The Curiosity of Chance

Big Foot Entertainment

Beyond Home Entertainment

R4 DVD

Web: http://www.thecuriosityofchance.com

Russell P. Marleau's "The Curiosity of Chance" is a very different sort of gay film; it takes its lead from such Eighties films such as "Pretty in Pink" and "The Breakfast Club," but subverts the context to create a new and more challenging focus. While in most Eighties films we have similar images of the sport jocks, the annoying school officials, the self assured if not street wise African American teen, the geek and the gay male, in this film the gay character takes centre stage. What is especially interesting is this is not another “coming out” film, Chance is already very sure of his sexuality; it is his identity he is exploring. The emphasis is not on his sexuality or his family issues (while they come into it), but into his development of confidence and self esteem.

Chance Marquis has just moved to a new town (which seems to be in Europe somewhere) and a new school. He is not only gay, but his mother has died and he feels isolated from his father. His father accepts his sexuality but does not really know how to communicate with him as he is a military type. Chance likes to wear outrageous outfits to keep the world at bay and this increases his difficulties at school. He develops new friends in the street wise Twyla and the nerdy photographer Hank. He has also developed an interest in Levi, who lives next door, and whose major love is music but whose father is pushing him into a football scholarship. But life is still hard, the school sports jock has it in for Chance and takes every opportunity to ridicule him and has intimidated Levi into keeping Chance at a distance.

Chance finds some joy in life escaping to a gay club in the city and decides to give drag a try. However, things don’t go to plan, when the bully’s girlfriend steals a photo from Hank and the whole school is covered with flyers depicting his gender bending experience. By this stage Levi has had enough and smacks the bully down – it also seems Levi seems to be coming to terms with his own identity, maybe even his sexuality.

While on leave from school, Chance and Levi hook up and enter into the battle of the bands and with the help from some drag queens bring down the show with a celebration of difference. The movie ends with a prolonged kiss between Chance and Levi which may or may not be Chance’s fantasy since the film is told first person from Chance’s memories and reflections.

This is a feel good gay film, it could easily have fallen into sentimentality but it keeps an edge of reality about it. Chance is nicely played by Hilgenbrink and avoids making the role clichéd, Levi is gorgeous and the dynamism between them is palpable. The scenes with the school sports jock/bully are carefully directed as to not make the film too violent or depressing but at the same time to remind us of how difficult life still is for those who are different.

What is so interesting about the The Curiosity of Chance is that the focus is not so much about being gay as so much as finding an identity and this can be a difficult journey for someone of any sexual persuasion and this gives the filmy a universal appeal. By making it clear that Chance has already comes to terms with his sexuality the film focuses on how we develop self esteem and confidence albeit through an extravagant and colourful tale, full of Eighties references and some very fun drag !

This review will appear in Volume 2:1 (2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.

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