Free adaptation of the short story of the same name by Henry James, La bête dans la jungle is a new delightful OFNI signed Patric Chiha. Anaïs Demoustier and Tom Mercier are formidable in this atmospheric and highly romantic work. 1979. May (Anaïs Demoustier), in her twenties, is a night owl. She loves going to the capital's nightclubs with her trendy friends. As she goes to a new establishment that does not yet have a name, she recognizes John (Tom Mercier), a handsome boy who had deeply marked her ten years earlier. She was then just a teenager and, as one can guess, had fallen under his spell when he revealed to her an enigmatic secret: something, "the thing," would one day happen to her... John does not recognize May and does not really remember this meeting at first. Then the memory vaguely returns. No matter: May and John will become friends, night companions. Obviously, May is in love and hopes that her patience will be rewarded by following John in his bubble. But the mysterious romantic beau will remain unfathomable, asexual. For 25 years, from 1979 to 2004, they will wait for "the thing" to happen, meeting every Saturday night in the same nightclub. Will the long-awaited thing finally happen?     Patric Chiha is here faithful to his obsessions and we find in La bête dans la jungle his taste and talent for creating unique atmospheres, plunging us into the heart of the night, of reverie, among moving bodies. This work is definitely divisive, does not and will…

Gay film review 501 by Joe Gage Directed by Joe Gage under the pseudonym Tim Kincaid, 501 is a simple and endearing film that sublimates the handsome mustached Daniel Holt. Labyrinth of desire It is a pink film, meaning it is for adults. The story is both banal and universal: we follow a taxi driver (played by Daniel Holt) who appears to lead a solitary life. We see him wandering alone through several vignettes. We also understand that he is a man who fantasizes a lot, as very well suggested by the opening scene and a sequence where he devours with desire a gay magazine of the time (the mythical magazine Honcho). The encounter that changes everything To escape boredom, our handsome mustache enjoys himself alone or indulges in gay cruising… until, at a party, his gaze meets that of another handsome and virile mustached man played by the very sexy Richard West. The last part of the film is thus dedicated to this encounter that shows the symbiosis between the two men, their coup de coeur, suggesting that a beautiful story between two might begin. After a night of love, the wake-up time shows 5:01 AM, the film’s title is thus a nod to this moment when Daniel Holt’s character understands that he might no longer be alone. A sensitive and romantic vintage film Here we find the charm of vintage films, their unique atmosphere at a time when being an x-rated film did not prevent sensitivity and romance. It is a portrait full of love of Daniel Holt…

Critique of the gay thriller Autour du lac (Birder in the original version) Critique of the gay thriller Autour du lac (Birder in the original version) by Nate Dushku with the feverish Michael Emery. An independent film that evokes L’inconnu du lac. A dark and singular atmosphere It is a small film obviously made with few resources but which has a very dark and singular atmosphere that makes it leave its mark. Autour du lac is a bit like if L’inconnu du lac was filmed from the point of view of the killer. A potential serial killer The film does not make a mystery: from the start we understand that its main character, Kristian (Michael Emery), an ornithologist who will spend a few days in a naturist camp around an isolated lake in New Hampshire, is twisted. We will finally understand that he is a real potential serial killer and the deaths may accumulate at the camp where he will stay. Eroticism and danger Kristian has understood how to attract his gay prey into his nets: he has built himself a muscular body that he proudly displays, he masters cerebral domination, knows how to play verbally to tease those around him. And more than ever here the little death will be linked to the real death in disturbing scenes that mix furious and gently kinky eroticism and great danger. A singular gay thriller If gay cruising has already inspired the gay thriller genre several times and for once this film by Nate Dushku does not particularly shine by its formal…

Critique of the film Plainclothes by Carmen Emmi with Russell Tovey and Tom Blyth. A sensory gay thriller that does not leave one indifferent. A striking first feature film The director Carmen Emmi hits hard for his first feature film PLAINCLOTHES (title that refers to plain clothes, when police officers do not wear their uniforms). And offers Russell Tovey his best role in a cinema film. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Ethan Palmer A gay policeman in the closet in the 1990s The plot takes place in the late 1990s in the United States (in Syracuse) and follows the character of Lucas (Tom Blyth, excellent), a young cop who evolves in a male-dominated environment. Recruits are pushed to toughen up, build muscle, and toxic masculinity is clearly established as the norm. Certain cops are also pushed above all to conduct operations in shopping malls where it is about trapping homosexuals meeting in toilets to have fun discreetly. Police officers are thus tasked with seducing gays in the toilets and once their prey begins to initiate a beginning of an encounter, they arrest them. Lucas, because of his youth and charm, is chosen as bait. His colleagues do not know that for a good while, the young man has been repressing his homosexuality… The encounter with Andrew Until now, Lucas has always reluctantly accepted to engage in this sordid racket, things are about to change when he finds himself wanting to trap Andrew (Russell Tovey), a very charming daddy with glasses. Unlike the other men he had faced in…

Review of the film Pillion by Harry Lighton – a sentimental education with a drop-dead gorgeous gay Alexander Skarsgård For his first feature film, director Harry Lighton makes a strong impact with Pillion. The pitch is undeniably very appealing for any gay since it promises the meeting of a shy young man who will experience his first great romance with a man, a biker gang leader and dominator, who will initiate him into submission. And it is Alexander Skarsgård who plays the dom! A singular duo: Colin and Ray The shy boy is Colin (Harry Melling). He is actually a little more than shy. He seems completely in his own world, a bit autistic, lost, not very socially comfortable. He is like an old bachelor before his time and plays in a somewhat folkloric music group with a little costume. He still lives with his parents, doesn’t have many friends and has a limited social life… and one can guess that he has little or no experience with men. What a surprise when he senses an opening with Ray (Alexander Skarsgård), a magnificent and ultra-charismatic man. But Ray is not like the others. He is an ultra macho dominator who is only looking for a submissive. For him the mind is more important than physical beauty. And he sees in Colin a potential for docility. An iconic role for Alexander Skarsgård What an iconic role for Alexander Skarsgård who has never been so beautiful on screen. He and the director go all in and the magnificent blond actor looks like…

In 2025, something remarkable happened in a tiny town of just 7,000 souls resting along the rugged West Coast — it finally hosted its very first Pride celebration. You might think, in a year when so many parts of American life seemed to be taking a step backward on LGBTQ+ acceptance, how could this little place still be moving forward? Yet, progress doesn’t always follow a straight line, and this town’s story shows exactly why hope can take root even in the most unexpected soil. Kay, who grew up there, shared a deeply personal reflection with me, and honestly, their words struck a chord I can’t shake. This town had once been a fort, a hub for logging and fishing — industries soaked in raw, rugged masculinity and the heavy weight of colonial and patriarchal history. It wasn’t exactly a place humming with acceptance or gentle understanding. The air was thick with old, rigid ideas about who people should be — ideas that left no room for anyone who didn’t fit the narrow mold of “male” or “female,” “straight,” or “normal.” Growing up, Kay rarely heard the word “gay,” let alone anything about the vast, colorful spectrum of human identity. Imagine being a kid trapped in a body that felt like a stranger — your own skin revolting against you, your identity invisible and misunderstood. Kay told me about feeling disgusted by their body, struggling with the simple act of dressing or bathing without feeling out of place or ashamed. School wasn’t a refuge; it was a battleground where classmates…

When you are an HIV-infected person, seeking love may feel frightening and may also make you feel inferior, but you can believe that even if you are HIV positive, you can still have love and meet your "soulmate." Through treatment, you can live a long and normal life while protecting your partner. The following 10 tips are written for you who are confused. 1. Be clear about what kind of disease AIDS is Sometimes it is difficult to talk about HIV with new or potential partners. Feeling stressed or embarrassed is normal, but learning more about your condition will help. How and when to disclose your status is up to you. The more you understand HIV, the more confident you will be to have an "honest talk" with others, and the more likely the other person is to accept HIV. If you can't even explain AIDS clearly, how can you explain this disease to the other person? It's no wonder if the other person runs away. 2. Remember U=U, treatment is prevention HIV medication can reduce the amount of HIV in the blood until it is undetectable. This helps the immune system repair itself and prevents you from getting other diseases. If you take your medication as prescribed and have maintained undetectable HIV for at least six months, you will not transmit HIV to your partner. 3. If you are not in a hurry to move to physical intimacy, choose the right time to tell him During your dates, when is the best time to disclose your HIV status? There…

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that can severely weaken the human immune system. In the late stage of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, the patient's immune system faces severe challenges. The HIV virus specifically attacks CD4 cells in the immune system, also known as T cells, which are a key line of defense against foreign pathogens. As the number of these cells decreases, patients become more susceptible to various infections and diseases. The role of anti-HIV drugs Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is an effective treatment method that can help patients maintain the function of the immune system and significantly reduce the risk of diseases caused by immune system damage. ART inhibits HIV replication, reduces damage to the immune system, thereby maintaining the number of CD4 cells and enhancing the body's resistance to disease. AIDS stage/late stage HIV infection definition It is the end stage of disease after HIV infection. The patient's CD4+T lymphocyte count is mostly <200/µL. The main clinical manifestations at this stage are HIV-related symptoms, signs, and various opportunistic infections and tumors. Opportunistic infections Opportunistic infections are those that are unlikely to occur when the immune system is normal. They take advantage of the weakness of the immune system and are caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. With advances in HIV treatment, many opportunistic infections have been better controlled, but untreated or AIDS patients still face higher risks. Common opportunistic infections: Pneumocystis pneumonia: A fungal infection that may cause fluid accumulation and inflammation in the lungs. Candidiasis: An infection caused by fungi that…

Review of Harry Lighton’s film Pillion – a sentimental education with a stunning gay Alexander Skarsgård For his first feature film, director Harry Lighton hits hard with Pillion. The pitch is undeniably very appealing for any gay person as it announces the meeting of a shy young man who will experience his first great story with a man, a biker gang leader and dominant, who will initiate him into submission. And it is Alexander Skarsgård who plays the dom! A singular duo: Colin and Ray The shy boy is Colin (Harry Melling). He is actually more than shy. He looks completely in his own world, somewhat autistic, lost, not very socially comfortable. He seems like a confirmed bachelor before his time and plays in a somewhat folk band wearing a little suit. He still lives with his parents, has few friends, and a limited social life... and one can guess that he has little or no experience with men. Imagine his surprise when he senses an opening with Ray (Alexander Skarsgård), a magnificent and ultra charismatic man. But Ray is not like the others. He is a super macho dominant who is only looking for a submissive. For him, mentality is more important than physical beauty. And he senses a potential docility in Colin. An iconic role for Alexander Skarsgård What an iconic role for Alexander Skarsgård, who has never looked so beautiful on screen. He and the director go all out, and the magnificent blond actor resembles the ultimate materialization of a deviant Prince that Tom of Finland could…

Celebrating his debut feature, director Harry Lighton doesn’t just dip a toe into cinema waters—he plunges headfirst with Pillion, an intoxicating exploration that grabbed me from the very first scene. If you’re part of the gay community, or even just a sucker for compelling love stories, this film’s premise alone sparks curiosity: a shy young man’s initiation into both love and submission, guided by a menacingly magnetic biker gang leader. And guess who steps into that dominant role? None other than the captivating Alexander Skarsgård—delivering a portrayal that simply takes your breath away. Let’s talk about Colin and Ray, the unusual duo at the story’s heart. Colin, portrayed by Harry Melling, is the picture of social awkwardness. There’s a quiet intensity about him, like a soul wandering in a fog, slightly out of sync with the world. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of empathy—here’s a guy who lives quietly, tucked away in his parents’ home, dabbling in a quaint folk band, and seemingly untouched by romantic experience. Then enters Ray, a strikingly charismatic figure, a biker gang leader exuding raw, rugged masculinity. But more than that, Ray is a man bound to dominance, seeking an obedient counterpart not for casual fun, but as a defining part of his existence. His gaze pins Colin as someone with untapped potential for submission—a subtle, electric moment that set the screen ablaze for me. Watching Skarsgård embody Ray is like witnessing a force of nature. His blond hair glistens under the camera’s eye, channeling an almost otherworldly presence—the kind of dark prince…

Winter Is Not The Death Of Summer But The Birth Of Spring (Thai Series) – A Poignant Journey Through Seasons of Life Introduction "Winter Is Not The Death Of Summer But The Birth Of Spring" (Thai title: ฤดูหนาวไม่ใช่ความตายของฤดูร้อนแต่คือการเกิดของฤดูใบไม้ผลิ) is a captivating Thai drama series that triumphs in blending emotional storytelling with evocative symbolism. Spanning a compact series of episodes, it masterfully explores themes of healing, transformation, and hope through the lens of its richly developed characters and nuanced relationships. In this review, I will dive deep into the various facets that make this series a memorable experience: the narrative structure, character arcs, performances, cinematography, soundtrack, and cultural undertones. Whether you're a fan of Thai dramas or new to the genre, this series deserves a closer look for its thoughtful execution and artistic merit. Synopsis At its core, "Winter Is Not The Death Of Summer But The Birth Of Spring" follows the intersecting lives of two protagonists, Niran and Kae, who come from starkly different backgrounds but find themselves bound by major life upheavals during the harsh winter months. Niran, a reclusive artist grappling with the recent loss of his mother, retreats into isolation to escape his grief. Kae, on the other hand, is a spirited young woman fighting societal prejudices as she pursues her dream career in a major city. As the narrative unfolds, the "winter" symbolizes obstacles and pain — heartbreak, loneliness, and despair — but gradually transitions into "spring," representing renewal, recovery, and new beginnings. The series carefully crafts this metaphor through its pacing and character growth, making…

When Simon Gamache announced yesterday that he was stepping down as Executive Director of Pride Montréal, my heart sank a little—yet I couldn’t help but feel a surge of admiration. Leading such a vibrant, sprawling organization for four intense years is no small feat. Especially given the stormy summer the group weathered, tangled in the thorny Israeli-Palestinian debate. Simon’s exit feels like the closing of a challenging chapter, but also the opening of new doors. And let me tell you, those doors won’t stay closed for long. You see, Simon took the helm when Pride Montréal was still reeling from a deep internal crisis—a scandal that forced the organization to rethink, rebuild, and reinvent itself from the ground up. Back in 2020, the founder and then-president was suspended amid allegations of sexual misconduct, which shook the community to its core and led to his permanent departure. Years later, darker shadows resurfaced with new accusations linked to an incident from the 1990s, still playing out in the courts today. This backdrop sets the stage for understanding the magnitude of Simon’s role and the pressure cooker environment he operated in. But what hurts me the most isn’t just the circumstances of Simon’s departure—it’s the venom, the unfair attacks hurled not just at Pride Montréal, but at Simon himself. Criticism is one thing, but what unfolded was mobbing at its cruelest—a collective harassment, a poisonous fog of rumors and intimidation. On top of that, there was this horrid undercurrent of gay bashing, way beyond any honest discourse. I’ve said it before on our…