Screen Savor: Gay teen screen scene

Like Thomas Bezucha's Big Eden, David Morentin's 1998 movie Edge of Seventeen (Strand), just reissued on DVD in a "new director-approved HD restoration," was part of the next wave of well-made gay films from the late 20^th/early 21^st century. With its new wave soundtrack and period "fashions," Edge of Seventeen goes a long way in recreating the mood and spirit of 1984 Sandusky, Ohio. It also perfectly captures the breathless nervous energy of that first blush of gay romance.

Dressed in a brown plaid polyester summer employment uniform for his food service job at Crystal Shores amusement park, Eric (Chris Stafford) has no idea what's ahead of him in the months before his senior year of high school. Obsessed with music, particularly Annie Lennox and Eurythmics, Eric dreams of going to NYU for college but realizes he may have to "settle" for Ohio State.

Eric's best friend Maggie (Tina Holmes, who has a young Meryl Streep quality and went on to play a recurring character on a season of Six Feet Under) also works with him. He doesn't realize it, but Maggie is in love with him. As luck would have it, Eric is going to be an object of desire during the summer. Cute, gay, single, blonde and experienced co-worker Rod (Andersen Gabrych), studying hotel management at Ohio State, also one of the "grubbers" in the restaurant, takes an interest in Eric.

Angie (scene-stealing lesbian comedian Lea DeLaria who has since achieved great notoriety on Broadway and for her portrayal of Big Boo in Orange Is The New Black), the restaurant manager, is also something of a guardian angel for her young teen flock, eventually introducing Eric to the world of queer culture. As Eric begins changing, both in his appearance (the evolution of his hair is its own subplot) and behavior, his relationships with Maggie, as well as his usually supportive mother (the undervalued Stephanie McVay), are put to the test.

Almost 20 years after its release, Edge of Seventeen, still holds up well, something that can be attributed to that right combination of writing (Todd Stephens), directing (David Moreton) and acting (Stafford, Holmes and DeLaria are especially strong). DVD reissue bonus features include a wealth of deleted scenes and a conversation with Moreton and Stephens.

Based on a pair of short stories by Rattawut Lapcharoensap, writer/director Josh Kim's How To Win At Checkers (Every Time) (Wolfe) is a sensitively rendered story of older gay brother Ek (Thira Chutikul) and his much younger brother Oat (Ingkarat Damrongsakkul). Orphaned brothers raised by their superstitious Auntie (Vatanya Thamdee), the checker-playing pair are inseparable.

Narrated by the adult Oat (Toni Rakkaen), How To Win At Checkers (Every Time) portrays the relationship as one that is supportive and accepting on both ends. In fact, Ek's boyfriend Jai (Arthur Navarat) is a regular presence at the brothers' house.

But there are external elements threatening the happy situation. Ek and Jai are both draft age and the upcoming lottery hangs heavily over everything. Jai, who is from a well-to-do family, may have found a way out of the draft. Meanwhile, Junior (Anawat Patanawanichkul), the bullying and meth dealing and smoking son of the area's black market boss, finds ways to make everyone miserable.

Things take a unexpectedly dark turn after Ek is drafted into the army. His drug use and hustling for cash come to light, effecting his relationship with both Oat and Jai. This sudden shift in mood is a little jarring, but not enough to distract the audience from what is mostly an enjoyable film. In Thai with English subtitles. DVD bonus features include the short doc Draft Day, the behind the scenes featurette "My Hero" and more.