buygay.com

Amos Lassen wrote on 02/20/2011:

“Love Life”
An Arrangement
Amos Lassen
Damion Dietz has been quite a productive director lately. In the last couple of years we have seen the DVD releases of three of his films, “Beverly Kills”, “Neverland” and “Love Life” (WaterBearer Films)—his newest and most compelling and complex.
“Love Life” hits you hard emotionally. It is the story of a couple in an unhappy marriage of convenience. Joe, the husband, had been a professional baseball player who just happens to desire men but in need of a “beard”. His wife, Mary, is a lesbian who needs a husband so that she can have access to her trust fund. Together they both get what they need. “Love Life” looks equally at both sides of the marriage. Everything with their arrangement seems to work just perfectly. One day in a park, Joe picks up a man, apparently not for the first time. It seems that he has quite a long run of casual encounters and as long as the sex does not become complicated he is happy and has no need to exist in the closet. Mary’s roommate from college comes to visit her and we learn that they had once been lovers. Everything gains complications when Joe goes to bed with their landscaper and Mary has sex with her ex-lover. At this point, we can only wonder what is next for the “happy” couple.
As you can probably guess, this is a dark and disturbing movie. Mary (Stephanie Kirchen) and Joe (Stephen D. Gill) live a life of a secret that is not so secret. Mary has deluded herself into believing that she is happy but this all falls to pieces when her college roommate appears and Joe embarks on his affair with the landscaper. They both realize that the time has come to face the reality of their lives. What makes this movie unique is that the relationship is shown from both sides.
The movie is a melodrama in all of its aspects—quite a change from the earlier genre of film that he has worked in. The idea of the movie may not be new but the way in which it presented is fresh. As both masks ad clothes are striped away, we get an inside look at two people living a lie and we watch too adults forced to struggle with their emotions as well as their romantic leanings.
The movie is completely minimalist as it peers into the lives of two people who are unhappy with the way they live and with their sexuality. “Be yourself” is the message that comes across loud and clear and the drama of denial slaps the viewer across the face. The price that was paid for wealth and social standing is very high if happiness is not included. The film peels away the outer layer of sham happiness as the subtext rises to the surface.
What the film is about is pretense and living a lie. The nudity and sexuality of the film are well integrated into the film and are there to show that this is functional to the story.
The characters here do not suffer the oppression of society as much as they suffer from self-oppression. They are in a closet that they have put themselves into. We all have to look at ourselves to ask where we fit.

Janorm wrote on 04/10/2008:

Dietz has produced a film showing the excellent effects of what other people and the cultural expectations are turned into reality by very well meaning persons. This can and usually have very diastrous results for all concerned and what generally is problematic, whereas 80 to 90% of the time, children are involved! The angst, pathos, and pain is unmeasureable at any time!! All premartial couples should be required to view this film! It is a True Gem and a Classic which should be added to your Collection. ONLY A FOOL MARRYS FOR CONVENTION, LOVE IS FOR LIFE!!!

Conner wrote on 08/07/2007:

The acting was good. But the lighting in the film was terrible. It was so dark and gloomy. You couldn't see any of the love making scenes. At times, the TV screen was totally dark, with nothing more than talking coming out of it. It was terrible!

I walked away from the story, feeling disgusted, and depressed.

robertjack wrote on 06/12/2007:

I must have seen a different movie than the other reviewers. I can't in good conscience recommend this movie. Most of the time the lighting was so bad you could barely see anything. The acting was hard to watch and I'm surprised I watched the whole thing.

woodgod wrote on 04/21/2007:

I just saw this movie at the outfilm festival in San Diego tonight and met the director. I loved it as did everone else, since we all stayed to talk to Damion Dietz and asked him a few questions. I highly recommend watching this movie. The erotic scenes are hot. Enjoy : )