The staggeringly athletic bodies of the two lead s are a constant source of visual spectacle in The Gymnast. Fortunately, the movie also has a solid story to offer: Jane Hawkins (Dreya Weber, Lovely and Amazing) has lost all pleasure in her life: Her gymnastics career collapsed twenty years earlier due to an injury, her marriage has turned sour, and her job as a massage therapist has become a rut. When she gets invited to put together an aerial act using long strips of cloth instead of trapezes, Jane finds herself revitalized--and surprisingly drawn to her acrobatic partner, Serena (dancer Addie Yungmee). The tentative romance between the two is sultry and, thanks to their aerial routines, visually captivating. The Gymnast occasionally stumbles with some obvious dialogue and unpolished acting moments, but it's a strong coming-out story that gives texture and depth to its characters. The character's physical prowess ultimately becomes a metaphor for their emotional strength, but the movie also serves as a celebration of female athleticism. Weber and Yungmee's bodies are assertively sexy, expressing as much power as eroticism. It's easy to see why The Gymnast has won an abundance of awards at gay and lesbian film festivals. --Bret Fetzer
