How much pressure do men put on themselves to deliver pleasure? Are their brains tied to their crotches before bypassing their emotions entirely? A little blue pill serves as salvation for one young man at the center of Matti Johansson’s Softboi, an engaging, naked drama as he navigates paths of pleasure, but how much does that medicine destroy this man’s hunt for real, complete satisfaction?
Softboi is alone in the restroom of a nightclub in the first moments of Johansson’s short. He’s bathed in red light–the color of sex, love, and want–as the club’s thumping soundtrack throbs in our ears. Even the aural notes of this film put pressure on men to think of sex. The music feels like thrusting before we see Softboi in the back of a cab on the way back to New bae’s house as he pops a Viagara.
After their hookup, the morning light feels so different, and I’m sure Softboi doesn’t think this hookup will lead to anything serious. He goes about his day and stops at the gym where naked men in the lockerroom are more comfortable around each other than he is with himself. Johansson frames the shot with two naked torsos flanking this man’s phone scrolling.
I couldn’t help but ponder how much men are consuming media and opinions about how a man should be able to please their partner. Simon Lööf is an alluring, masculine presence on screen, and he keeps his emotions at bay in the same curious way. Softboi will keep his eyes turned down either to stare at his phone or avoid someone’s gaze. Only when he is alone does he trust his eyes to be seen or when he is on the hunt for his next conquest or connection (the last few moments killed me). Johansson shows how men are Softboi is expected to perform. He overhears women talking about the size of a man’s hands and I’m sure the porn he watches doesn’t help anyone’s perception of performance.
Softboi is a sexy, modern cautionary tale. Just because you have the magical solution to a temporary problem doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t think about how it’s affecting your body and your mind. Using little dialogue, light, and atmosphere, Johansson threads a compelling tale.
You can find out more about Johansson’s work at his website.
