This was an assigned viewing for my university's New Zealand film course. I knew nothing about it except for the title, and let me tell you, this was absolutely not what I was expecting. Whatever impression the title gives you, it's really about the bond between a Maori warrior and a British soldier who meet in the jungle. There's not much dialogue or explanation to give context to this bond as it is displayed quite visually.
6 Reviews
really wonderful
MattyMatt26 May 2002
I found this short film on a DVD called "The Best of Boys in Love," and it was the only really moving short film on the disc. Made in New Zealand, it's the story of a native hunter who nurses a wounded western soldier back to health, alone in a jungle. I don't know anything about New Zealand history or culture. But you don't have to in order to understand what's going on. The two characters don't share a language, culture, values, or loyalties, but they form a bond nevertheless. A really well-trimmed, simple story that doesn't sacrifice any depth.
Fifteen minutes of game
sandover15 September 2010
Game like lovebird, game like love...
That the director manages so adroitly to handle his material suffusing narrative with anthropological commentary, erotic sarcasm with a post-colonial sense of no exit, and the simple male-to-male recognition while preserving the important sense of inherent antagonism, usually depicted (if at all!) as antagonism between the sexes rather than between the lovers as such, is nothing less than a singular achievement. The maker of this short knows how to make love stay outside agendas.
The raw import of the love between the two men, and how its shortness is accessed, by making the two men's otherness elliptic (and perhaps more cunningly the white male's, so that his opaqueness in the end rhymes with white guilt and delirious beauty - the glimpse of his erection -, and makes Toa's chirpy talkativeness a sad affair in the end), must make it some sort of a legend.
Lovebird chirps is the name of the game, love plays the game, and love is the prey of gods.
That the director manages so adroitly to handle his material suffusing narrative with anthropological commentary, erotic sarcasm with a post-colonial sense of no exit, and the simple male-to-male recognition while preserving the important sense of inherent antagonism, usually depicted (if at all!) as antagonism between the sexes rather than between the lovers as such, is nothing less than a singular achievement. The maker of this short knows how to make love stay outside agendas.
The raw import of the love between the two men, and how its shortness is accessed, by making the two men's otherness elliptic (and perhaps more cunningly the white male's, so that his opaqueness in the end rhymes with white guilt and delirious beauty - the glimpse of his erection -, and makes Toa's chirpy talkativeness a sad affair in the end), must make it some sort of a legend.
Lovebird chirps is the name of the game, love plays the game, and love is the prey of gods.
Way more nudity and cocks than your average film short
hmb-5177827 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Okay. The special effects are usually silly. And you'll probably enjoy it a lot more if you're into a lot of pretty men who eventually succomb to what is obvious from the moment it starts. Nor will anyone not see the ending from the starting scene. But did I want to see these two have their moment of joy.
Oppression is pain.
This film short gives it the ugly horror show that is oppression.
Oppression is pain.
This film short gives it the ugly horror show that is oppression.
Pretentious title, unrealistic story
Horst_In_Translation13 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"Twilight of the Gods" is a 16-minute live action short film from 1996, so this one had its 20th anniversary last year and it was written and directed by Stewart Main. It is a production from New Zealand and as a consequence of that and the lead actor being a Maori, the main language in here is Maori too. This black-and-white film is about what happens when a Maori meets a wounded soldier and honestly for the first half, it wasn't a bad film, nothing special either, but bearable to watch. Then all out of nowhere the two start kissing and making out and this is where the film had nothing to do with realism anymore. Not just that it's extremely unlikely that not one, but both of them are gay, but also that they are attracted to each other and then don't mind going for it in this bizarre scenario and situation. yeah, I don't think this ever would have happened in reality and as the film is not a comedy or fantasy movie, this lack of authenticity is a negative deal breaker. Not surprised though to see this included on "Boys in Love 2" as there are so many gay-themed short films out there that are equally unrealistic and if you see the rating for this one here, many many people keep falling for this ridiculous premise. I know I don't. Major thumbs-down. Not recommended.
the atmosphere
Kirpianuscus10 October 2019
...is the lead virtue of this film . A simple story , nudity, dramatic end of a sort of friendship behind cultures, traditions and rules. Poetic in profound sense, it is one well crafted short films, reminding the source of deep vulnerability, giving a touching love story, proposing a seductive film in skin of ethnological documentary. Its delicate grace remains the fundamental virtue.
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