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The Male Gaze: First Kiss

The Male Gaze: First Kiss

2018

TV-MA

Director

Sam Langshaw, Daniel Hagberg, Yudho Aditya, hazart, Satya Dusaugey

Runtime

98 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

The Male Gaze is a new series of releases from New Queer Visions that showcases short LGBTQ films from across the world. The first instalment, First Kiss, brings together five shorts that are based around men experiencing romantic and/or sexual interaction with other men for the first time. It takes in films from Sweden, Indonesia, USA, Australia and France giving a rounded look at how similar experiences are depicted across the world. The films are: Naked [Naken] (2013); Pria (2017); Walk With Me (2018), One Night Only (2018); Michel's Mouse [Tapette] (2016).

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

8.8/10

Excellent

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Excellent

The anthology centers entirely on queer identity, focusing on male-to-male romantic and sexual interactions. It avoids a monolithic viewpoint by including stories from diverse regions like Indonesia.

Gender Representation

Good

The collection challenges traditional masculine archetypes by exploring vulnerability and emotional sensitivity. It reframes masculinity through a lens of emotional complexity rather than stoic tropes.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Excellent

The work demonstrates exceptional commitment to global diversity by including stories from Indonesia and France. This breadth avoids a white-normative trap common in many queer media collections.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The series presents a pluralistic view of human connection by including diverse international perspectives. This curation critiques the idea of a singular, Western cultural standard.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no specific evidence regarding the depiction of physical or neurodivergent disabilities within the provided material.

Strengths

  • Exceptional global reach through stories from Sweden, Indonesia, USA, Australia, and France.
  • Strong centering of queer identity as the primary narrative driver.
  • Effective subversion of traditional masculine archetypes through emotional vulnerability.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lack of visible representation for physical or neurodivergent disabilities.
  • Narrow focus on male-to-male interactions limits gender diversity.

AI Analysis

The anthology excels by dismantling the idea of a singular queer experience. By utilizing a globalized framework, it highlights the intersection of geography, culture, and identity through five distinct international shorts. The curation is highly intentional, moving beyond mere presence to center queer awakening as the primary narrative driver. The inclusion of non-Western perspectives provides a sophisticated approach to visibility. While the focus is narrow regarding gender, the exploration of emotional vulnerability provides a meaningful subversion of traditional masculine tropes.

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