Havan_IronOak
While the problems addressed by this 2012 film are important, this may not be the best film to see if you're concerned with the issue. It's told in a semi-dream-like state with cuts and some flash-back flash-forward confusion making it hard to get the characters set in your mind. A framing scene that would introduce the characters and help the audience identify who's who, right up-front would have been helpful. The subject IS important and I'm glad to see films that address these issues but it could have been SO much better. Watch O Beautiful (2002) (available on You-tube) for an example of a film that immediately understandable and deals with gay bashing. Personally, I felt that the "homeless uncle" aspects of this film just added a level of complication that the story-line didn't really need. If it was important to the film maker to include those aspects of the story, then I feel that more of the surrounding details should have been included as well. The actors here were cute enough to capture and hold my interest though I WAS confused as to who delivered the locker-room beating. I thought it was the bully brother not the gay kid himself. That was only cleared up for me in therapy.
Kirpianuscus
recreation of a puzzle. about a serious social theme. good acting. and few stories. the bullying. and the self definition. frustrations, fear, mask and the fall. one of great films for the delicate and precise manner to define and remind well ignored aspects of teenagers life. its important virtue is to dig in the essence of problem in the best manner. and this is the motif for define Teens Like Phil like a manifesto. because it has the force to change the viewer. not for resurrection of memories from school period but for the nuanced portrait of teen gay. few pictures. a touch. few words. and the hate who change everything. so simple ! the film has the science to expose this simplicity in its complex, painful aspects. and this detail does Teens Like Phil a must see film.
Elena Litvinova
Frankly speaking, to write about the US legalizing gay-marriage in the states one by one while people try suicide being sexually not-traditionally oriented and at the same time living in the Russian Federation of 2015 is kind of strange at least.Whatever the law says, the non-traditional representatives of anything will always be less numerable, will be a minority, and this very idea is sufficient for oppressing anyway.The material filmed by the USA gives a wide panorama of bullying at school and suicide among homosexual (and other sub-groups of) teens. There is a wide range of: musicals, docu-drama, mixed with hints of poetry, and mind-blowing art-house sketches. The highest amount is concentrated in toneless short-films, in the flow of plot line of which the tension becomes so high till the denouement frame with the dangling feet in the air. Oozing out sarcasm talking about death is quite a bad idea. The ground problem of those films is that the viewers feel relieved watching the credits: the story is finished, though very tragic, we terribly sorry main character, the world is unfair and yet it is fortune it all happened to someone else. Catharsis of the viewer is counted in directors' ups, but the primary goal of the socially oriented films - the action – is hardly accomplished. Passive sympathizing never inspired anybody on acting more sincere and helps for the closest ones.The film by Dominik Hukstone stands out many things on the given background. On the one hand, the film shows sufficiently the edge and the intensity of the problem, that is likely to have a solving, but the statistics is worsening only. On the other, we see not the kind of topical social film only, but the sufficient holistic picture, that doesn't lose its artistic merit even when this topic will die down.Naturally all the aspects and "actors" of the problem showed off in "Teens Like Phil". The experience of first love and attraction; conflict with the agemates; the role of school depicted in the empathic teacher and in the principal having much more important things to do; the example of "unsuccessful" life in the representation of Phill's homosexual uncle; psychological support centers; prevailing prejudice made by Adam's brother, that all homosexual men are femmy and they apply some female trait anyway, which makes Adam to run further and faster, to flip the jumping rope and to hit Phill more violently. We can face two examples of homosexuality acceptance at the end of the film: the boy, who accepts his identity, but doesn't want to pain his parents and the whole world at once (Phil), and the boy, who cannot afford to accept him owing his own reputation among the agemates (Adam). Phil's suicide attempt that failed appeared not so giant price just to live free. Adam has to pay dear for his errors to the grave.Reverse chronology of the plot line is tickling your nerves from the very first seconds: "Has he died or not?.." This is the ideal state for sensation of beauty of any kind and the director is skillful in applying it. You'll sure remember this film thanks to Egon Schiele and Francis Bacon pieces of art, thanks to really impressive solid off-screen words and Alan Wates' voice, thanks to Adam's perfect body; lips detail shot that were on the edge to kiss; beautiful and unaffected nature or the motion to have a long thinking about the past or the future with roman god Janus. Something is likely to touch your insides. It doesn't matter what it will be: deep psychological thoughts or light sexual excitement. It is stronger than sympathizing anyway. One day you'll be more emphatic and caring. Someone will change his mind to hang his head at the end of the rope one lovely Saturday morning only because of this.Blindfolded eyes are the semiotics of the whole film. This "blinded" society doesn't see and doesn't want to see (accept) the problem. People are blinded and made cruel by stereotypes. This symbol, at the same time, the idea that till our eyes are closed, till we are young and didn't have the opportunity to face the unfairness of the world around us – we feel much more better, understand everything better and believe in ourselves. Let's face the real world. Let's have a look in each other's eyes. Let us not have a fear to look in our own soul.
Irishchatter
I found it hard to watch when Adam beat up poor Phil because he really took the side of being evil really. I think it was totally wrong like the kid had a lot on his plate. His uncle is homeless and living in a forest with no shelter. All he had left were photos of his lover and family pictures. The guy probably felt ashamed of his sexuality and just ran away as if he didn't exist and just rot away which is so tragically heartbreaking. I swear I was near to tears when Phil found out he passed away from starvation and nearly took his own life. I'm glad Phil found help and told the rest of the other people about experience of himself being bullied that someone he loved but brutally abused him in school. This really doesn't have to be in films like this, it's everywhere you go basically! Bullying is damaging so stand up to a person you trust and stop it! There will be a light at the end of the tunnel waiting for you :)
