Futuro Beach

Although no one would accuse director Karim A9:19:42 Aïnouz of prudishness, Futuro Beach is certainly guilty of being mostly plotless. In this rambling, moody, transcontinental gay romance, Brazilian lifeguard Donato (Wagner Moura) finds himself thrust into a hot and heavy relationship with German tourist Konrad (Clemens Schick) after Donato saves the latter from drowning in the waters of the titular Brazilian beach. Very little is offered here in terms of the relationship's foundation, other than mutual animal attraction, although following this unlikely hookup, Donato decides to leave job and family behind to move to Berlin with Konrad. Graphic, steamy sex scenes between Donato and Konrad are interspersed with the buzzing techno-club nightlife and beautifully atmospheric gray austerity of Berlin's cityscapes. Aïnouz clearly revels in sensual, imagistic poetry, but striking visuals can only take the movie so far. As Donato and Konrad's relationship monotonously progresses, viewers learn more about Donato's past, but it's not enough to add much more dimension to his character, or lift the film out of its plodding, navel-gazing routine. An optional purchase for more adventurous collections. (M. Sandlin)