Beach Rats
We first meet 19-year-old Frankie as he poses, shirtless, in front of a mirror in his dark basement. Only illuminated by his selfie camera flashes, we see this display of masculinity, then soon learn he stores these photos on a computer, the same one on which he browses a gay Brooklyn-based webcam/hook-up site. His desires, which he reveals he can’t articulate yet, are hidden from his family. They are also certainly concealed from his group of hyper-masculine bro-pack of friends, who make their heterosexuality known to those at the Coney Island boardwalk, where they attempt to court local romantic prospects. Burgeoning sexuality is the basis for nearly all coming-of-age films, but with her specific eye, Eliza Hittman makes it feel like we’re watching this genre unfold for the first time. (Jordan Raup)
On Oct. 21 in the presence of Eliza Hittman.
- Harris Dickinson - Frankie
- Anton Selyaninov - Jesse
- Frank Hakaj - Nick
- David Ivanov - Alexei
- Eliza Hittman
- Hélène Louvart
- Chris Foster
- Joe Murphy
- Scott Cummings
- Nicholas Leone
- Grace Yun
- Olga Mill
Mongrel
