Label Me (2019)

Label Me: Directed by Kai Kreuser. With Nikolaus Benda, Renato Schuch, Jogi Kaiser, Georg Paluza. No kissing. No passive penetration. For Waseem the rules are very clear: When Lars pays him for sex then only in a way that he can reconcile with his heterosexuality. On the one side the refugee from Syria living in a shelter, on the other side the wealthy German with a loft apartment – the differences couldn’t be more crass and yet both are connected by a sincere interest in each other. Their relationship is rooted in a constant alternation between dominance and longing for closeness. The playful power struggle between the two of them reveals their inability to hide their fears and longings from one another and to keep up their carefully constructed facades. While both struggle to uphold the labels in their head, their friendship starts to pose a real threat within the reality of Waseem’s shelter.

“The production is good, and the guy has a nice apartment too. The two characters are likable, but there is but enough story to fill one hour. Perhaps there can be more back story to develop the characters, or more exploration on Waseemu0026#39;s internalised homophobia.”