotic, destructive, and closeted youth in their complexity and reality. Štante says he drew from his experience working with such youth in a correctional facility.
TIFF’s synopsis of the story reads:
“Centered on a powerhouse performance from charismatic newcomer Matej Zemljic, the film takes an unflinching look at the raw impulses of adolescence and the insecurity that lies beneath. Sentenced, with the approval of his exasperated parents, to attend a youth detention centre, a handsome and muscular teen is thrown into the correctional facility’s intimidating and testosterone-fueled hierarchy. Standing strong against its violent initiations, Andrej finds his anchor of approval and companionship in Željko, the aggressive leader of the center’s gang, which he soon joins in a carefree spiral of sex, drugs, and violence. Yet Andrej’s tough posturing belies an intimate fragility. Revealing this would unravel everything around him.”
If this film sounds interesting to you, it’s coming to the U.S. for a limited theatrical release on August 2nd. To see if it’s worth the watch, you can check out a trailer below.
