Boys on Film 2: In Too Deep

Peccadillo Pictures' latest compilation of the best short films about gay men from around the world has a lot to live up to after the first instalment, and it’s rather a case of that difficult second album. With nine shorts in total there are more hits than misses, but the connecting theme is more elusive this time and the lack of real-life stories makes it less interesting than its predecessor. The general high production values and sheer variety of genres to choose from, however, keep things worthwhile. The best shorts include the award winning Kali Ma, in which an Indian mother takes slapstick revenge on her son's school bully, Futures (and derivatives) where a temp’s creativity and positive outlook impacts the lives of tired office drones, and Trevor Anderson’s The Island, which explores the theme of societal integration through an inspired fusion of film and animation. Despite the variable success with this more eclectic volume, The Boys on Film series remains an exciting and hugely relevant showcase for gay filmmakers.