Beauty

It is very rare that a gay themed film is given a cinema release. It is also rare that we get a film from South Africa. So it is a pleasant surprise to see both in the one film.
Francois van Heerden comes from an older generation where it was harder to come out of the closet. He has to keep his true feelings suppressed. Francois has a seemingly normal life with a wife, children a successful business. He has managed to keep his true desires secret with the occasional visit to a men's group. This type of suppression is not necessarily healthy, which is why things reach a boil when Francois meets Christian. Christian is a very handsome young man  and you can understand why Francois becomes fascinated with him. But because Francois is so incredibly deeply in the closet that there is no chance he will ever reveal his true feelings. This also means that there is a lot of pent up emotions here. 
Director and co-writer Oliver Hermanus has made a brilliant thriller about one man's obsession. We have all fallen in love with a beautiful person so on some level we know where Francois obsession comes from. What this films shows us is how this obsession effects one man. Francois is very much like a dangerous animal stalking his prey. Many of the scenes are filmed from Francois' point of view and just linger on what ever he is seeing. This gives the film an incredibly creepy quality. Oliver also gives the film a nicely slow pace which lets us see Francois slowly simmer with his obsession. Naturally this means it leads to boiling point in a very disturbing scene. What happens after that is my only problem with the film. I felt the ending was unsatisfactory. 
As Francois Dean Lotz gives an amazing brilliant performance. While he does come across as creepy and sleazy in some of his behaviour you learn to appreciate why he is the way he is. Dean is does not do a lot except look on longingly as his prey. But is is the way he looks which makes him so brilliant. Charlie Keegan is delightful as the object of desire. He plays it so well and you really feel for him when Francois' feelings are fully revealed.
There is some pretty shocking imagery but this is a truly brilliant character study of a man who is unable to reveal his true feelings. A good lesson in finding a way to be brave.