Brotherhood

Aroused by uber masculinity; yearning for the paper-thin love affair to blossom; and, repelled by the inherent bigotry, hatred and violence of the skin-head fetish; this movie was a perfect storm. It's going to be a hard film to beat. And on the first session!

Lars, as the new recruit in a neo-nazi group, was so unresponsive to his temptations and fears that he was really an audience, as we were, to this complex mix. How intoxicating for him to be in the skin-head moshpit with Jimmy, the head skin-head, as he flexes his bicep in Lars' face. So hot, but also, really, surrounded by the enemy.

This emotional mixture was handled so precisely. The two guys were given charge of repairing the neo-nazis summer house, providing an ideal cloister for the two men to abandon their inhibitions. The reality of who they were, and that brutal (yet horny) stoicism of Jimmy , was never ignored. The slow burn had me transfixed.

And it was only in extreme moments that Jimmy could let any of that go and succumb to his feelings. In one scene he baited a group of immigrants; knowing they would attack him. Surely an act of self-loathing or pity. Only then could he crawl into Lars's arms and seek emotional nurturing.

The hideous conclusion what the extreme violence Jimmy was forced to subject on Lars. It was only during this act that Jimmy could finally accept and proclaim his love. Heavy stuff.

With QT's partner away for an extended period its rough watching stories of finding love/denied love/losing love play out in a dark cinema. A comment from the festival lounge :"And all the movies are about love." Day one of the festival and I was already on emotional rocking ground.