Frameline 2010: Tuesday
Jun. 24th, 2010 10:25 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nakedbeeWhee! More movies!
Tuesday's film reviews below the cut
Note: plot summaries (italics) and promotional images shamelessly lifted from the Frameline website. Click the image to go there for more info, including links to the official movie websites.
Sex in an Epidemic
Sex in an Epidemic is the story of the safer sex movement in the United States, with a clear and vivid history of the epidemic and the community’s response to halt the spread of the misunderstood disease. Through interviews with many of the leaders who championed safer sex, it’s evident that saving lives depended on two vital questions: How could they get gay men to change their behavior, even if it curtailed the sexual freedom they’d fought so hard for? And how could they retain their sexual identities in the face of a frightening and deadly epidemic?
This was good. The more I watch this kind of community-specific historical documentary the more I enjoy them. It's awesome to have such a large number of preceding documentaries to build on that this one can delve more specifically than just "being gay sure was difficult in the past, wasn't it?" The focus here was on the invention of safer sex (and yes, it was a trip to really realize how much had to be invented, since that's something I've really taken for granted). The link between women's rights (especially birth control technologies) and gay rights was interesting to see; this documentary framed them both within the larger context of sexual revolution and that's not a connection I'd really made before. It wasn't just a theoretical link; protestors for both causes actively worked and marched together, which I hadn't expected.
Is It Just Me?
Painfully single writer Blaine is reminded daily of his awkwardness around other L.A. gays who are more sexually oriented. While on a personal quest to find the guy who possesses more substance than just what’s “behind the zipper,” Blaine meets Xander, recently moved from rural Texas, in an online chat room. They connect on a very intimate level and decide to meet in person. But there’s a catch: unbeknownst to Blaine, he was logged into his hot roommate Cameron’s online profile. Things quickly get out of hand when this gay Cyrano de Bergerac enlists Cameron to play along as Blaine pretends with Xander to be someone he’s not. Despite advice from Blaine’s best friend, Michelle, and Xander’s Uncle Ernie, they just can’t see what is staring them in the face. Can Blaine and Xander cut through all the deception to find their way to each other in this comical modern-day romance?
This was fluffy, cute and mostly enjoyable. I did quite a few eye rolls at the very ridiculous execution of the mistaken identity plot ... it was absolutely unbelievable (fandom, you are so much better at these plots! why aren't you all writing these scripts?! ah, someday we'll make it happen ...). If I ignored that bit though, the rest of the movie was delightful. The main character was a fantastic actor, the love interest was really adorable, and their respective roommates were surprisingly three-dimensional characters, which was very cool. Recommended for rom-com fans.
The Sisters
Since their inception in 1979 to combat HIV and AIDS, the infamous Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have sprung up all over the world, ministering to the masses with glitter, wit and charity. From the Life Ball in Vienna to the organization’s archives in San Francisco to queer visibility in Montevideo, each group has their own goals and methods. As one German Sister remarks, it’s easier to hand out condoms when people know you aren’t hitting on them. In Uruguay, the Sisters face homophobia and persecution from a heavily Catholic public. There, the mask becomes more than a political statement — it’s a form of protection. For anyone who has ever wondered why the Sisters wear white faces (or faces at all), this documentary lifts the veil for an inside look at the organization committed to safer sex, LGBT rights and performance art. As one original Sister says, “We’re not really anti-Catholic at all. We’re just anti-guilt, anti-hate, anti-negativity.” This exuberant documentary lives up to that commitment, sparkles and all.
Very cool. It was great to get more information on the fabulous nuns who have graced the San Francisco scene with their presence for so many years. The work they do as performance artists is impressive enough (the impact that looking that fabulous in public has should not be underrated) but coupled with their activism and charity makes the Sisters a truly admirable organization. My favorite bit from the Q&A after the movie was the story about some dispute with a Catholic Archbishop in which a bus-load of Catholic nuns showed up at the hearing in support of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence; the "real" nuns felt that the Sisters were doing important work in the community. The level of mutual respect was just incredible. Awesome!
Also, I am in love with the way the narrator (Sister Unity) does her eyelashes (like a fabulous drag catfish) and may have to figure out how she does it so I can steal that look for myself. :)
Eyes Wide Open
Equal parts first-rate independent art cinema and fascinating anthropological study of a tightly-knit conservative community, the film sparks against the backdrop of an Orthodox Jewish community in Jerusalem. Aaron runs a kosher butcher’s shop. When he hires Ezri, he is confronted by feelings he thought he dispensed with long ago. Steeped in the codes of religion, each interaction between Aaron and Ezri is rife with underlying tension. With a surprising economy of means, director Haim Tabakman manages to communicate the intense stakes for the two men. The paranoiac community is insular, where one’s status is always scrutinized, “purity police” pay visits, and contradiction and vice continuously threaten one’s very soul.
I was so excited to see this film. It started off slowly, with minutes-long stretches without dialogue, which is always tough for me but I was still optimistic. Then about 30 minutes in I lost all respect for the main character and just wanted the movie to be over. I'm pretty sad that I can't recommend this movie, but I really, really can't. There's a lot of lying, deception, cowardice, hatred, violence, and glorification of ugliness. I sure wish movies came with fanfic-type warnings.
So, to cheer myself up, I recommend this fantastic fic instead: A Narrow Bridge, by Kass. It's a McShep SGA AU where John and Rodney are studying at the same yeshiva! And it's got a happy ending! Yay!!
Tuesday's film reviews below the cut
Note: plot summaries (italics) and promotional images shamelessly lifted from the Frameline website. Click the image to go there for more info, including links to the official movie websites.
Sex in an Epidemic
Sex in an Epidemic is the story of the safer sex movement in the United States, with a clear and vivid history of the epidemic and the community’s response to halt the spread of the misunderstood disease. Through interviews with many of the leaders who championed safer sex, it’s evident that saving lives depended on two vital questions: How could they get gay men to change their behavior, even if it curtailed the sexual freedom they’d fought so hard for? And how could they retain their sexual identities in the face of a frightening and deadly epidemic?
This was good. The more I watch this kind of community-specific historical documentary the more I enjoy them. It's awesome to have such a large number of preceding documentaries to build on that this one can delve more specifically than just "being gay sure was difficult in the past, wasn't it?" The focus here was on the invention of safer sex (and yes, it was a trip to really realize how much had to be invented, since that's something I've really taken for granted). The link between women's rights (especially birth control technologies) and gay rights was interesting to see; this documentary framed them both within the larger context of sexual revolution and that's not a connection I'd really made before. It wasn't just a theoretical link; protestors for both causes actively worked and marched together, which I hadn't expected.
Is It Just Me?
Painfully single writer Blaine is reminded daily of his awkwardness around other L.A. gays who are more sexually oriented. While on a personal quest to find the guy who possesses more substance than just what’s “behind the zipper,” Blaine meets Xander, recently moved from rural Texas, in an online chat room. They connect on a very intimate level and decide to meet in person. But there’s a catch: unbeknownst to Blaine, he was logged into his hot roommate Cameron’s online profile. Things quickly get out of hand when this gay Cyrano de Bergerac enlists Cameron to play along as Blaine pretends with Xander to be someone he’s not. Despite advice from Blaine’s best friend, Michelle, and Xander’s Uncle Ernie, they just can’t see what is staring them in the face. Can Blaine and Xander cut through all the deception to find their way to each other in this comical modern-day romance?
This was fluffy, cute and mostly enjoyable. I did quite a few eye rolls at the very ridiculous execution of the mistaken identity plot ... it was absolutely unbelievable (fandom, you are so much better at these plots! why aren't you all writing these scripts?! ah, someday we'll make it happen ...). If I ignored that bit though, the rest of the movie was delightful. The main character was a fantastic actor, the love interest was really adorable, and their respective roommates were surprisingly three-dimensional characters, which was very cool. Recommended for rom-com fans.
The Sisters
Since their inception in 1979 to combat HIV and AIDS, the infamous Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have sprung up all over the world, ministering to the masses with glitter, wit and charity. From the Life Ball in Vienna to the organization’s archives in San Francisco to queer visibility in Montevideo, each group has their own goals and methods. As one German Sister remarks, it’s easier to hand out condoms when people know you aren’t hitting on them. In Uruguay, the Sisters face homophobia and persecution from a heavily Catholic public. There, the mask becomes more than a political statement — it’s a form of protection. For anyone who has ever wondered why the Sisters wear white faces (or faces at all), this documentary lifts the veil for an inside look at the organization committed to safer sex, LGBT rights and performance art. As one original Sister says, “We’re not really anti-Catholic at all. We’re just anti-guilt, anti-hate, anti-negativity.” This exuberant documentary lives up to that commitment, sparkles and all.
Very cool. It was great to get more information on the fabulous nuns who have graced the San Francisco scene with their presence for so many years. The work they do as performance artists is impressive enough (the impact that looking that fabulous in public has should not be underrated) but coupled with their activism and charity makes the Sisters a truly admirable organization. My favorite bit from the Q&A after the movie was the story about some dispute with a Catholic Archbishop in which a bus-load of Catholic nuns showed up at the hearing in support of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence; the "real" nuns felt that the Sisters were doing important work in the community. The level of mutual respect was just incredible. Awesome!
Also, I am in love with the way the narrator (Sister Unity) does her eyelashes (like a fabulous drag catfish) and may have to figure out how she does it so I can steal that look for myself. :)
Eyes Wide Open
Equal parts first-rate independent art cinema and fascinating anthropological study of a tightly-knit conservative community, the film sparks against the backdrop of an Orthodox Jewish community in Jerusalem. Aaron runs a kosher butcher’s shop. When he hires Ezri, he is confronted by feelings he thought he dispensed with long ago. Steeped in the codes of religion, each interaction between Aaron and Ezri is rife with underlying tension. With a surprising economy of means, director Haim Tabakman manages to communicate the intense stakes for the two men. The paranoiac community is insular, where one’s status is always scrutinized, “purity police” pay visits, and contradiction and vice continuously threaten one’s very soul.
I was so excited to see this film. It started off slowly, with minutes-long stretches without dialogue, which is always tough for me but I was still optimistic. Then about 30 minutes in I lost all respect for the main character and just wanted the movie to be over. I'm pretty sad that I can't recommend this movie, but I really, really can't. There's a lot of lying, deception, cowardice, hatred, violence, and glorification of ugliness. I sure wish movies came with fanfic-type warnings.
So, to cheer myself up, I recommend this fantastic fic instead: A Narrow Bridge, by Kass. It's a McShep SGA AU where John and Rodney are studying at the same yeshiva! And it's got a happy ending! Yay!!