Boys Grammar (2005) User Reviews

Horrifying

[laduqesa · 7/10 · 30 March 2023]

This film of less than eight minutes gets over much more than many others do in ten times the length. There are so many implications packed in and so much action that the film provokes thoughts well after it ends.

First Gareth and Nick. Unlike some of the reviewers I don't think they have had a previous affair or relationship. Nick is drinking in the puppy love and looks he gets from Gareth either through some twisted pleasure (there are straight guys who love being lusted after by gay lads) or because he is deeply closeted in the context of a homophobic group of friends and maybe to himself too. His need to remain hidden erupts into a frenzy of hatred that is hard to watch.

Later when Dad tries to soothe things and Nick arrives for dinner with Gareth's brother a satisfying catharsis takes place. I don't care for films that use violence as a resolution but for once this outburst might have solved something both in term of bullying and about coming out - no one could have failed to see Nick caressing Gareth. Or was it a come-on from a straight boy? We need to decide.

More shocking than anything

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 23 September 2013]

There are dozens of gay-related short films and this one is everything they should not be. It goes for unnecessary violence, noisy shouting and screaming and pure shock value instead of carefully developing a story the viewer can relate to or, if he's not gay, gain interest in watching. Occasionally, these kinds of films manage to at least partially save it with a good ending, but this isn't the case here either. The punching, then holding sequence of the main character, just doesn't feel believable at all. I can't even say the director was still trying to find his style as he already shot short films for over 5 years.

All in all, it was quite a disappointment, clearly style over substance with sub-par acting and only the father's performance, who shows why coming-outs are often that hard, keeps me from giving it an even lower score.

You need to look deeper...

[djvaast · 9/10 · 7 July 2018]

This is the definition of a short film - it is short. Yes, some backstory would have helped clear up some of the misconceptions and ambiguities of the film but then it would not be short anymore. It is up to us, the viewers, to provide the interpretation and extrapolation given what we are shown. I feel that this short film does that, if you look deeper beyond the shock value of the violence. There will be spoilers beyond.

In the beginning, Gareth is standing on the diving board ready to jump. We have a first person view of an intimate view of his torso and the person doing the viewing is Nick - as that is the first person we see up close. In fact, Nick is the only person looking at Gareth for the longest time - the other boys are reading, chatting, or otherwise distracted. The only person looking at Gareth is Nick on the diving board.

Nick is also slow to jeer and laugh at Gareth after his diving attempt. That slow reaction is preceded with a quick glance at the other boys to see what they are doing and he quickly "fits in" by going along with the others. There is an eye contact connection between the two boys as Gareth leaves the pool.

We jump to the locker room scene. Gareth is changing and about to leave when Nick picks up Gareth's art book. This is where it goes badly. Nick taunts Gareth and then one of the other boys sees what is going on and says, "Is this f***** giving you shit, Nick?" Leaving Nick with no other options. The other boys join in and Gareth is assaulted brutally in the shower.

In the end, Nick touches Gareth and Gareth recoils. Nick then says, "This is your fault, Gary. This is your fucking fault."

Then we have the scene at home where Gareth attacks Nick after Nick taunts him with "Are you a man, Gareth?"

The holding scene after Gareth attacks Nick is the clincher. There is a history between these two. Nick is Gareth's brother's friend and so I bet there was a relationship between these two. Nick is so deep in the closet and has internalized his hatred of the relationship he has with Gareth. And so that hatred spilled out into the violent act in the shower room. All to save face and keep up appearances.

The fact that Nick does not defend himself or hit back when Gareth attacks him at the dinner table and that Nick is stroking Gareth's hair shows the turmoil he must be feeling.

Please understand, Nick is still an asshole. There were a million other things he could have done - like ignore Gareth. But we don't know the backstory or history. Perhaps someone wants to film that? Gareth as the younger infatuated boy with love in his eyes can't understand why Nick is so double sided. I would not say that Gareth is damaged (certainly wounded after the attack in the shower room) nor is Nick a monster - he makes really terrible choices because he feels he has no other alternative. He can't imagine a different life than the one he is acting out. Both boys are tragic victims of circumstances.

Anyway, I felt that this played out quite authentically. Others have criticized the acting but I feel there is little to complain about here. Given it is 7 minutes long and we don't have time to establish characters beyond what we see, I feel that it is well handled.

Overall, I feel that this is an accurate depiction of an unfortunate circumstance that led to betrayal and violence that is unforgivable. There is an aspect of human nature that is shown here in a very real way. These events happen all the time I would imagine but because of shame and humiliation are never reported or discussed and so go largely ignored.

Definitely worth a watch.

A cold shock

[showtrmp · 8/10 · 10 April 2012]

A truly horrifying film--even if you know what's coming, seeing it executed may be too much for some viewers. When Gareth(the young gay protagonist) is pinned against a locker by Nick (the swimmer he's been admiring), the use of silence is almost unbearable; we hear him saying all the wrong things to Nick ("You like this human form?""Maybe") and the pauses reverberate with our silent protests (what is supposed to happen in Pinter, but rarely does). We can see the terrible decision the other boys make, yet thedirector skillfully draws out the next few seconds before the point ofno return is reached, until we're ready to scream. The actual act takes only a couple of minutes, but they're some of the longest minutes incinema. And the final shot on the dining room floor is deeply, deeply sad; it posits the idea that some people are so damaged they will take love from monsters.

About that scene...

[essa-maneira · 10/10 · 28 May 2008]

...In the rape scene, I've heard it carefully one and over again, and Gareth never says anything like "give it to me" he actually is in pain and just screaming the hell out of him. The one that indeed is talking, is Nick, like saying things like "imagine this is my cock..." and before that, he says something that I quite don't get it because of the BGM and the other boys yelling. And the thing they use, it's not a dildo, I read somewhere else, it was a sort of part of furniture or something like that, 'cause as the comment above said, why would Nick carry a 'giant dildo'.

Excellent Short Film, loved everything of it, specially the music at the end.

:)

bullying example

[Kirpianuscus · 26 August 2016]

the basic purpose of director seems be to impress. not for story but for the degree of violence. it is a option, not bad if the violence is real necessary for the develop of story. but Boys Grammar is reduced only at violence level. the past relations between boys, the book itself, the dinner, the attitude of the father are roots. ignored in film. sure, a films about tolerance and against bullying is far to be wrong. but the manner to do it impose more than a sadistic moment and a sketch of revenge. result - the viewer , using the pieces from film, could recreate his story about boys and their relationship. but is it enough ?