Rome & Juliet: A Celebration of Lesbian Love

As I spent this Valentine’s Day by myself, I decided to spend this romantic day watching something romantic, but with an unconventional twist – a movie about romantic lesbian love.

As I’ve stated before, I’m not a lesbian. I may be more open and accepting with things that are out of convention’s reach, and since I was raised in a city that was open and accepting of alternate ways of living, I consider myself a major fag hag. Many of my friends are gay, and I applaud them for living life the way they want to, to love whatever gender they prefer, just as much as they accept the way I live my life. I can relate to them, knowing how hard it is to live such a different way of life, but we seem to understand each other, like kindred souls.

I saw this movie for the first time last week. I was a bit skeptical on whether or not I would love this movie, because I had seen lesbian-themed movies and shows before, and I wasn’t completely turned on by the idea. They didn’t really tug at my heart for some reason, and they way they were presented made it seem too soap opera-ish, too cheesy, and too unrealistic by presenting it in a bombastically unsubtle way.

But this movie, “Rome and Juliet”, really floored me. It’s not because of the storyline – it’s a story that’s been done quite a few times (like “Imagine Me & You”), but the script and the acting was so well-done, I couldn’t help but hold my breath and gush over the beauty of the movie. It was so beautiful that I became teary-eyed a few times, holding my chest as I felt that warm and fuzzy feeling watching the two actresses fall in love, go through struggles, as if it were true love itself. In fact, I sent it to my gay friend, and even he LOVES this movie…and the fact that he loves this movie when he should be allergic and breaking into hives by watching two women getting it on and falling in love is a big surprise to me.

“Rome and Juliet” is a lesbian-themed indie romantic movie from the Philippines, but if you’re a gay advocate, like myself, or if you’re gay yourself, you HAVE to see this movie. I completely vouch for it, you can’t help but fall in love with this movie, I promise you that.

As I said, the storyline is not new: Juliet, a conservative pre-school teacher, is about to be married to a young government official named Marc, but she is having small doubts of whether Marc is THE ONE. She loves Marc, but has trouble trying to fit in with his world, since his antagonizing mother seems to look down on Juliet. She then meets Rome, a single and lustful straight woman, who hires Rome to become her wedding planner. The two women become the best of friends instantly, noticing that they have some kind of connection.

As Rome & Juliet build a deeper connection with each other, problems start to arise between Marc & Juliet – their individual principles begin to clash as Rome and Juliet become more and more involved with each other, the chemistry building from their subtle glances at each other when the other isn’t looking, an accidental kiss during an argument, and subtle jealousies build. Then, during a night when Juliet seeks the solace of Rome’s comfort after a family squabble, the inevitable occurs – Rome and Juliet consummate their love with a passionate kiss and wake up naked in each other’s arms.

From then on, they realize they’re both in love with each other, but it’s a moral and social dilemma – they know that it’s unfair to Marc that they’re in love with each other and keeping their love a secret. The other issue would be that society wouldn’t accept their love, they may be scorned by society.

(Side note: in the Philippines, homosexual love is not accepted very well. If they find out you’re gay, you could lose your job, be disowned – you name it.)

They separate for a while, and both women are in emotional turmoil. Juliet is struggling as to whether she should still marry Marc, even if it may be the right thing to do in the eyes of society and turn away her true love for Rome. Rome is in turmoil because she’s in love with someone who’s about to be married, and the fact that she’s in love with a WOMAN.

One day, Rome “comes out of the closet” during a poetry reading performance at a bar she and Juliet frequented, in front her sister. Juliet was with some friends when Rome confesses her love for her, and they end up at the end of the night, showering together at Rome’s apartment. Marc, who hadn’t seen or heard from Juliet in days, suspects that she was at Rome’s place, walks inside and discovers the women together in the shower.

From then on, emotional turmoil breaks loose, hearts and egos are bruised, people are disowned, rumors spread…until a traumatic event occurs that brings Rome and Juliet to a satisfying conclusion.

Like I said, the story is a bit commonplace, but the way the film was presented made my heart gush. Throughout the film, poetry is interlaced with the script, as Juliet is a poetry hobbyist, and the flowery language flows like water through the script. The cinematography is a mixture of light and dark scenes, the colors showing vibrantly through, emitting an aura of romantic love and a neo-modern-Shakespearean glow, kind of a very subtle version of the cinematography of Baz Luhrman’s “Romeo & Juliet”. And most of all, the chemistry between the two actresses – Mylene Dizon and Andrea Del Rosario – seemed so real and true to life that you couldn’t help but cheer them on. Plus, the soundtrack of the film really brought another edge to the film – the majority of the music being a slick, urbanized version of Southwestern style of modern blues, along with a few snippets of Pinoy rap to glue the film together.

After watching that movie, it struck me that I wasn’t aghast by the concept of lesbian love. Even though I’m a very open person, I would have to be honest, sometimes I felt lesbians were aggressive, even more aggressive than straight men, when it came to dating. But honestly, if you’re truly in love with someone, it doesn’t matter who you’re with, just as long as it’s a mutual love that is true and pure. It was an honest representation of true love that symbolized a bond that you completely can’t deny.

So for all of you hopeless gay romantics out there, I suggest you all grab a copy and watch this movie. Once you watch it, I guarantee that this’ll be part of your favorites. If anyone is intrigued enough and wants to see it, I would be more than happy to lend a copy, just e-mail me at sex.confessions69@gmail.com. By the way, THIS MOVIE HAS ENGLISH SUBTITLES!!

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!!

Best gay Filipino films you NEED to see #1

I am an avid fan of gay films, especially from my home country, the Philippines. For a country that is not as progressive as the US in terms of sexual politics (even their pornography is noted as wussy "softcore" at best, and an X rating would consist of showing pubic hair without the genitalia), in recenty years, this country has really mind-blowing gay films. I'll be reviewing a few of those films that I have seen recently to you:

ANG LIHIM NI ANTONIO (Antonio's Secret):
Starring Kenjie Garcia, Jiro Manio, Sharmaine Buencamino and Josh Ivan Morales
Written by Lex Bonife
Directed by Joselito Altarejos

This film was the first I had ever seen from the Philippines that, not only had head-turning eye candy (google Josh Ivan Morales and you'll see), but surprisingly, you actually did see some penis popping here and there in this movie (my reaction: "OH MY GOD, THERE'S DICK IN THIS MOVIE!!" [rewind movie to prove that what I saw was actually penis, then I watch it again a few more times to prove that there was actually penis]), the story was very well-written and the story convincing as well.

Antonio's Secret is about Antonio, a 15 year old boy who is discovering his sexuality for the first time. He lives with his idealistic mother, who is in denial that her husband, working overseas, had abandoned them. His first sexual experience had been with a friend of his from high school, but the encounter became disasterous because it broke up the friendship.

Antonio then meets his father's brother, Jonbert (our darling Josh Ivan Morales), who temporarily moves into Antonio's house while he applies for a job in Manila. Jonbert is a typical guy, but he is lives in secret as a male prostitute who screws gay guys for money (of course, he doesn't really see himself gay since he hadn't been screwed from behind, but I digress). Jonbert becomes Antonio's sexual obsession, and the story continues on to a surprising end.

Out of 5 penises, I'd give it 4.5 penis rating (5 if they showed more dick).

ANG LALAKE SA PAROLA (The Man in the Lighthouse)
Starring Harry Laurel and Justin de Leon
Written by Lex Bonife and Joselito Altarejos

Another Bonife-Altarejos collaboration, this was their first film together (before "Lihim"). Another X-rated gay indie film, the story and filmography was not as great as "Lihim", but the fact that there were full frontal penis shots almost makes up for the somewhat lagging filmography. You will be entertained watching this movie, no matter what angle you're watching it from (from the bed or from the floor LOL).

"Ang Lalake sa Parola" is about a young man named Mateo, who works at a lighthouse. He had moved from his hometown to this rural village because he had heard that his estranged father, who had abandoned him when he was little, had lived there, but once Mateo had discovered his whereabouts, he discovered that he was working overseas. Mateo had been with his girlfriend for about 3 years before he meets Jerome, a shy urbanite from Manila, who was in his hometown for vacation.

The two become the best of friends, and slowly, they become lovers. Mateo is confused with his sexuality because he can't admit to himself that he's gay, even though he's in love with Jerome. So the story is basically Jerome's personal journey about discovering his sexuality.

I'd give this one a 4 penis rating (5 if the filmography was better).

MACHO DANCER
Starring Alan Paule, Daniel Fernando, Jacklyn Jose
Written by Amando Lacuesta and Ricardo Lee
Directed by Lino Brocka

I've recently discovered Brocka's films, and his films are extraordinary. For any film enthusiast, Brocka's films are a must see - his films have begun the trend of filmaking excellence from the Philippines, starting with his film, "Insiang", that was shown at the Cannes International Film Festival in 1976. Although, with this film, this one completely threw me off guard, until I discovered the Lino Brocka was gay - which made a lot more sense why he made this film.

"Macho Dancer" is a titilating and honest look about the Filipino sex industry, the sex, the drugs, the dangers and the corruption of the system surrounding the people who work in it. There are many steamy scenes, besides the male macho dancers (check out the two or three "shower scenes" in this movie), but as you watch the movie, you are given a closer look at their lives outside of the gay club, and you almost feel guilty enjoying those macho dancing sequences. You realize that the character's lives are hard and gritty, where there are instances of life or death. Macho Dancer is a wake-up call about the sex industry - that it isn't only glitz, glamour and sex.

The story of Macho Dancer is about Pol, who lives in a poor village, and sells himself to American military servicemen to help take care of his mother and 3 siblings. After his last military serviceman had left, his friend Greg, convinces him to move to Manila in order to get a job as a macho dancer in a gay bar. While at his "interview" at Greg's workplace, he meets Noel, who works at a rival bar, and Noel convinces him to not only work at Noel's gay bar, but live with him at his small, run-down apartment.

Pol gets used to life in Manila working at the club and living with Noel, he falls in love with a woman prostitute (his first straight relationship, it seems). As he gets to know Noel, he discovers that Noel is looking for his long-lost sister, who ran away from their village to look for him in the city. Noel and Pol, during their off hours, travel to all the whore houses in the city to find his sister, with ending disasterous results.

The story can be a bit predictable and a bit unbelievable (you don't really hear about gay men falling in love with women every day), but the film gave you a feel of the difference between the glitz and glamour of the gay club and the dirty, poverty-stricken world outside of the gay club that it really makes you analyze the movie.

Out of 5 penises, I give it a 4.5 penis rating.

I promise to review more films soon!!