I saw Männer wie wir today, a new German comedy about a gay soccer team. (Translated the title means 'Men Like Us') Ecki is the goalie of his local soccer team. When he loses an important game, his team mates - upon finding out that he's gay - decide to kick him out of the team. They tell him queers can't play soccer anyway. He leaves the small town he lives in, swearing that in four weeks he can find a gay soccer team and win against his former team. Parents and neighbours can't cope with Ecki's coming out, but his sister helps him. They gather a team...
The movie starts out as a coming out story, partly serious, partly funny, but turns more into a classical sports-underdog story of Clevelend Indians ilk, only that the soccer players are (mostly) gay. Hubby pertinently pointed out, that all the gay scenes had a very strong hetero subtext, which means that the gay relationships depicted (e.g. three no longer very young leather guys who live together) are depicted with a very hetero dynamic (i.e. we don't see them do each other, but cuddle). Ultimately the film has the message 'be yourself and stand up for who you are' - in that it is less about being gay and more about friendship, team spirit and love in all shapes and sizes. The family of the hero plays an important part too, especially the disappointed father.
The movie is funny and fluffy and nicely photographed. Hubby and I really enjoyed it. If you click on the link you can download a trailer. It will be in German, but at least you can get an impression. Do persevere until the end of the clip to see the cute leather threesome. :-) There is one shot in that movie that I really need as an icon.
The movie starts out as a coming out story, partly serious, partly funny, but turns more into a classical sports-underdog story of Clevelend Indians ilk, only that the soccer players are (mostly) gay. Hubby pertinently pointed out, that all the gay scenes had a very strong hetero subtext, which means that the gay relationships depicted (e.g. three no longer very young leather guys who live together) are depicted with a very hetero dynamic (i.e. we don't see them do each other, but cuddle). Ultimately the film has the message 'be yourself and stand up for who you are' - in that it is less about being gay and more about friendship, team spirit and love in all shapes and sizes. The family of the hero plays an important part too, especially the disappointed father.
The movie is funny and fluffy and nicely photographed. Hubby and I really enjoyed it. If you click on the link you can download a trailer. It will be in German, but at least you can get an impression. Do persevere until the end of the clip to see the cute leather threesome. :-) There is one shot in that movie that I really need as an icon.