really in charge here?The sexy queer short film Safe Word explores the unspoken feelings that linger just beneath the surface of a kinky dom/sub relationship, and what happens when we keep our emotions more bound than our bodies.From filmmaker Christopher Cunetto, the intimate story opens on Cesar (Mauricio Pita, who also produces the film), a man nervously jotting down words on a sheet of paper.
Shazam? No. Sentimental. Not that. Stay? Hmm…Subscribe to our newsletter for your front-row seat to all things entertainment with a sprinkle of everything else queer.As the title card makes clear, he’s brainstorming a safe word for his next meet-up with his dom, Bear (Jonathan Adriel).
When he hears a knock at the door, he unlocks it then sits quietly in a chair as Bear climbs the stairs, dressed head-to-toe in black leather.Immediately, they launch into a familiar BDSM dynamic: Bear bosses Cesar around and denigrates him at every turn, to which the masochistic Cesar dutifully replies, “yes sir.”“You’re unlovable, you’re worthless, you’re nothing,” Bear says after binding Cesar to his chair, but his loyal sub doesn’t seem to be enjoying the put-downs as much as he usually does.
Something’s off this time, and Bear can sense it.His next visit, Bear arrives with a different plan in mind. He asks Cesar to look him in the eyes, and even offers a few compliments.