Michael (Jason Susag) and Julian (Matthew Montgomery) are two brothers who have not been in touch for years. As a way to support himself and his drug habit, Michael is employed as a prostitute. Julian on the other hand works an honest job as a waiter at a hotel. Although Julian is openly gay, he and his mother have maintained a close relationship, while Michael has refused to have anything to do with either of them. As Julian helped out his mother financially and cared for her, Michael was nowhere to be found. When Julian finds that his mother has suddenly died, he must return to her house and meet up with his brother. Michael has brought along his girlfriend, Chanel (Raquel Rosser) who is also an addict, but her upbeat attitude nonetheless brings people together. Steven (Harsha First), an attractive young man Julian had recently met under unusual circumstances, shows up unannounced at the doorstep, but he is willing to support Julian during this difficult time. Matthew Montgomery as the protagonist has a very natural style and expresses both resistance and vulnerability. Torie Tyson is hilarious as the funeral employee. The other actors as a whole did an exemplary job. One wonders whether the two brothers and their respective partners will end up having an enjoyable meal together.The story is very ambiguous, but this ambivalent aspect of the film makes the story believable and captivates the viewer. The writer highly recommends this film for anyone who questions the wobbly nature of family, friendships and intimate relations.
5 Reviews
Finding Destiny
alassenamos29 May 2012
"THE DARK SIDE OF LOVE" Finding Destiny Amos Lassen Jorge Ameer is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated directors working in gay cinema and I suspect that the reason for that is that he makes us think. His movies are always entertaining but they also have something extra that causes us to evaluate what we have seen. His new film, "The Dark Side of Love" takes a look at identity and destiny as if affects four people whose lives come together as they search for who they are and where they are going. Steven (Harsha First)) is our guide here and he takes us by the hand early on and leads us into the film. With the theme of the universality of love, we are shown the four characters who must make decisions that will affect their lives.
Two brothers; Julian (Carlos Sales), a waiter and gay, Michael (Jason Susag), an abusive drug addict fight to gain control of their lives which seem to be going in the wrong direction. Julian develops a crush on a bachelor (who he meets in a very clever way) while the other brother, because of his drug habit and his feelings about his gay brother, has lost touch with reality and has trouble controlling his life. The brothers have been estranged but they are forced to come together with the death of their mother so that they can plan her funeral—a taxing situation, to say the least. Since they do not get along, their "relationship" tests both of them. It is so very difficult to prepare for the death of a parent and even though everything may well be worked out ahead of time, the actual death is not just heartbreaking but trying. Regardless of how they feel about each other, they are brothers and even when tempers flare up and emotions get very high, they know that this is the time to say goodbye to the woman who gave them life. Each brother is forced to look within himself and deal with his feelings, his anger and range and his prejudices.
Steven, our bachelor is looking for a wife and he is not really in the picture like the brothers but his role becomes very important later. When Julian goes home to prepare for the funeral, Steve surprisingly appears at his home with the excuse that Julian should not have to face the ordeal alone. What is so interesting here is that Steven maintains that he is straight and the he and Julian actually only met several days before. There is another character, Chanel (Raquel Rossner), Michael's girlfriend who comes along with Michael when he goes home to bury his mother.
As the brothers prepare to say goodbye to their mother, old wounds are reopened and they are forced to deal with the fact that what was once a family is no more. The death of the mother is the pivot around which the film revolves. As we enter the world of Julian, Michael, Steven and Chanel, we find that each is searching for identity and we are part of that quest.
This is a dark film as the name suggests and the beginning is quite shocking. The cinematography goes right along with the theme of darkness and there are few scenes with bright light. Some might find this depressing but I actually found it interesting especially when we see light at the end.
Ameer not only directs but he also wrote the screenplay and produced and actually appears in a small role. I must say that it took me a bit to get into the film but I soon found myself glued to the screen as I watched and I wanted to know how everything would turn out. The actors give fine performances and I found myself at one point thinking about the meaningfulness of life. When Julian goes to the funeral home (before he is aware of the details his mother has left for her sons) to pick out a coffin, I found myself thinking that after having lived on earth for a lifetime, we are relegated to spend eternity in a box somewhere beneath the earth and that bothers me. I do not know why I never thought about it before and I find it very interesting that it was Ameer's film that brought that home. We are all just passing through and when it is over, it is over.
Two brothers; Julian (Carlos Sales), a waiter and gay, Michael (Jason Susag), an abusive drug addict fight to gain control of their lives which seem to be going in the wrong direction. Julian develops a crush on a bachelor (who he meets in a very clever way) while the other brother, because of his drug habit and his feelings about his gay brother, has lost touch with reality and has trouble controlling his life. The brothers have been estranged but they are forced to come together with the death of their mother so that they can plan her funeral—a taxing situation, to say the least. Since they do not get along, their "relationship" tests both of them. It is so very difficult to prepare for the death of a parent and even though everything may well be worked out ahead of time, the actual death is not just heartbreaking but trying. Regardless of how they feel about each other, they are brothers and even when tempers flare up and emotions get very high, they know that this is the time to say goodbye to the woman who gave them life. Each brother is forced to look within himself and deal with his feelings, his anger and range and his prejudices.
Steven, our bachelor is looking for a wife and he is not really in the picture like the brothers but his role becomes very important later. When Julian goes home to prepare for the funeral, Steve surprisingly appears at his home with the excuse that Julian should not have to face the ordeal alone. What is so interesting here is that Steven maintains that he is straight and the he and Julian actually only met several days before. There is another character, Chanel (Raquel Rossner), Michael's girlfriend who comes along with Michael when he goes home to bury his mother.
As the brothers prepare to say goodbye to their mother, old wounds are reopened and they are forced to deal with the fact that what was once a family is no more. The death of the mother is the pivot around which the film revolves. As we enter the world of Julian, Michael, Steven and Chanel, we find that each is searching for identity and we are part of that quest.
This is a dark film as the name suggests and the beginning is quite shocking. The cinematography goes right along with the theme of darkness and there are few scenes with bright light. Some might find this depressing but I actually found it interesting especially when we see light at the end.
Ameer not only directs but he also wrote the screenplay and produced and actually appears in a small role. I must say that it took me a bit to get into the film but I soon found myself glued to the screen as I watched and I wanted to know how everything would turn out. The actors give fine performances and I found myself at one point thinking about the meaningfulness of life. When Julian goes to the funeral home (before he is aware of the details his mother has left for her sons) to pick out a coffin, I found myself thinking that after having lived on earth for a lifetime, we are relegated to spend eternity in a box somewhere beneath the earth and that bothers me. I do not know why I never thought about it before and I find it very interesting that it was Ameer's film that brought that home. We are all just passing through and when it is over, it is over.
New Venues of Jorge Ameer
gradyharp1 July 2012
For those who follow the output of creative filmmaker Jorge Ameer, his newest film will surprise. THE DARK SIDE OF LOVE figures less with the underbelly of same sex love than it does with familial relationships. Two brothers, gay waiter Julian (Carlos Salas) and his drug addicted brother Michael (Jason Susaq) are the main characters of this story, though at the beginning Ameer lets us believe we are on another journey. At an auction for charity straight bachelor Steven (Harsha First) is auctioned for a five day 'experience' to what he believes to be a wealthy lady, but in a quick change the winner gives her lucky number paddle to the handsome young waiter Julian who then by default wins five days with the man. This interlude of gradual acceptance is interrupted by the death of the Julian's mother and Julian departs for his mother's home to carry out the mother's secret wishes. At the same time Michael is at the bottom of his luck, severely addicted, out of funds, and in a messy relationship with the beautiful Chanel (Raquel Rosser) and receives the message that his mother has died. The two brothers meet at the mother's home, a cremation takes place and through some tough recriminations and also tender exchanges the strength of family brought to focus by the death of the matriarch reunites the dissimilar men. There are some interesting sidebars that for a moment seem to interfere with the direction of the story but in the end this is a heartwarming tale of the bond of family and the many manifestations of love.
Grady Harp
Grady Harp
Touching & different
cadelgado-616-50930923 February 2013
Many find Jorge Ameer's films very polarizing. I find them refreshing and original. In "The Dark Side of Love" two brothers who hate each other must come to terms with their differences amids the death of their mother. Both are living very different lives, yet both are suffering. One has a love he can't have whilte the other brother is spiraling out of control due to his addicition. His girlfriend fuels his addiction in a negatively supportive way.
What I like about this movie that is so moving is its portrayal of real life. It touched me because my family has had its share of trouble with siblings and its all about letting by gones be by gones. I found myself tearing up at the end as you don't really know what faith will bring both brothers, but you do know that the mother brought a certain safety net into their lives that is no longer there. We will all have to live through this and you can only hope that you will be surrounded by supportive loved ones. In the film, Julian has to deal with both the mothers death, pilling bills, a several rocky relationships which is what makes the story so much more real and touching. You really feel for the characters, even the brother because you know that even though there is some good in him, the path he chose will end in demise. There are other plots that add to the story, but this film will really make you think about the kind of relationship you have with you family now and will hopefully give you the will to want to mend any lingering family issues before its too late.
What I like about this movie that is so moving is its portrayal of real life. It touched me because my family has had its share of trouble with siblings and its all about letting by gones be by gones. I found myself tearing up at the end as you don't really know what faith will bring both brothers, but you do know that the mother brought a certain safety net into their lives that is no longer there. We will all have to live through this and you can only hope that you will be surrounded by supportive loved ones. In the film, Julian has to deal with both the mothers death, pilling bills, a several rocky relationships which is what makes the story so much more real and touching. You really feel for the characters, even the brother because you know that even though there is some good in him, the path he chose will end in demise. There are other plots that add to the story, but this film will really make you think about the kind of relationship you have with you family now and will hopefully give you the will to want to mend any lingering family issues before its too late.
A family drama with a number of twists
jgoldfarb110724 June 2012
The Dark Side of Love is a very engaging illustration of the degree to which our lives are governed by events that are random and not within our control. The whim of an old woman at a charity auction sets in motion a fateful meeting between the gay protagonist and an apparently straight man. A death in the family forces the protagonist to reconnect with his estranged, addicted brother and the brother's girlfriend. Relationships that seemed unlikely grow in warmth and intensity, while grief and long- suppressed anger fuel a violent confrontation. There is no neatly satisfying ending, but you will find yourself supplying various ending scenarios of your own in order to resolve the lingering ambiguities of this subtly involving story.
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