Bites, Camera, Fashion is a column from Davey McNelly, who is disabled, likes films and makes poor choices while trying to simplify his life.
Some things are shrouded in mystery. They’re unsaid. We’ll never know for sure.
For instance, in the Denzel Washington film “The Hurricane,” a group of three adult white housemates from Toronto, Ontario — two men and a woman — adopt a Black high school student from Brooklyn, New York, and take him to Toronto to teach him how to read (and how to do other stuff well, too?).
This makes no sense, of course. While we all know that our literacy scores are not Cuba’s, I’m sure they could’ve just hired him a tutor. Also, what are these adopters doing living in the house together in the first place?
It’s obvious to me that they’re in polycule. The woman wears the pants in the family: She’s the one who makes all the decisions and smokes the cigarettes. The group starts writing letters to a wrongfully convicted boxer, played by Washington, who goes by the moniker “The Hurricane.” The group forms a relationship with the boxer, frees him from jail, and, according to the film — which is based on historical facts — the Hurricane moves in with the polycule, apparently forming a quad with the other adults in the home.
Bites
On an unseasonably warm day in February, my friend asked if I wanted to see the film “Pillion.” As all my hard-core readers know, I love going to see a film that I know nothing about. We brought in plenty of snacks and I brought in an avocado and peanut roll from Mr. Hibachi on Court Street, which always hits. I may have dropped a piece of fish under the seat in front of me.
Camera
On the opposite side of the spectrum from “The Hurricane” is a film like “Pillion,” written and directed by Harry Lighton. It hits you in the face over and over with what it is about — submissive and dominant sexual play — and how far one will go to date a handsome guy who owns a nice motorcycle. We’ve all done it: gone out of our way to try to win over someone who doesn’t treat us very well in the end. And I’m not kink-shaming, but…
You see, a ‘pillion’ is both the backseat of a motorcycle and also an extremely submissive gay male in the gay motorcycle scene in England. Most of us have never dated someone for six months, performing many sexual acts, without ever kissing and being told to sleep naked on the floor. Most of us have never joined a gay motorcycle club in general. I have my limits to what I will do for love, even for Alexander Skarsgård. I guess what I’m saying is that this film is for a very niche audience.
Near the end of the film, the submissive character finally asks for a real date. He gets to drive the motorcycle! They have ice cream! They even kiss for the first time. The next morning, the handsome man leaves, despite seeming to have had a very good time. Like, he’s ridden off into the sunset forever. What does this mean? I’m not sure. I guess I don’t recommend anyone date a motorcyclist (dangerous!) in general, or watch this film. I believe in love and health. I am even getting married later this summer.
If you’re looking for a softcore gay porn to watch, I highly recommend “Heated Rivalry,” the hockey show. While there are certainly some elements of BDSM, it seems more appealing in this show. There’s lots of kissing. What makes the show is the genuine connection the two main actors share. And how their community supports them. That’s a love story I can get behind.
If you’re not wanting to watch softcore porn, I highly recommend the documentary “Listers,” available for free on YouTube. This documents two brothers who decide to do a “big year” in birding. It’s funny, heartfelt and about a process of self discovery. Plus, you get to learn about birds along with two novices.
Fashion
I was getting lifted into bed the other night, and had stayed up much too late as usual. It was around 1 a.m. and as soon as my head hit the pillow, I started to dream. I dreamt that there were Pokémon all over my house, in every nook and cranny.
In my dream I thought, I don’t know anything about Pokémon. Since I am able to do lucid dreaming fairly easily, I decided to replace the Pokémon with something else. Since I had just watched the film about birding, I replaced all the Pokémon with birds and then let them fly away. My personal care assistant the next morning told me he still plays Pokémon Go and went to the cemetery where the person who built my home is buried to catch a rare one after putting me in bed. Anyways…
It’s spring! Time to get rid of the stuff that’s weighing you down — whether that be old clothes or Pokémon. I recently did a huge purge of the office that I work in, getting rid of a huge dumpster load of old things and finding various useful things that we added to our mobility and medical loan closet to give out for free for people who need them. Visit Southeastern Ohio Center for Independent Living’s Facebook page to find out more.
It’s also time for the 53rd Athens International Film and Video Festival, held April 13-19! I can’t wait for the next review!
