Robin Takao D’Oench | Hard / 2022

definition of a gay man

by Douglas Messerli

 

Corey Dashaun (screenplay), Robin Takao D’Oench (director) Hard / 2022 [12 minutes]

 

Mikey Johnson (Xavier Clyde) begins this short 12-minute film by attempting to fuck a girl in glasses (Nia Sondaya), who refuses to remove them. It’s simply not working, and she suggests they shift positions, she suddenly moving on top and aggressively pounding against him as if they were engaged in some Sado-masochistic ritual instead of mere copulation. By the time the credits arrive to announce the title, the couple have given up, she suggestion “I’m pretty sure it’s supposed to get…,” as the title of the film finally arrives.

     Mikey is disturbed by the situation and he directly tells us, checking up on his computer for the various reasons of erectile dysfunction, none of them sounding very encouraging for his future sex life. He even looks up about how to know when you’re gay, the entry suggesting that when you get an erection upon seeing another male you are probably either gay or bisexual. He checks out a gay porn site, only to be so absolutely inundated with gay porno images that he quickly turns his computer off, looking around to make sure no one has seen his brief adventures.

     He hears a sound of what might in fact be a burglar and takes up a bat, only to discover that his best friend Scottie (Christopher Pearson) is about to climb into his second-story bedroom window: “You know you’re mamma doesn’t like to have guests.”

     Scottie is bringing a treasure of an anime sex tape which he is desperate to share immediately with Mikey. But first he wants to know how everything went to between his bro and the girl. Mikey lies, describing it as a wild sex experience, Scottie reacting in an exaggerated manner much as his anime heroes might behave, Mikey commenting that “that’s what happens when you’re involved more with anime than people.”

      But when he calms down a little, Mikey admits the truth, they only kissed. And the two settle down to watch the film, Scottie peeling off his shirt because of the heat of the room, Mikey following.

      In the very next frame, they are both laying side-by-side on the bed, almost in a hug, having both evidently fallen asleep. Mikey awakens and looks down to discover that he has sprouted a huge erection, which he quickly covers with a pillow. Still the two remain embraced, Scottie awakening as well.

      Mickey asks, how his friend had known that he was lying, to which Scottie replies they have been friends together for such a very long time, he knows nearly everything about him. The two remain closely entwined and the camera closes down its lens.

       Will they engage in the expression love that goes beyond that of the deep friendship. Perhaps it doesn’t matter. Perhaps they already have.

Los Angeles, October 18, 2022 | Reprinted from World Cinema Review (October 2022).