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The
Wolves of Kromer (1999)
Quite possibly the most inventive, interesting and
unique gay film I have seen in years, "The Wolves of
Kromer" begins as a riff off of the "Little Red Riding
Hood" fable. Of course, there really are only very loose
allusions to that old story in the film.
Part fantasy, part allegory, this British film portraysas
wolves and the townsfolk, in particular the town's priest,
as gaybashers. Of course, it's much more deeply drawn
and complex than simply this. And the two leads aren't
truly wolves, per se, or even werewolves. Rather it
is simply implied artistically and interestingly that
they are "different" using unique costumes and their
own dialogue. They is no prosthetics or "monster" make-up.
The film's wonderful and cute lead wolves, Gabriel
and Seth, played by James Layton and Lee Williams, are
truly a likable pair. It's important that we feel empathy
for them and care what happens and, within short order,
we do. The way in which director Will Gould, using a
wonderful script by Charles Lambert and Matthew Read,
lays out his film makes it easy for us to understand
the plot and easily get the underlying subtext of the
film. The wolves here are outsiders and obviously gay.
It portrays gays/wolves outside of the norm, (they are
despised by the townspeople), so they travel in packs,
live on the outskirts of town by the river and try to
remain unseen.
Of course, it doesn't hurt that Layton and Williams
are very, very easy to look at. Williams, especially
for me, was quite attractive and perfect. His slender,
fey, long-haired Seth, with his naive newness and wide-eyed
innocence, easily won me over. Likewise, Layton's more
masculine chiseled features left many men swooning in
the screening I attended.
The townsfolk, meanwhile, once they discover that
there are wolves in their midst react with obvious rage
and undertake vigilante acts. There are many subtextural
moments where the motivation of the male townspeople
appears to be their closeted or denied homosexual feelings.
The true plot of the film might be quite repulsive
to lesbians. Women play the villains here and the main
antagonist of the females is quite repugnant. There
is some implied lesbianism with her character and it
doesn't seem particularly nice. Still, I suppose, there
must be a villain in this plotline and the actress,
Rita Davies, is quite wonderful in this part. She truly
does seem evil. All of the older female actresses in
the film are quite great in their roles, even if their
characters are quite disagreeable and crinkled.
"The Wolves of Kromer" is reminiscent, in ways, of
Derek Jarman's work but is much more accessible and,
I suppose, less arty than that filmmaker's canon. But
it's inventiveness, it's unique metaphors and it's wonderful
actors and consummate direction will easily sway you
to it's favors.
This is Gould's first film, to the best of my knowledge.
I can't wait to see what he attempts next.
Note:
Opening narration by Boy George.
Costumes designed by Shanti Freed.
Gould has apparently said that he had trouble casting
the male leads (wolves) as actors were afraid to play
gay characters in the context of the film (they are
petty thieves and "wolves" who do supposedly eat on
a dead body). Gould had to cast male models, Layton
and Williams, in those roles instead.
Report
Card
Script:
A+
Acting: A+
Cinematography\Lighting: A-
Special Effects\Make Up: A+
Music: B
Final
Grade: A+
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