I just watched the film Circuit directed by Dirk Shafer. The film was a hurricane of drugs, sex, techno music, and feather boas. The audience follows a man named John as he transforms from a small town, conservative, nice-guy police officer into a steroid-injecting, Ketamine using, party boy who follows the circuit parties in San Diego, California.
Circuit parties are huge dance events, similar to raves, that run all night into the morning. They are highly publicized and professionally produced. These lavish parties take on various themes. This movie took viewers through the red, green, blue, and finally the white party. It also exposed the fast-paced, borderline dangerous lifestyle some of these hardcore circuit boys live.
The main character John was not accepted in his hometown, so he fled to San Diego in hopes of simplifying his life by living in an environment where homosexuality is more accepted. Instead, he became enveloped in the party lifestyle; his mind became tweaked on drugs and steroids. At the beginning of his new life, John remained conservative, not yet comfortable in such an openly gay community. As the film progressed, John’s apprehension dissolved as he slept with a man for the first time.
The pleasurable acts that he took part in made him feel loved, sexy and desirable. However, the drug induced experiences did not let John feel anything of substance. His friend Hector, a prostitute, later killed himself at the white party after falling too far into a “k-hole.” The circuit party scene was an environment where unsafe sex and drug use ran wild. One person at the white party even said, “It isn’t a good party without an overdose.”
So where is the line when it comes to these circuit parties? Some men let loose, gorge themselves with cocaine, and have sex with multiple partners in one night. Other people become too wrapped up in the scene and cannot see the destruction they cause and risks they take. This seductive social scene let people indulge in all of the pleasures of the senses. The circuit parties give the men a sense of brotherhood and belonging; mimicking a fraternal experience. The drugs that were coursing through John’s bloodstream made him feel powerful yet paranoid. The open sex made John feel wanted and craved. However, when he found a guy who he desired a monogamous relationship with, he told him “I can’t make love unless my body is perfect.”
Fire Island, off the coast of Long Island, has parties like these over the summer. The circuit parties have roots connected to the “tea dances” in communities such as The Pines and Cherry Grove on Fire Island. You see the lights and strobes on the dance floor. You follow the chest pounding beat of house music into the club where there are masses of men, drugs and alcohol. You get lost in the electrical current of everyone dancing and singing to the deafening music. No wonder why they are referred to as circuit parties. This was a shocking film that did not hide anything from the viewer. In my opinion, it was a bit corny and a little too hyped up, however, it did show the reality that people have to go to further extremes to party hard because of our accelerated society.
Here is a fun video that may entertain you guys. Embrace it.
-Diana Papa
No comments:
Post a Comment