Gay short films dating back to 1985 celebrated in The Male Gaze: Celluoid Dreams

Words: Brian Leonard; Images: NVQ Media

In partnership with NVQ Media

NQV Media, the home of LGBTQ and coming-of-age cinema, is inviting viewers to embark upon a journey from 1985 to the present day in a new collection of freshly digitised celluloid films.

Exploring seven stories from around the world The Male Gaze: Celluoid Dreams shows off an array of gay encounters from years gone by. The trailer (see below) shows off plenty of passion, drama, sex, and love.

It’s the latest in The Male Gaze collections with Three’s Company, Nocturnal Instincts, Hide and Seek, The Boy is Mine, Strikers and Defenders, The Heat of the Night, and First Kiss also available. 

The films featured in this collection are:

Just Out of Reach – dir. Jonathan Wald

As the sun rises, we witness two male bodies emerge from the darkness. The younger of the two attempts to sneak out on the older man he just slept with.

Toto Forever – dir. Roberto F. Canuto

A wide-eyed young postman and a gangster in trouble with the mafia find their lives become inexplicably intertwined when a heady affair attracts danger at every turn.

Men Don’t Cry – dir. Kyriakos Chatzimichailidis

One stormy winter night, soaking wet 20 year old Ilias arrives uninvited at Petros’ house. Ilias’ erratic behaviour causes much concern to Petros. He vaguely remembers meeting Ilias one night some years ago, in a gay bar. As the night goes on, unsettling truths come to the fore, and as much as Petros would like to be rid of his guest, some truths will stay with you forever.

Alger La Blanche – dir. Cyril Collard

Farid, a teenager of Algerian descent, spends his free time hanging out with the wrong crowds in the suburbs south of Paris while maintaining a secret relationship with illustrator Jean. Both Jean and Farid are unsure about the future of their relationship – Farid wants Jean to move to Algiers with him, but Jean doesn’t want to continue being Farid’s secret. But when Farid becomes embroiled in a police matter, both his passionate private life and conservative family life hurtle towards one another, with explosive results.

Unconfessions – dir. Ana Galizia

Luiz Roberto Galizia died very young, but he left behind a wealth of personal archives. 30 years later, his niece Ana Galizia plunges into these archives to follow the traces of this uncle she never met.

Same Difference – dir. Harry Richards

Twin brothers Leon and Noel share their parents, their school and their bunk bed. But when Leon becomes interested in Abi and Abi becomes interested in Noel, a love triangle threatens to tear the twins apart – until Noel makes a declaration of his own.

Boychick – dir. Glenn Gaylord

In sunny suburbia, a loud-mouthed Jewish mom incessantly nags and humiliates her shy gay teenage son, who she calls her ‘Boychick’. Meanwhile, in the classroom, Boychick can’t stop ogling a hunky classmate. If only Boychick had the courage to face up to his desires. As if by magic, along comes his idol, pop star Ashley Hart, to give him the hip-strutting, hair-flicking confidence he craves.

The Male Gaze: Celluloid Dreams is available to stream on Amazon UK, Amazon USA, and on Vimeo On Demand and Peccadillo Picture’s new streaming platform, Peccadillo POD.