Filmmaker Jorge Ameer
returns to the DVD release arena on July 16 with the Ariztical Entertainment
launch of The Dark Side of Love.
His recent DVD arrival of
D’Agostino
had to be a tough act to follow, but he pulls it off with this
emotionally-charged tale about a conflicted relationship between brothers — who
absolutely do not get along — who must somehow find peace when their mother
dies.
Julian (Carlos Sales) is
forced to reach out to estranged brother Michael (Jason Susag) with the bad
news. Funeral arrangements need to be
made, but there is nothing emotionally between the two sons; each lacks an
understanding of the other’s world and needs.
But it goes beyond that, Michael
is a drug addict, seemingly ready to explode at any moment. His girlfriend, Chanel (Raquel Rossner), is
not a beacon of light either. Julian on
the other hand is gay, a waiter and is what can best be described as the
responsible one. He maintained a close
relationship with mom, while Michael remained aloof — history with his brother,
etc. and that just adds to the bitterness.
With that sort of an
emotional mix, you would think that they would just make the best of it and try
to get through the ordeal of the mortuary and pending funeral without tearing
open old wounds. A few days of pain and
it would be over. But that wouldn’t make
for much of a story and writer/director Jorge Ameer is not reluctant in the
least to let it rip.
The Dark Side of Love explores some very deep resentments between these
two opposites … the “catalyst” of their mother’s passing is exactly that, a
catalyst that brings everything to the surface.
Give credit to Ameer, he
doesn’t let the proceedings degenerate into a rant, but cleverly introduces
another character into the mix — Steven (Harsha First), who had a recent “meet
cute” introduction to Julian. He’s
“straight,” but his budding friendship comes at just the right moment.
Indeed, his presence is
anything but obvious as The Dark Side of Love is not just
about the passing of a loved one and what follows, but it is also a well-drawn
character study that ends up being a good deal more than a sad, even pathetic,
battle between estranged brothers.
To download this week's
complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report: DVD & Blu-ray Release Report
No comments:
Post a Comment