(Dean Francis, Australia, 2025, 99 minutes)
Aiden (Tim Pocock, who recalls an Aussie Dylan O'Brien) gets up in the morning, does his pushups, downs a raw egg Rocky-style, irons his clothes, listens to a YouTuber pontificate about the power of the penis, and leaves for his first day as a queer undercover cop in Sydney's inner east.
He prepares to do things by the book until pink-haired partner Steele (Sacha Horler), daughter of the former chief, pushes him to cut loose. He starts by cozying up to Cody (Tom Rodgers), a cute, drug-addicted sex worker, landing in a trap set by his drug lord drag queen "daddy" (Paul Capsis).
Aiden feels torn between cop, club, and loose-cannon hottie until one blood-spattered night forces his hand. Body Blow has the look and feel of an '80s, neon-lit, NC-17 erotic thriller. RIYL: Gun Crazy, Love Lies Bleeding, Pillion.
VALENTINA
(Tattijani Ribeiro, 2025, USA, 84 minutes)
Tatti Ribeiro's lively, funny tribute to Tejano community presents a day-in-the-life look at a young migrant worker.
After crossing from Juarez to El Paso, Valentina (Abbott Elementary's Keyla Monterroso Mejia and her amazing laugh) starts out with $80.13–and three parking tickets. To earn her keep, she takes any under-the-table job she can find, but while engaging in a historical reenactment, her car gets towed, and she needs $280 to get it back. She sells plasma, pawns a family heirloom, and testifies against onerous traffic violation fees at a city council meeting.
An on-screen counter tracks her financial gains and losses, while family members (Juan Carlos and Nathan Monterroso) and other migrants offer support. Ribeiro places the charismatic Mejia in real situations with real people, and inter-cuts newsreel footage about the migrant experience. Props to Jessica Alba for executive producing. Also: don't leave during the credits!
Valentina plays Thurs, May 14, 5:30pm at the Uptown and Fri, May 15, at SIFF Film Center. Co-writer/director Tatti Ribeiro scheduled to attend.
Images: Festival do Rio (Tom Rodgers) and IMDb (Keyla Monterroso Mejia).
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