larapha Rather introspective, this Brazilian/German film, with little plot and a lot of propositions easy to follow, but maybe not that easy to understand. The story centers on a safeguard attracted to a man he saves. They soon go for sex, softly depicted in the movie. Next they go to Germany, in a process of inner evolution for the Brazilian lead that may be difficult for the appetite of American audiences, little is spoken. A Brazilian like me does understand it better, for it's a dilemma most common for a man divided between its original family and a life he thinks ought to be better. The principals are the continuum of the film, both handsome, specially the well-built safeguard. It was already discussed that the word 'love' is not part of the plot. Not a single time it is mentioned they could experiment this sentiment to one another, and one will really have to speculate on which were the inner movements that made the Brazilian immigrate. Not an easy film, but I think it worth the effort. A trivia: in Brazil, where Wagner Moura is well known and the film went to commercial circuit, the sex scenes were a scandal. So much so that audiences where advertised in the tickets about the subject.

Kirpianuscus beautiful, bitter, useful. a film about relations and choices. delicate poetry and good performances. not comfortable but touching for its honesty, for the landscapes, for the dialogs and for the grace of silence. a film about love and its decision, about guilt feelings and about gestures who are only exercise to know happiness. about the responsibility. and about the past who remains the skin of present. short- a beautiful film. not in ordinary manner but that detail defines it. because it is the work of an admirable director who use the right nuances for a story who might be almost cruel. a gentle speech about the sense of life.

ksf-2 "Beach" opens with two motorcycle riders riding along the sand, and cooling off in the waters of a nearby beach; When one of them drowns, the lifeguard tries, but fails to save him. The lifeguard Doni, ( Wagner Moura) strikes up a "friendship" with the buddy of the guy that was lost (Clemens Schick). Lots of hot guys. The friendship turns into more... but the plot development moves pretty slowly. Konrad wants Doni to stay, but Doni wants to get back to his job and his family. Full frontal nudity. Lots of butt shots. Not a lot of dialogue, but maybe that's part of the charm. A whole lot of dancing in nightclubs. Some GREAT scenes of a giant indoor aquarium, and also many ocean scenes. Then his family issues catch up with him. Doni must decide what's important to him. The ending was a little metaphysical, but you can judge for yourself. Certainly worth the price of a DVD on amazon.com.Directed by Brazilian director Karim Aïnouz, who has done numerous films. Co-wrote this with Felipe Bragança. Very Euro.

Paul Creeden I was greatly pleased by this film on several levels. The first and most important is the level of production, writing, direction and acting. The film is coherently written, well produced and well directed. The acting is well done with appreciable character development over its three acts. This makes it outstanding as a gay-themed film.The second level of my enjoyment of the film was its realistic style. Real men, albeit very sexy, with real lives having real sexual and emotional contact. The low-keyed dialogue and commonplace action blend well to create a sense of being present in those real lives. This is enhanced by the episodic nature of the story line. Less linear and more vignette.Finally, the frankness of the lives of these men who love in a surrounding world of heterosexual conformity makes its own political statement without having to. It is of the same excellent caliber as the French film "Stranger by the Lake". With films like this, I feel gay-content cinema has evolved far beyond camp and soft porn.