BOY CULTURE (2006)

Queer filmmaker Q. Allan Brocka’s 2006 film BOY CULTURE was adapted from Matthew Rettenmund's 1995 novel (of the same name) and in 2021 received a sequel series (currently streaming on Dekkoo).

BOY CULTURE

2006. USA.

 Director: Q. Allan Brocka

Screenplay: Q. Allan Brocka & Philip Pierce

Based on: “Boy Culture” (1995) by Matthew Rettenmund

 Starring: Derek Magyar, Darryl Stephens, Patrick Bauchau, Jonathon Trent & Emily Brooke Hands

BOY CULTURE follows “X” (Magyar) a gay man who earns a comfortable living as a male escort in Seattle. He has two roommates: Joey (Jonathan Trent), a young man looking for attention and a mentor, and Andrew (Stephens) who is recently out and looking to explore his options. X and Andrew are in love with each other, but both are unsure of how to proceed. X keeps his distance from Andrew because he is unwilling to give up his career as an escort – and because he is afraid of allowing himself to be emotionally vulnerable.

One of X’s clients, an older gentleman, helps him to connect emotionally over the course of numerous sexless encounters where the two men get to know one another on a personal basis. As X becomes friends with this client he also begins to drop the emotional barriers he has built at home. When Andrew asks X to meet his family, and to accompany him to his ex’s wedding, X accepts.

What is interesting about BOY CULTURE is that it comes from a time when the majority of films being released were coming out stories – many of which featured families reacting negatively. BOY CULTURE focuses on the relationships/friendships between its gay characters. Though, it does feature a ‘coming out’ subplot for Andrew – but the character is pleasantly surprised to discover that his family is accepting and only wanting his happiness.

BOY CULTURE is streaming on Dekkoo (Canada/USA/UK), available to rent/purchase on AppleTV and Amazon, and also available on DVD.