Longtime Companion

Daniel Theophanous

Longtime Companion is a podcast dedicated to conversations and analysis of queer themes in film.

Afleveringen

  1. EPISODE 24: Theo & Hugo - Interview with film critic Gary Kramer

    07-05-2024

    EPISODE 24: Theo & Hugo - Interview with film critic Gary Kramer

    Paris 05:09 Theo and Hugo (2016) Dir. Oliver Ducastel and Jacques Martineau For this episode will be talking about the film Paris 05:09 Theo and Hugo. Released in April 2015, Theo and Hugo is directed by French director duo and real-life couple Oliver Ducastel and Jacques Martineau. The film stands out for its striking with its 20-minute opening scene which takes place in a Parisian gay sex club, where we are privy to a continuous un-simulated orgy. Visuals which feature copious amounts of naked male flesh and erect penises in all manner of sexual positions. What is most interesting, despite the scene's explicitness it never feels gratuitous, exploitative, or unnecessary. Theo and Hugo explores ever so delicately the boundaries of what is deemed pornographic in the context of arthouse cinema. Once out the sex club, the film takes a romantic trajectory but one with a twist as the protagonist couple traverse through the Parisian night. The revelation of Hugo’s HIV status complicates matters for the new-found lovers, but in doing so brings forth vital discussions around HIV and gay relationships in the modern world of pep and prep, scarcely explored cinematically elsewhere. For this episode, I invited back on film critic Gary Kramer. I hope you enjoy our discussion as much as I did. Thank you for listening! Music: James Jones @james-jones-music Follow us on I: @ltcompanion / F: @LongtimeCompanion

    34 min
  2. EPISODE 23: Greek Pete - Interview with film critic Gary Kramer

    14-01-2024

    EPISODE 23: Greek Pete - Interview with film critic Gary Kramer

    Greek Pete (2009) Dir. Andrew Haigh Greek Pete is a documentary /mockumentary drama released in 2009. It is the debut film by British director Andrew Haigh, who’s camera gains unfettered access into the day-to-day existence of gay male escort Pete Pittaros. Filming him over a prolonged period time, documenting all aspects of his life. From the interactions with clients, his relationship, his friendships, his ambitions, his contradictions, his work ethic, to his family and his immigrant background. Without it ever being exploitative or judgemental, Haigh’s first feature is a bold, in-depth character study which highlights the life of an individual who functions very much in the periphery. The film is indicative what is to become Haigh’s signature style, a reserved observing style which simultaneously feels very intimate. In Greek Pete he zooms in on the mundaneness of Pete’s life in equal measures as the more extraordinary moments. Scenes of Pete doing house chores muster the same sensation as a full-on explicit sex scene with a client. Further having Pete at points, just ramble on at the camera, he manages to capture what lies beneath the muscled, sexed-up, ambitious bravado, which is a sensitive, young, immature soul, still trying to make sense of his life. Joining me on this episode is film critic Gary Kramer who boldly agreed to talk to me about the film. Gary has extensively written about queer films and his writing can currently be seen in Salon.com, Gay City News, San Francisco Bay Times, Philadelphia Gay News, The Queer Archives etc Thank you for listening. Music: James Jones @james-jones-music Follow us on I: @ltcompanion / F: @LongtimeCompanion

    34 min
  3. EPISODE 22: MARTYR - Interview with filmmaker Mazen Khaled

    22-12-2023

    EPISODE 22: MARTYR - Interview with filmmaker Mazen Khaled

    Martyr (2018) When I attended BFI Flare a few years back, I came across a Lebanese film by filmmaker Mazen Khaled called Martyr which left quite an imprint on me. I was taken aback by its beauty and its meditative pace which along with its deliberate experimental flourishes created an immersive drama which subtly commented on Lebanese society and further contemplating ritualistic traditions, specifically around tragedy and death. Mazen’s choice of mise-en-scene in some moments is reminiscent of a renaissance painting, filtered through a Middle Eastern lens, telling the story of disenfranchised young man Hassan from Beirut, who sees an abrupt end to his life when in act of peacocking, jumps into the Beirut corniche, the city’s rocky seaside promenade. And what follows is a continuous, flowing montage of transporting Hassan’s dead body from the water through the city to his parents’ house.   In retrospect I feel what captured my attention was the film’s tantalising homoerotism even if its subject matter isn’t necessarily queer. With copious amounts of explicit male flesh, predominantly of Hassan’s body, as well as his friend’s and an abundance of scenes of non-sexual physical intimacy between them. I felt that Mazen boldly queerizes a traditional Islamic tradition yet simultaneously highlighted my own affected Western gaze, which is perhaps narrow-minded in its view of male intimacy.I had the privilege  a few weeks back to chat with the director himself, now based in Florida, over zoom. Where he filled me in on the whole process of making Martyr, its unintentional queerness and the meaning of martyrdom in Islam.  Music: James Jones @james-jones-music Follow us on I: @ltcompanion / F: @LongtimeCompanion

    34 min

Info

Longtime Companion is a podcast dedicated to conversations and analysis of queer themes in film.