Giant Little Ones

A gauche high-school jock uncovers his sensitive side in this smart teen drama from writer/director Keith Behrman. Franky (Josh Wiggins) and his best pal Ballas (Darren Mann) have a brief drunken fumble in the dark. Studiously macho and in denial, Ballas gets ahead of the inevitable gossip by spreading it around that Franky made the first move, turning Franky into a school pariah. What follows, though, is not exactly a story of queer realisation. Instead, Franky comes to realise that it doesn't matter whether his peers think he's gay. Behrman explores this with good taste, allowing Franky's recently out-of-the-closet dad (a lovely Kyle MacLachlan) and a trans-curious friend (Niamh Wilson) to impart lessons about social labelling and self-respect. With its pat cinematic style and over-reliance on pop-music montages, the film is content to be merely amiable, but the nuanced messages and appealing performances make it a worthwhile watch.