padraig (u.s.)
a monkey that will go ape
yeah I was going to say that young Spader puts me in mind of the Greek ephebos, the idyllic golden youthHe was the essence of youth which makes it so powerful to see it destroyed
even young beautiful Spader is a bit too old (mid 20s), but he still seems to convey that essence
not something that has to be sexualized, but often has been - the twink archetype in gay culture is a modern iteration
as I said his sexuality is more a suggested ambiguous element, but it's interesting also how it relates to his prep school vibe
homosexuality at elite boarding schools isn't the national institution it seems to be in England
but it still exists as a cultural trope, or that ambiguity does - A Separate Peace is a famous (disputed) example
I think someone mentioned young Cary Elwes as a contemporary comparison
didn't he literally star in a movie about homosexuality at Eton? tho I can't remember the title