简介：Afriendofminehadrented"Shiner"onlybecausetheclerksathislocalvideostoreweretalkingabout"howmuchofabigotthedirectoris,"implyingthathomophobiawasattherootofthefilm(apparentlythesefolksneverwatchedthespecialfeaturesontheDVD,whichtotallynegatesthatopinion).Myfriendtookthevideohomeandreportedtomehisfascinationwiththefilm;atthesametime,hefeltaroused,repulsed,intriguedandfrightenedduringandaftertheflick.Hetoldmeaboutthepremiseofthefilm,andfeltsomewhatashamedforfindingsomeofitsdarkercontenterotic. Afewweekslater,Ipickedupthefilmandhadasimilarexperience.Iwasconfused;inthequeermovementweretaughtsomuchaboutpowerdynamicsandorganizeourselvestofightviolence,butherewasadramaticallydifferenttakeonthesubject.Whatendedmyconfusionwastheinterviewwithwriter/directorChristianCalsonontheDVD.Thelineofhisthatgrabbedmethemost:"Ididn'twanttomakeanothergayromanticcomedy."Thingssuddenlymadesensetome.Somanyqueer,Imean,gayfilms(ahem)aremerelyhomo-remakesofmainstreamromanticcomedies.Asqueers,ourmessagegotlostaswesoughtinclusioninaparticularmedium.So,inwhatmightbethemostpost-modernmoveofawriter/directorinfilmhistory,ChristianCalsonsoughttoqueergaycinema.(Yes,I'musingqueerasaverb.)Helatersupportsthisargumentbytalkingaboutaformof"post-gayliberation"inwhichgayleadersshouted"We'redoctors!We'relawyers!We'reteachers!"tothepointourdifferenceanddiversitybecameinvisible."We'rejustlikeyou"ledtousbecomingnothing,inasense. Whilethemovieisdisturbingattimes,it'sthoroughlyengaging.Theaudiencememberfeelslikeavoyeur,peepingintothelivesofthesethree"couples."Andthroughthatvoyeurism,wecometoacloserunderstandingoftheelementsofviolenceandhowitrelatestoqueerness.Fromself-loathingtointernalizedhomophobia,frombitterragetobeingjustplainf'edup,"Shiner"takesusthroughamini-gamutofhowviolenceaffectsusall,inwaysnoPSAor"theMoreYouKnow"segmentcouldeverhopetoaddress. IhighlysuggestthatyoupickuptheDVDofthefilmandwatchthespecialfeatures,includingtheCalsoninterviewandthecommentary,whichisanoteworthyproductioninitsownright.…