Ekaj

EKAJ is a 2015 American drama film written and directed by Cati Gonzalez and starring Jake Mestre, Badd Idea, and Scooter LaForge. It made its New York City premiere at the International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival.

Gonzalez intended for Ekaj to be a work in the vein of Midnight Cowboy, but with a focus on New York's Puerto Rican drifters.^[1] The film has screened at several Film Festivals such as the LesGaiCineMad Palm Beach International Film Festival, Q Fest Cinema St.Lous, QCinema Fort Worth, NY Downtown Urban Arts Festival, NewFilmmakers NY, SF Latino Film Festival Cine+Mas, Guam International Film Festival, Idyllwild Festival of Cinema, Macabre Faire Film Festival, and others.

Synopsis

Ekaj is a naïve runaway teen who tries to survive in New York City. He meets "Mecca" (Badd Idea), a cynical artist and hustler who takes Ekaj under his care. Mecca stays at his cousins place and we get glimpses of the fact that he has Aids, since he has tattoos with the word written on his body. He drinks all day but still manages to be sane and sharp. He's also an opportunistic thief. Ekaj decides to go into prostitution out of desperation. Mecca becomes ill, as his medication does not really seem to be working for him. At the same time we see Ekaj becoming stronger and less vulnerable. Ekaj falls in love with a painter named "Johnny" (Scooter LaForge) who has no tolerance and is constantly beating him. "Johnny" seems indifferent and cold towards Ekaj's desperate love and obsession for him. With no place to really sleep, Ekaj stays during the day with Mecca at his cousin's place, at Johnny's place, or at times staying in hotel rooms paid by coins (clients.) Their relationship develops into true love and care for each other.

Cast

• Jake Mestre
• Badd Idea
• Scooter LaForge

References

"EKAJ: A Sweet Film That Proves To Be Teflon-Tough" - A&U Magazine, Dec. 4, 2016.

"“A groundbreaking exposé of the issues homeless LGBTQ youth face, beautifully told through masterful story crafting” - Huffington Post, April 5, 2016

“An important, UNMISSABLE film, for fans of Larry Clark’s "Kids" and much more raw-er than Sean Baker's "Tangerine" - No Gloss Film Festival, Sept 30, 2016

“Gonzalez’s aesthetic falls between Larry Clark and Gus Van Sant”  State of The Arts, Oct. 26, 2016

"Criticas De Kater, Ekaj..." - Dos Manzanas, Nov. 4, 2016

“Ekaj is FLESH by Paul Morrisey and AndyWarhol” - Cinefilia, Cinefilia, Nov. 3, 2016

"DocuVIHvO y Cine Positivo" - Chueca, Nov. 10, 2016

“A film that has the potential to make the unaware, aware” - The Voice of London, Dec. 12, 2016

"Film Programmers Top 5 Latino Movies of 2016" - Remezcla, Dec. 19, 2016

"8th Festival de Cine Latino SF" - Cinema Errante, Sept. 15, 2016

" Ekaj" - Mondo Divine, Nov. 9, 2016

"A Saipan Filmmakers Perspective GIFF 2016" - Marianna's Variety, Dec. 5, 2016

"6th Guam Intl. Film Festival Kicks off" - The Guam Post, Nov. 17, 2016

" How Reality Became Real On Screen" - Brandon Naicker, Sept. 20, 2016

"LesGaiCineMad 2016" - Estoy Bailando, Nov. 5, 2016

"Celuloide Pink" - Revista Diversa Peru, Feb. 5, 2017

"Real, Raw, Frightening, Heartbreaking" - [Movies Over The Rainbow], Oct. 31, 2015

References