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| Sequin (Conor Leach) the movie's Protagonist in the title scene from Sequin in a Blue Room. |
"Transgression. Different from the Love genre where a Reader, emotionally engaged, watches from the sidelines. In this genre the Reader becomes the Protagonist as they debase themselves... What is Transgression, but an attempt to understand?" - English Teacher (Tsu Chan Chambers)
Sequin in a Blue Room is a bold Directorial debut Exploring Gay Hookup Culture without Judging
In an age of Cancel Culture it's refreshing to see a film from a Director who is not afraid to be bold. Samuel Van Grinsven's debut feature dives into the deep end of modern cosmopolitan gay life. And it is very bold indeed.
Sequin in a Blue Room follows its' Protagonist, Sequin (Conor Leach), a self aware teenager in Sydney, Australia, who knows what he wants sexually, and is not afraid to sample the Smörgåsbord offered by big city gay life. He soon learns that life in 'Wonderland' is not all fun and games.
The movie's plot is structured around Sequin's encounters. All are facilitated by a smartphone app called, aptly, Anon. In several scenes we find Sequin absorbed in this online world of well-defined torsos without faces who are usually identified by single letter names.
Our Protagonist stands out both for his unusual Moniker, and the silvery sequined crop top that he wears to his encounters. We never learn his real name.
Not long into the film Sequin meets 'B.' (Ed Wightman) a married man in his mid forties who becomes obsessed. B is not deterred when Sequin makes it clear that he is only interested in one-off encounters. Blocked from contacting Sequin on the app, B arranges for him to be invited to a group sex party known simply as the Blue Room.
The movie's plot pivots on what happens at the Blue Room party. While avoiding B, Sequin meets F. (Samuel Barrie) a mysterious beauty who makes a big impact on Sequin. While he works to find F in the real world, Sequin becomes immersed in a dangerous tango with B that will have consequences.
Van Grinsven knows the world he depicts intimately. His film movingly shows the rush of attraction, as well as the disappointment of realizing that a one-off encounter is usually just that, no matter what feelings the experience awoke in you.
For me Sequin in a Blue Room is a coming of age story for an accelerated time. Smartphones, Social Media platforms, and fast download speeds have conditioned many of us in the developed world to expect things to happen instantly. Particularly with Sex. Grindr, Gay Romeo, and Tinder are just a few of the mobile apps out there offering the chance for instant connection.
Anon, the fictional app that Sequin uses throughout his days, is not that different from the real thing. This gives the story verisimilitude, and Sequin's encounters a heavy emotional punch. I found myself rooting for Sequin, hoping that he would find a meaningful relationship by the end of the story. Also that he would become a little smarter about the risks he takes with his one-and-done sex routine.
If you like envelope pushing gay films such as Stephen Dunn's Closet Monster or Michael Cuesta's L.I.E, then Sequin in a Blue Room is worth adding to your collection.
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