Everything is Free

Love and sex and conflict… What else would you expect when a bunch of randy young men gather near the alluring surf in a Central American paradise? Written and directed by Brian Jordan Alvarez, the drama begins when Ivan (Alvarez), a gay, expatriate American painter living in Colombia, is visited by his straight best friend, Christian (Peter Vack), and the latter’s younger brother, Cole (Morgan Krantz), whose sexuality is a bit dubious. Clubbing and coupling with different people, the characters are locked into somewhat monotonous action broken up only by scenes of Ivan visiting the gallery where his paintings are displayed, and shots of everybody romping in the waves of a pristine beach. When Ivan falls hard for Cole, who is open to his host’s advances, Christian turns from cheerful buddy to harsh guardian of his sibling, a radical change that doesn’t feel particularly authentic. A handful of supporting characters add a little seasoning to the narrative, but this is ultimately a rather thin effort—sprinkled with graphic sex—to depict a rootless generation trying to find itself. Optional. (T. Keogh)