a toto-recommended second opinion
Based on the novel 'loaded' by Christos Tsiolkas, I suspect 'Head On' earned its name change due to the enormous amount of oral sex that occurs throughout the film: the central character Ari (Alex Dimitriades) gulps, sucks, spits and slurps his way through four such scenes. He's a busy boy, is Ari.
And also a somewhat confused one. Maintaining the semblance of heterosexuality for the Greek subculture he's unwillingly part of, he dances in public with girls and then heads into the back alleys of Melbourne for sexual gratification from boys. He doesn't believe in a 'gay' identity or a 'Greek' identity; yet he cannot escape his homosexuality or ethnicity in a culture which places an emphasis on the importance (deviance) of both categories. Ari wants to be beyond classification, but can't escape the pressures of family or community. Instead, he rides wave after wave of sex and drugs to blot out the paralyzing banality of his urban purgatory.
Alex Dimitriades is clearly the star of the film. He infuses Ari with a raw, angry sensuality light years from his teen demigod days (although there's a flash of dick and a few butt shots to establish his beefcake credentials). It's a brave, controlled performance which refuses to compromise itself as the end credits roll. Paul Capsis, as Ari's transvestite friend Johnny/ Toula, is brilliant and attention-grabbing (though really, what kind of queen applies her lipstick first?). First time director Kokkinos is also firmly in control: the cinematography is beautiful, the script tight and witty. Occasional black and white footage of Greek immigrants arriving in Australia are intrusive and sledgehammer unsubtle, but this is a definite must-see amongst the crop of Australian films being released over the next few weeks.
dita
comments? email the authorBelow: Director Ana Kokkinos
