Performance anxiety has never looked so…golden?
I originally saw Krit Komkrichwarakool’s Auganic at the Palm Springs Shortfest earlier this year, and it’s rare to see a film balance fear, wonderment, and sexiness with such ease. Seeing it again only reinforces that it is one of the most original and captivating shorts of 2024.
When Kai and Nick settle in for a romantic evening at home, they do not expect it to end with Kai ejaculating pure gold. Komkrichwarakool positions the camera outside their bedroom, the nightstand light illuminating the country darkness, as the discovery takes this couple by surrprise. As they wait for the results to come back in from testing, Nick picks up on his husband’s fear. “Healthy people don’t cum gold, Nick,” Kai says, but his husband comforts him with the straightforward reply, “True. But people don’t cum gold at all.”
After a doctor clears Kai’s health, a firm steps forward to offer generous compensation to study what is going on with Kai’s body. Nick and Kai have a few disagreements about Kai’s participation, and they have to weight the monetary gain against Kai’s perceived humiliation.
There is something relatable in Kai’s fears despite the story’s fantastical edge. On a second viewing, I couldn’t help but think about how gay and queer men in the 80s reacted to news of the spread of HIV and AIDS when strange things were happening to their bodies. Maybe I am bringing that into Komkrichwarakool’s work, but I think it’s worth remembering despite the film never mentioning or comparing this fictional story with real-life events. The melancholy blues, greens, and browns in the cinematography, costume design, and production design are homey and make the gold hues shine even brighter whenever they are on camera. Kenny Brain and Matt Dejanovic share an undeniably sexy chemistry.
Auganic brings magic into our every day but never loses sight of the emotional stakes of its leading men. Komkrichwarakool gently confronts the audience with our own decisions as Kai and Nick navigate this strange territory. How much is gold worth to you?
Auganic will make its next stop at the Proud Film Festival at the Øst for Paradis in Aarhus, Denmark.
