Jay

Jay was a young schoolmaster. He was brutally murdered during what seems to be a sexual crime, making it clear he was gay. A TV crew sees a story in it and starts a manipulative reconstruction of his life and death. The film follows the TV crew so closely that it acquires the character of a fake documentary.
The most important part of the film is set in the small rural community where Jay comes from.
Jay is packed with fierce and occasionally consciously exaggerated emotions. The TV crew encourages people to cry exuberantly. This is also partly authentic and characteristic of the local culture of mourning; real and unreal are permanently juxtaposed. The small community is persuaded to act out the dramatic experience one more time, but during the reconstruction the original emotions re-emerge. Even the TV reporter, who initially only came for a good item, becomes really involved. It’s no coincidence that the reporter’s name is also Jay.
Jay has more style and visual charm than the shameless TV genre it parodies. The director is obviously very committed and makes effective use of his own experience with television. For instance, the gay theme is not only part of the TV reporters’ sensationalism, but also part of the occasionally campy and sultry form of the film itself. (GjZ)

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