David
and Goliath (2001)
Bryan McHenry's 30 minute short, "David
and Goliath," which opened the regular programming
of the 2001 Agliff (Austin Gay and Lesbian International
Film Festival) ran without credits, title or any introduction.
This had no more jarring effect than the film itself,
a confused and rather lackluster event. The film concerns
itself with gay male body image and embodies it's
opinions in a rather drab and typical story about
a cute young average guy who is in love with a weightlifter
who is also a wannabee pornstar.
Filmed on video and using music that
typifies gay soundtrack, like Donna Summer and Patti
Page, the film begins with a really dreadfully typical
scene where the young "average" guy is looking through
magazines where he is constantly bombarded by muscle
men in advertisements. For some odd reason, to detach
himself from this he goes to the gym. Then through
some bad exposition that never really makes sense,
we come to the problem faced by this protagonist.
His boyfriend, whom he apparently met at the gym,
is just too beefy for him. As another character points
out, he belongs to a different world.
What's sad about this film is that
the protagonist is so damn cute and sweet that we
never appreciate his dilemma. He acts like he thinks
no other man would ever be interested in him. To further
sicken us, he is hit on by a effeminate guy whom he
immediately rebuffs. Later, he has a conflict with
his lover and just seems so very sorry for himself.
No one watching will feel sorry for him, however.
This guy is cute and I could give a fuckall about
the relationship problems of a cute gay guy.
"David and Goliath" ends with a nice
and subtle moment, but it may be just a bit too subtle
for some viewers. And the point it may be trying to
make, that the protag himself has several issues with
his physicality that need to be addressed, somehow
seem diminished by this ending.
Note:
Filmed and projected on video.
