Customer Reviews

Head On

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I saw this film in the theater last fall (1999), and the protagonist Alex's self-destructive quest into hard drugs and graphic anonymous unsafe sex still haunts me. Hitting close to home, the movie helped me realize certain things about the nature of many gay men torn between being accepted by society and being accepted by oneself. The film, more than just one down note after another, says that sometimes we cannot have both. Alex needs to express his homosexuality but has grown up in a strict orthodox Greek family in Melbourne, Austraila. The family serves as a microcosm for today's critical attitude toward homosexuality and Alex as a symbol for the gay man's (and gay woman's) struggle for acceptance. Since he can't have both, he doesn't want either. And Alex -- a beautiful, heart-breaking, masculine man -- fills his day with the most gratuitous, disturbing acts imaginable. But the film somehow breaks through the barrier of self-pity and self-loathing by portraying the most extreme nature of gay men in a way that distances itself just far enough. We the audience promise never to get as bad as Alex. We walk away shaking our heads, trembling from a life that's never too far from our reaches. Head On is a must-see for any gay man struggling with identity and how it's better to accept the hate of others than to accept it as a part of yourself.

"Head On" is a film which many will see purely for its graphic content - indeed much of its success is attributed to the Australian public's fascination with seeing Dimitriades naked. Behind the sex, behind the hype, lies an artful examination of the pressures of a greek homosexual existence which marks a beautiful debut for Ana Kokkinos. Ari's beat-sex and inability to commit are rendered with a respect and compassion that could so easily have been replaced with a sensationalist approach. Kokkinos prefers to treat her subject cinematically, rather than in the straight-to-video style so many other gay-themed films are produced. Ultimately the film is a visceral but uniquely touching insight into its protagonist's life which haunts for weeks after viewing. The DVD transfer is high quality. There is little in the way of extras bar trailers from the distributors other recent releases.

It's wonderful to be able to recommend a gay-themed movie that doesn't pour on a lot of pc platitudes about the nobility and martyrdom of misunderstood gays. Or that doesn't try to envelop us in propagandistic sickly sweet sentimentality that attempts to show how the gay world is one big happy, touchy-feely family of "normal" types. Reality, as this film shows, proves the opposite to be true.

The star of this independent film, and really the only reason for seeing it, is Alex Dimitriades. He plays a darkly handsome, heavily sensual male gigolo waiting for his sugar daddy. He's so believably screwed up, however, that he never gives anyone a chance to get near him. You can see the angry edginess in his eyes--he's too smart to accept the bourgeois dream of marriage, a serious work ethic, and life in the suburbs that his traditional Greek parents wish for him--he won't even bother to get a job. He'd rather spend his days stoned and sated by the furtive, sleazy sexual encounters, usually in alleys, he indulges in. The rest of the time he rails at everyone within reach for their shoddy dreams and for selling out to conventional morality. And yet he's traditionally macho in spite of himself--when his sister's virtue is compromised by a rival Lebanese youth, he tries to beat him up--while at the same time being ashamed of his Greek background and particularly his traditional strict father, who won't even bother to speak English. And when Alex finally does get a chance to be with a guy who wants more from him than anonymous sex, he screws that up too. He turns his back on family, friends, and love. He's committed to the shadowy, superficial life of gay sex in the fast lane, even though deep down he wants something more but he can't bring himself to be open to it. He's a romantic in spite of himself.

Unfortunately, the movie surrounding Alex Dimitriades' performance falls short. None of the other characters seem to be as believably fleshed out as he is, and some scenes just seem unnecessary. The director may have been trying to do too much. She does pull off a few bravura effects, including a striking finale with Alex miserably consigning himself to a life of promiscuity on the margins of society followed by his performance of a traditional Greek dance. It's lyrical, romantic and despairing all at once. This character is fully tragic--he realizes his limitations all too well and yet can't stop wishing for more. He's too smart to hope. Alex Dimitriades' performance rings so many bells about what it's like to be young, gay, smart and going nowhere and hating yourself for it that it puts all other so-called serious gay cinema to shame.

"Head On" is a wonderful, but dark feature about young Greek Ari and his exploits in the gay underground in Melbourne, Australia. I first saw the film during its original theatrical release in 1999, and am still haunted by its disturbing and evocative acting, style, and forward content. Most of all, its a film young (as well as mature) audiences can relate to about a young man whose strong, conservative "old country" traditions clash with contemporary times, and his struggle to define his sexuality. Ari's traditional Greek parents are at odds in their new homeland of Australia, as they attempt at raising their children, especially elder son Ari, with their traditional belief system. But his overbearing father, inept mother, and Ari's self-destructive behavior only contributes to a plunging relationship within the family. Once more, Ari only satisfies his insatiable appetite for sex in the dark, dank back-alleys of Melbourne with some unsavory-looking men. Only once when he's almost saved from the abyssmal reality of his actions do we understand his fate.

Alexander Dimitriades is excellent as the handsome, young, but torn Ari. He delivers a tour de force performance under the brilliant direction of Ana Kokkinos. The film's frank and explicit depiction is a stunning and bold presentation showcasing contemporary Greeks' struggle from the influential ways of the past.

...Its eerie "Head On" can mirror how the "old country values" can have a profound grip on younger Greek generations, especially in these days of acceptance and open-pride in sexuality.

Nonetheless, "Head On" is an indelibly strong, dramatic feature. Great acting, a stylized soundtrack, symbolic cinematography, and an excellent direction bring together a magnificent film for the gay genre. Don't miss it!

The film addresses profound human themes through the experiences of a young working-class Greek Australian straddling worlds between wog and anglo, gay and straight, and struggling to find his place and his purpose. The riveting, thought-provoking story, a mesmerizing performance by Alex Dimitriades and an impressive supporting class, combined with Kokkinos' brilliant direction make this one of the greatest independent films I have ever seen.

Potential purchasers should know that the film contains full, graphic (mostly male) nudity and explicit scenes of gay sex. It may therefore not be appropriate for many viewers. In my view, however, the nudity and sex are not included for prurient purpose, but rather to - very effectively - convey the protagonist's absolute vulnerability and his anger and confusion regarding his sexuality.

i ordered this movie on a total hunch having no idea what it was really about or without having heard anything about it. i would like to say that my gamble paid off. this movie is very interesting because it reaches out in so many levels. first you have the main character, ari ( i hope i spelled that right), who is a young man in a strange place. he is a greek living in australia b/c of immigration. he has grown up there but the culture does not accept the greeks. he is gay and a drug user and likes to have anonymous sex. he, in his view, is living his life the way he wants. he has no apparent direction to his life, but he has high plans for the future. he has a friend who is a drag queen and they go out and have an interesting night. ari does not get along with his father, loves his mother and his family. all of these aspects come into play throughout the movie. it is a brief glimpse into his life, but the glimpse is very vivid and telling. he is closeted to all but his family, but acts like he could care less for them to find out. he never thinks clearly mostly b/c he is usually high on some sort of drug. the movie moves very fast b/c it is supposed to be an effect, like seeing the movie thorugh his eyes as if you were watching the film on drugs. in the end you ultimately feel sorry for ari because he does not know what to do with his life. he is a lost soul with no one to help lead him. he desires love and affection and above all acceptance, but the contradiction is that he will not let anyone near enought to offer him the support he desires. this is a very good coming of age film and is useful in showing how a life can spin out of control. great film, i highly recommend it.

I caught "Head On" on television one night, with absolutely no idea what it was about. I've never seen a pure-bred Australian film, let alone an independent one. After seeing this movie, I am looking forward to exploring more within the same genre. "Head On" is a compelling and haunting examination of alienation and conflicted ideals. At it's core, it's a look at the bridge between adolescence and adulthood, and the multitude of factors which confuse and distort the identity of young people trying to find their place in the world. "Head On"'s narrative illustrates the canyon between innate human desires and social conventions with unflinching honesty, confronting the common narrow-mindedness of people and their perception of what is wrong and what is right. Where the emotional resonance of the film comes from is the fact that the life of the main character, Ari, is not developed in a clean arc, but rather in an abitrary jumble of pleasure, suffering, and the myriad of feelings in between. His struggle for answers is fleshed out with compassion, sensitivity and even humour. The actor who plays Ari portrays his character with an exhilirating sense of realness, shaping his performance without any kind of emotional or physical inhibitions. "Head On" does at time derail into melodrama, especially towards the end, but the strength of it's ultimate message is consistent through-out. This is exactly the kind of film that is worth the time and effort to watch.

Based on the novel LOADED by Christos Tsiolkas, HEAD ON, directed by Ana Kokkinos, is a dark, provocative film about a young man's (Ari played by Alex Dimitriades) search for who is is and his coming to terms ultimately with his sexuality. He and his traditional Greek family live in Melbourne, Australia. He is expected to get a job, support himself and get married. Much of the conflict in the movie is between him and his father and his father's wishes for him. Alex's best friend is Johnny, a card player by day and a transvestite by night; unlike Ari, however, he knows who he is. The movie opens with a traditional Greek wedding. One senses immediately Ari's alienation from all the happy heterosexual festivities as he quickly leaves the happy event. The film alternates footage in black and white of scenes from the past of Ari's parents and other Greeks who have fought for freedom and the present shot in color. The physically attractive Ari is a not an altogether sympathetic character as he has no interest in finding work, both deals and does drugs and is in constant battles with his parents. On the other hand, he is loving and gentle to both his sister and his friend Johnny. (There is a poignant scene where he and Johnny are forced to strip while he watches helplessly as police officers beat his friend. Ari ultimately decides that he does not want to change the world but will be a "sailor and a whore."

The movie contains violent scenes as well as erotic, explicit sex between men. (The critics of BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN who describe the sex is that film as graphic should see this one.) Alhough dark and provocative, HEAD ON is an honest account of one man's search for his true identity, something that most of us can relate to in one way or another.

Ari's a double outsider, gay and a Greek living in Australia(!). His parents are fervid Greek nationalists and former radical activists who alternately coddle and berate him, unable to understand why their values don't mesh with his. Not that he's totally outside. His conflict in this realm is one of the driving motifs here.

In one of the film's best scenes, his gruff father lures him into a traditional Greek dance in the family kitchen, and Ari succumbs to his father's attention with a kind of sorrowful desperation - he's quite capable of connecting with his heritage, but only temporarily, almost ironically. Typically the scene ends in a fight, with Ari donning his trademark headphones, and storming away to quell his nervous rage with drugs or sex. That's a short synopsis.

Although, this film pictures (in a certain) way) the traditional Greek family who immigraded from a small-poor village from Greece and couldn't be adopted easily from the local society of US, Canada and Australia... mixed traditions and values. 'Ari' is somenone who live next to us! Greeks from Greece are much more progressive in gay issues, but I would say that this film is highly realistic (in that case) and everyone knows someone like Aris (from UK, France, Greece, US, ... the planet Earth). Head on. Take a breath and watch it.

The Ultimate Masterpiece.

Heads up to HEADS ON: this is a story of the agonies of isolation self-induced by a tragically sexually confused young man. Few directors have the courage to write and present the truly dark side of sexuality and Ana Kokkinos deserves a tremendous amount of respect for daring to go where this film takes us.

Ari (Alex Dimitriades) is a handsome, sensual young Greek man living with his proud parents and sister in Australia. They are part of a Greek conclave that holds to old country traditions: every male must marry a Greek girl and 'then he can do anything he wants' according to Ari's mother. Ari is gay but cannot fully accept his lifestyle, preferring to have dangerous sexual assignations in the filthy alleys of his city. He pals around with Johnny/Toula (Paul Capsis), his transsexual cousin, but avoids contact with him in public. Ari avoids life's realities (he has no job, he is financially dependent on his parents, he cannot relate to his father's demands for his life, etc) through extensive use of drugs and macho confrontations. His life is in a downhill spiral from which he is unable to escape. He attempts a heterosexual encounter but fails miserably. Even when the possibility of a real gay relationship is offered by handsome and masculine Sean (Julian Garner) he is unable to cope and destroys that blink of salvage. Ari's only devotion seems to be to his sister and his mother, neither of whom can extend a long enough arm to pull him from his quicksand life. Ari simply cannot cope with who he truly is.

The acting in this fine film is excellent. The camera work by Jaems Grant is both artistically creative and successful in capturing the atmosphere of the story. Scenes that are edgy are handled with realism but never falter into the sensationalism range. Both Alex Demetriades and Paul Capsis give extraordinary portrayals of very tough roles. This is not a film for the squeamish, but it is a fine portrait of gay life in Australia and especially in the Greek community there. Grady Harp, September 05