Shiner (2004)

Raising the subtext of Fight Club into text Shiner depicts a pair of amateur boxers gratified by punching each others lights out Theirs is among a trio of twisted love stories in the narrative feature by 29yearold Los Angeles director Christian Calson Theres also a woman literally fighting her male lovers affections and another boxer who stalks his own shy male stalker Shiner transcends sadomasochism in that no one seems aware of what he or she is doing Im trying to look at desire head on the softspoken Calson said by telephone Shiner is about the politics of wanting and being wanted and how people respond differently Rife with ugly behavior Shiner rejects the trend of queer filmmakers seeking straight understanding In LA we have this kind of sadness we carry around that the only way we can make gay stories is by making more like Will and Grace Calson said Like the activistfilmmakers tackling the marriage issue Calson went into