San Diego Asian Film Festival 2009

The film’s unnamed protagonist is a young poet living with a mother who deliberately ignores his sexual leanings. When he visits a gay bar, he becomes smitten with Aries, a performer introduced as “18 years old, complete set of teeth,” and well-endowed.

Selling his prized collection of comic books and action figures, he returns to the bar with enough cash to rent Aries. The boy takes him home for New Year’s Eve and fireworks follow after dinner with Mom.

Known for his bold filmmaking, Solito embarks on another daring exploration of young gay love. BOY, which was supposed to compete at the Singapore International Film Festival, was banned by the city-state’s censors for its “overtly” gay theme and love scene. Described as a “fascinatingly, subtly tense slice of gay life” by LA Weekly, BOY explores the seedy world of Manila’s strip clubs and a surprising connection between two young men with vastly different backgrounds. A shared evening leads to a life-changing moment, as a sensitive young man begins a journey of sexual awareness. – Michael Chen

Co-presented by:
UCSD GaGAs