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| FATHER AND SON SYNOPSIS Alexander Sokurov (Russian Ark) has created a stunning tone poem to the beauty of men in this new film about a father and son who, in a non-sexual fashion, behave like lovers. REVIEW For me, a son will always be his father's child, even when he's grown up. We should maintain the tenderness that exists in human relations. If we fail to do so, we will lose our humanity." - Alexander Sokurov This stunning homoerotic tone poem opens with two naked men grappling --- two men one assumes would be lovers, they are actually father and son in this ode to the beauty of men from the filmmaker of Russian Ark. This first scene is filmed with deliberate eroticism, their muscular bodies are bathed in orange-tinted afternoon sunlight. This light and the earthy colors that dominate the film are the film's most remarkable features, the words are secondary. Don't expect much of a plot or even character names to get in the way of the images in this art-for-art's sake film. Long languid takes are interspersed with action scenes shot on a dramatic rooftop that make the film move forward. The two men rarely wear shirts at home, and this is a good thing and should keep your interest. Father and son live together on the top floor of a rooftop apartment in an unnamed Russian city. They have lived alone for years in their own private, world, filled with memories and daily rituals. Sometimes they seem like frolicking brothers, other times like tempestuous lovers, but never father and son. Both men are remarkably handsome and quite fit. Their daily routines involve exercise and rooftop acrobatics. The father has retired from the military and is now in the reserves. As a student in flight school, he met and courted a woman who gave birth to the couple’s son and then quickly died, leaving the father to raise his son alone. Following in his father’s footsteps, the son Alexei enrolls in military school and he loves sports. He has a girlfriend who is always jealous of Alexei’s close relationship with his father. Two other characters pop up in the film. The first is a young guy whose father is missing and he comes to this father-son duo believing they have information. The second is a neighbor Sasha who may be in love with Alexei, it's unclear -- as is much of the plot -- lots of this plot information comes from the official site. Like Bruce Weber (Chop Suey), director Alexander Sokurov derives much of his film's essence from the beauty of his lead actors. Shot in long slow takes, this tone poem to male pulchritude should make lovers of gay art film very happy -- even though there is nothing specifically gay in the film. Scott Cranin |
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