Product Details

• Actors: Mary Beth Aylesworth, Mike Barbour, Steve Bilich, Wendy Brokaw, Bojesse Christopher
• Directors: Raoul O'Connell, Robert Lee King
• Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Image Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: September 21, 1999
• Run Time: 91 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00000JWWD
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #41,954 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Boys Life" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The three "short stories" in this 1995 anthology cover familiar territory, yet they manage to make the trials and tribulations of being gay in a hostile world feel fresh. That could be because the shorts in Boys Life explore very personal, autobiographical reminiscences for their directors, Brian Sloan, Raoul O'Connell, and Robert Lee King. Of the three half-hour films, "Pool Days" and "A Friend of Dorothy" deliver the most fun and poignancy over coming out of the closet. Their youthful heroes find they have crushes on the most handsome--and often unavailable--men, who heartbreakingly delight in teasing and taunting these smitten suitors. "A Friend of Dorothy" also reeks of Woody Allen reverie, as its lovelorn NYU student treks through the park in its autumnal glory--resembling Hannah and Her Sisters and Husbands and Wives in tone. The third installment of the trilogy is most painful. "The Disco Years" chronicles the heartache and self-deception that is often a part of struggling through high school, with its echelons of command and cruel taunts, as a gay teen. Together, these stories form a definitive trilogy that examines the agony and joy of being "different." Boys Life was a modest success and spawned a sequel quartet of shorts that comprise Boys Life 2, a less personal--and affecting--delving into the dramas of gay life. --Paula Nechak

Product Description
A gay anthology with three tales of love, lust and liberation. Included in this compilation are "Pool Days" (1993, 27 min.), "A Friend of Dorothy" (1994, 33 min.) and "The Disco Years" (1991, 30 min.).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll enjoy these fun little films., December 2, 1999

By	Steve Woods (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

Our heroes portrayed by Josh Weinstein (POOL DAYS), Raoul O'Connell (FREIND OF DOROTHY) and Matt Nolan (THE DISCO YEARS) embark on the journey called Coming Out. Hearts are broken, family members are upset and close friends provide a shoulder to cry on (Anne Zupa, you are just wonderful!) Films like this provide such a nice diversion from a stressful life for me! Anyway, these quality films have been given a nice release from Image DVD. The quality is much better than the VHS versions, but that hardly matters. Each film is presented full frame only. An interactive menu and scene selections are the only extras offered. No trailers (oddly the trailer for this film is offered on the BOYS LIFE 2 DVD) Buy this for the low Amazon price and show Image Entertainment that we support such films on DVD. Who knows, maybe they'll give us more gay films like the equally entertaining BOYS IN LOVE series.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Boys Life, December 10, 1999

By	"nplparkie" (Methuen, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Boys Life - Three Tales of Love, Lust & Liberation [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Heartwarming, funny at times, but honestly true even in todays so called liberal thinking society. The last story being the one that shows times haven't really changed from the 60's and 70's people are still cruel and narrow minded. All in all the ninety minutes of the film passed by quickly. the acting wasn't oscar caliber but it was well done. The movie shows that gays are human beings with feelings, and those feelings get hurt, we find it awkward to ask for that first date, in fact we are just like every one else.

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Calling card for talented directors, February 14, 2000

By	Libretio - See all my reviews

"Boys Life Three Stories of Love, Lust, and Liberation" is a compilation of short gay films on the theme of 'coming out'. Though directed by three different people, these three episodes share the same budgetary limitations and basic point-and-shoot style, all of which serves to roughen their edges a little.

Brian Sloan's "Pool Days" (1993) follows the exploits of a young pool attendant who tries to suppress the feelings generated by the semi-clad beefcake which surrounds him in his otherwise dull job, before finally coming to terms with his sexuality with the help of a regular visitor to the pool (gorgeous, naturally) who takes a shine to him. It's a likable, sexy film, but it seems to end abruptly, leaving a couple of unresolved situations in its wake.

Raoul O'Connell directs "A Friend of Dorothy" (1994) and casts himself as a nerdy college freshman who's seeking Mr. Right, whilst secretly pining for his apparently straight roommate. Sadly, O'Connell affects a range of tics and mannerisms which translate as geeky rather than appealing, though his film is competently constructed.

And finally, Robert Lee King's "The Disco Years" (1991) depicts the trials of a seriously cute high school student who longs to be accepted by his homophobic peers until their cruelty eventually forces him to confront his true sexual identity.

Many of the situations depicted in all three films have a ring of truth about them, and each story offers its own heartfelt commentary on the lives of young gay men in America. despite the penny-pinching production values.

Each film is presented fullscreen at 1.33:1 (presumably the original theatrical ratio), and the DVD format makes the best of the grainy low-budget film stock. Sound is Dolby Digital mono.