Stars of “2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten” (from left): Ethan Salvador, Khalil Ramos and Jameson Blake
Petersen Vargas’ “2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten” won the Audience Choice Award at the 32nd Torino LGBTQ International Film Festival in Italy last June 20.
Producer Alemberg Ang told the Inquirer: “After our second screening, an audience member cheered ‘Bravi!’ We were told by members of the selection committee that our film was the unanimous choice. They loved the film and we got good reviews from Italian critics. We are so happy about the reception.”
Vargas recalled: “I couldn’t help laughing. It was ironic that the festival recognized our film which had earlier received an R-18 rating in our country.”
Due to the rating, he explained, “we lost the chance to show this film to the people who should’ve seen it… for whom it was made: the youth.” Vargas remarked: “How often is it that you’d find an audience far away from home? We found a bit of success… in Torino, and it’s kind of bittersweet.”
The Cinema One best film winner also merited positive reviews from foreign critics. Quotidianopiemontese.it’s Gabriele Farina pointed out: “The movie is definitely low-budget…but it doesn’t seem to suffer from little money. It works perfectly and gives us the feelings and fears of the protagonists, wrapped up by the new experience that slowly rolls over their souls and involves their bodies.”
Gaypost.it’s Benedetta Pallavidino hailed Vargas’ film as “a stimulating dive into a distant culture… that tolerates the LGBT community, but does not accept it… Dense, emotionally enriching, deep… clean, impeccable, methodical and impactful.” Pallavidino likewise praised Vargas’ direction for its “innate grace, tickling the emotions to such an extent as to bring the viewer to total involvement, to share the anguish and desires” of the lead character. —BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR.