"Mysterious Skin" [Araki, 2004].

[karamazov.]

Well damn. After a ~week's mull-over, I have no aperçus other than that, yes, one can obviously, even justifiably object that this film blatantly sexualizes childhood sexual abuse, but that's precisely the point: Or, rather, our story shows, or flows in sympathy with the boys' -own- sexualization of their own abuse, and how they later struggle with their sexuality in light of this. There is the obvious and very intentional polarity of the boys, or, if it's your preferred metaphor, the two-sides-same-coin relationship between Neil's utter crapulousness and Brian's ostensible chastity; Brian is the super-ego, Neil pure id. Now, I also know some might see it as bad form to go on about all this with no word of warning regarding "spoilers," but there are no spoilers. Does anyone watching genuinely think the end "reveal" would possibly be any different? No: we desperately -want- to believe-- we're in a fictional world, after all, where anything's possible!-- that there could be some other explanation, some easier point of closure. Whether or not involving extra-terrestrial beings, UFOs-- as long as it's not the inevitable. But Araki, amazingly, displays absolute integrity. While there are glimmers of his usual affectations and juvenile attempts to shock, the characters and story are not once betrayed by Araki, who here works, undistracted by hipster discursiveness and stupid in-jokes, with admirable sedulousness and [can't believe I'm saying this] maturity. As I think about it, it really hits me that this could only be by Araki. Somehow, I think this only works because of his exact qualities, regardless of good or bad. Is it his gross lack of inhibition? Or his odd sort of bravery?-- or perhaps complete stupidity? Or both latter and former? I haven't the foggiest. One thing I think I can postulate confidently: Gregg Araki will never make another movie this good, ever.