Frameline 2010: Saturday
Jun. 28th, 2010 07:25 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nakedbeeIt was a really good day: a high density of high quality films!
Saturday'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.
Out of Annapolis
The documentary tells the stories of eleven former sailors and Marines who attended Annapolis in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Through candid interviews, these former midshipmen discuss the reasons why they entered the Naval Academy (most wanted to serve their country and get an Ivy League-quality education) and the struggles they faced both while students and once they entered the fleet.
Some of these former officers entered the Academy knowing they were gay, while others didn’t discover that aspect of themselves until much later. A few had same-sex relationship while at the Academy, many waited until they were in the fleet to have their first same-sex sexual encounter. While some of these former midshipmen had careers spanning only a short while, some served for many years both before “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” when gay witch-hunts were common, and after passage of the landmark legislation.
Director and subject Commander Steve Clark Hall, USN (Ret.), hits all the right notes for a powerful documentary, including sweepingly beautiful shots of the Annapolis campus and entertaining archival photos of all the subjects. What emerges is a remarkably intimate, incredibly positive portrait of the group’s experiences and is especially relevant considering the current debate surrounding “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
This was a fantastic documentary. So positive and inspiring and brave; I was in tears at the end. An amazing project (especially in light of all the behind-the-scenes networking that was mentioned in the Q&A to get this film screened for the members of Congress who are currently working on DADT).
FIT
“You’re so gay.” “That’s so gay.” What do these words mean? When a teenager spews them, it’s usually an insult. Writer/director Rikki Beadle-Blair attacks these words head-on in this powerful, moving and hugely entertaining narrative feature.
Exploding with infectious energy, colorful characters and positive messages about the importance of self-image, FIT focuses on the everyday lives of six diverse British teenagers who are brought together by an enthusiastic dance teacher, played by Beadle-Blair. The film’s engaging, easygoing structure allows us to spend time with each character as they struggle with questions about sexual identity, repressed feelings and how to fit into “normal” society. The story’s real-world drama and poignant core centers on this group of young people who ask each other questions like: “When did you first know you were gay?” Scenes of serious teen soul searching are juxtaposed against lively dance class moments that are both funny and exhilarating.
Beadle-Blair brilliantly fuses elements of contemporary music, fashion and dance to create an emotionally honest film that turns stereotypes upside down and humanizes a group of people who are too often labeled as outsiders by peers. Culled from anti-bullying workshops around the UK, FIT is a perfect mix of humor and drama that resonates and charms.
Wow. Another fantastic movie. Highly recommended, especially for teens, parents, and educators (the film is available for free/low cost ... they are totally serious about getting the message out ... apparently they've already sent a copy to every school in Britain). Another fascinating detail about the film is the structure: it's broken up into ~15 minute chapters to make it easier to watch during class and still have discussion time afterwards. Also, the seriousness/intensity ramps up over the course of the film, meaning that the first chapter is suitable for all audiences/younger teens and the last for older teens, while still never crossing into territory too mature for high schoolers.
On a very shallow note, the actors in the film are terribly cute and have accents that I could listen to for hours. ;)
Super excitingly, the film also deals with a spectrum of queer youth: straight-actung gays, gay-acting straights, and even that rare creature (at least it seems so at this festival sometimes) a bisexual character! What an awesome film!
Dyke Delights
The Girl Bunnies. HOCKEY: Filmmaker/songwriter Francoise Doherty brings us another installment of her homo-girl-rabbit-world series, wherein Coco can’t get enough of a hockey girl
I've seen previous installments of this and it continues to be quite cute.
In Your Face-The International Lesbian Anthem
The song was funny, but the music video was a bit repetitive and slowly paced.
Chained!: explores the intimate relationship between dykes and their wallet chains
This was a great short documentary. A really surprising breadth of interviewees makes this feel like the authoritative work on the subject.
G.I.M.P. Boot Camp: uses humor to deconstruct stereotypes of disability through a dramatic “CRIP Awards” ceremony, an infomercial-style guide to survival and a testimonial from a recovering inspiration addict
This was fabulous. The main focus was the difficulty with issues of perception when one uses a wheelchair but is also able to walk sometimes without it. Deftly humorous and superbly entertaining.
Hoops: a young Latina comes to grips with herself and her sexuality
This was pretty cute. She tries out for the dance team to impress her crush. She doesn't make the team but does end up with the cutie's phone number. Yay.
T4-2: A picture-perfect heterosexual marriage is revealed to be a little more queerly complicated in the slyly comedic T4-2
A music video set to "Tea for Two" this short could have benefited from a little additional cutting but was pretty cute nonetheless. The Brady Bunch style credits were a great finishing touch.
Swimming: A beautiful lifeguard is smitten with a woman who’s learning how to swim from a flirtatious water safety instructor
Another music video. The song was great and the video was quite entertaining.
Fish Fillet: the tale of Dani, who was born into an Evangelist family and is questioning her sexuality
I liked parts of it a lot (Jesus delivering a basket of fried fish fillet sandwiches and Dani in her lamb costume attending a 12 step group meeting) but the short ended without any resolution of the issues raised.
Dyke Pussy: Minimalism at its best, a miniature cat goes for a spin
This was hilarious ... it was a simple joke and it went on just long enough for the audience to get it and laugh and then it was over.
My Lesbian Friend: A young girl catches a wild lesbian in her backyard
Super fun and deliciously cracky. Old-school Mudders would have recognized the similarity to the Media Studio classic Urban Sportsman. Good times.
Tech Support: more than just help with computer problems
Very cute! It's be cool if all tech support calls turned into hours-long sexy phone conversations.
You Move Me: is a buddy story about Tru and Dex and the dangers of moving Tru out of her ex-girlfriend’s apartment
Yay for buddy flix! Tru was a good point of view character, but Dex the buddy totally stole the show. :)
Do Comeco ao Fim
This is the story of two brothers whose intense childhood bond becomes tangled up in adult infatuation. As the brothers grow up, their intimacy, while innocent, begins to concern the adults around them as being inappropriate. Oblivious to the adults’ suspicion, the boys are happy, their love only full of protective fraternal affection.
Later, on the night of their mother’s funeral, the brothers — now fully grown — are alone together. With nothing left to lose or hide, they find comfort in each others’ arms, fulfilling a desire they’d denied themselves since childhood.
Brazilian audiences flocked to this controversial and complicated film before it hit the international film circuit. The adult brothers (played by athletic and model-beautiful Joao Gabriel Vasconcello and Rafael Cardoso) radiate heat and chemistry, and Abranches’ poetic tone moves the film away from sensationalism toward intimate authenticity.
Slash fandom has again spoiled me. I think this movie was relying on the audience's incest squick to provide the narrative tension. Without that, there was no real plot to the film: no conflict to resolve, no character growth, no narrative arc other than the linear progression of time. It was a nice story: boys are close since childhood; family suspects but after conversing quietly among themselves decide to be supportive; boys get together as adults and live happily ever after. That was pretty much it. Oh well.
BearCity
It’s summer in New York City, and the neighborhood bears are coming out of hibernation. A group of friends is getting ready for the annual week-long celebration of all things bear, but plans keep getting turned upside down. BearCity is Queer As Folk meets Sex in the City — only with more hair and tons of hot bear-on-bear action!
Closet cub Tyler fantasizes about stuffing Santa’s stocking and finding a Daddy bear to do more than cuddle. But as he dives into the bear community, he finds that it can be hard for a hairless guy to get some fuzzy loving. Scene stealers Brent and Fred are the maybe-not-so-monogamous couple who invite him to move in as they figure out how to spice things up.
Southern bear-belle Michael struggles to juggle his lover, his job search and his body image issues, but an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction might solve all three. Rakish Roger is the stud-about-town, and he’ll pretty much bang anyone with facial hair. That is, until an awesomely awkward encounter at the local bowling alley challenges both his bowling prowess and his bear-loving mojo.
Also keep an eye out for a Pretty Woman-style bear fashion montage, a hilariously competitive threesome that should be called “Who’s Turn Is It Anyway?” and a surprise cameo from Project Runway’s favorite fashion bear, Chris March. Add to that some adorable eye-candy, an indispensable fairy-god-roommate, beer busts and “stroller meat,” and BearCity makes for a quirky, beartastic summertime romp
Whee! This movie wins the award for my festival favorite! I loved it and would change nothing about it - it was really that awesome. As a romantic comedy, the main romance was immensely satisfying ... the guys had a slowly building attraction but realistic obstacles keep it at a smoldering UST stage for most of the film. The secondary pairing was an established relationship and I just totally believed those guys had been together forever. Their shower threesome should win an award for "most plot development occurring during a sex scene" or something and was also absolutely hysterically hilarious to boot. The third pairing was really sweet and dealt more explicitly with the body image issues that were a central theme of the film. It was so awesome to see such a genuinely body positive message on the big screen.
I am totally getting this on DVD (it should be coming out through TLA Releasing at some point) and will then proceed to try to make everyone I know watch it. It's just that awesome. Yay!!!
Saturday'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.
Out of Annapolis
The documentary tells the stories of eleven former sailors and Marines who attended Annapolis in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Through candid interviews, these former midshipmen discuss the reasons why they entered the Naval Academy (most wanted to serve their country and get an Ivy League-quality education) and the struggles they faced both while students and once they entered the fleet.
Some of these former officers entered the Academy knowing they were gay, while others didn’t discover that aspect of themselves until much later. A few had same-sex relationship while at the Academy, many waited until they were in the fleet to have their first same-sex sexual encounter. While some of these former midshipmen had careers spanning only a short while, some served for many years both before “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” when gay witch-hunts were common, and after passage of the landmark legislation.
Director and subject Commander Steve Clark Hall, USN (Ret.), hits all the right notes for a powerful documentary, including sweepingly beautiful shots of the Annapolis campus and entertaining archival photos of all the subjects. What emerges is a remarkably intimate, incredibly positive portrait of the group’s experiences and is especially relevant considering the current debate surrounding “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
This was a fantastic documentary. So positive and inspiring and brave; I was in tears at the end. An amazing project (especially in light of all the behind-the-scenes networking that was mentioned in the Q&A to get this film screened for the members of Congress who are currently working on DADT).
FIT
“You’re so gay.” “That’s so gay.” What do these words mean? When a teenager spews them, it’s usually an insult. Writer/director Rikki Beadle-Blair attacks these words head-on in this powerful, moving and hugely entertaining narrative feature.
Exploding with infectious energy, colorful characters and positive messages about the importance of self-image, FIT focuses on the everyday lives of six diverse British teenagers who are brought together by an enthusiastic dance teacher, played by Beadle-Blair. The film’s engaging, easygoing structure allows us to spend time with each character as they struggle with questions about sexual identity, repressed feelings and how to fit into “normal” society. The story’s real-world drama and poignant core centers on this group of young people who ask each other questions like: “When did you first know you were gay?” Scenes of serious teen soul searching are juxtaposed against lively dance class moments that are both funny and exhilarating.
Beadle-Blair brilliantly fuses elements of contemporary music, fashion and dance to create an emotionally honest film that turns stereotypes upside down and humanizes a group of people who are too often labeled as outsiders by peers. Culled from anti-bullying workshops around the UK, FIT is a perfect mix of humor and drama that resonates and charms.
Wow. Another fantastic movie. Highly recommended, especially for teens, parents, and educators (the film is available for free/low cost ... they are totally serious about getting the message out ... apparently they've already sent a copy to every school in Britain). Another fascinating detail about the film is the structure: it's broken up into ~15 minute chapters to make it easier to watch during class and still have discussion time afterwards. Also, the seriousness/intensity ramps up over the course of the film, meaning that the first chapter is suitable for all audiences/younger teens and the last for older teens, while still never crossing into territory too mature for high schoolers.
On a very shallow note, the actors in the film are terribly cute and have accents that I could listen to for hours. ;)
Super excitingly, the film also deals with a spectrum of queer youth: straight-actung gays, gay-acting straights, and even that rare creature (at least it seems so at this festival sometimes) a bisexual character! What an awesome film!
Dyke Delights
The Girl Bunnies. HOCKEY: Filmmaker/songwriter Francoise Doherty brings us another installment of her homo-girl-rabbit-world series, wherein Coco can’t get enough of a hockey girl
I've seen previous installments of this and it continues to be quite cute.
In Your Face-The International Lesbian Anthem
The song was funny, but the music video was a bit repetitive and slowly paced.
Chained!: explores the intimate relationship between dykes and their wallet chains
This was a great short documentary. A really surprising breadth of interviewees makes this feel like the authoritative work on the subject.
G.I.M.P. Boot Camp: uses humor to deconstruct stereotypes of disability through a dramatic “CRIP Awards” ceremony, an infomercial-style guide to survival and a testimonial from a recovering inspiration addict
This was fabulous. The main focus was the difficulty with issues of perception when one uses a wheelchair but is also able to walk sometimes without it. Deftly humorous and superbly entertaining.
Hoops: a young Latina comes to grips with herself and her sexuality
This was pretty cute. She tries out for the dance team to impress her crush. She doesn't make the team but does end up with the cutie's phone number. Yay.
T4-2: A picture-perfect heterosexual marriage is revealed to be a little more queerly complicated in the slyly comedic T4-2
A music video set to "Tea for Two" this short could have benefited from a little additional cutting but was pretty cute nonetheless. The Brady Bunch style credits were a great finishing touch.
Swimming: A beautiful lifeguard is smitten with a woman who’s learning how to swim from a flirtatious water safety instructor
Another music video. The song was great and the video was quite entertaining.
Fish Fillet: the tale of Dani, who was born into an Evangelist family and is questioning her sexuality
I liked parts of it a lot (Jesus delivering a basket of fried fish fillet sandwiches and Dani in her lamb costume attending a 12 step group meeting) but the short ended without any resolution of the issues raised.
Dyke Pussy: Minimalism at its best, a miniature cat goes for a spin
This was hilarious ... it was a simple joke and it went on just long enough for the audience to get it and laugh and then it was over.
My Lesbian Friend: A young girl catches a wild lesbian in her backyard
Super fun and deliciously cracky. Old-school Mudders would have recognized the similarity to the Media Studio classic Urban Sportsman. Good times.
Tech Support: more than just help with computer problems
Very cute! It's be cool if all tech support calls turned into hours-long sexy phone conversations.
You Move Me: is a buddy story about Tru and Dex and the dangers of moving Tru out of her ex-girlfriend’s apartment
Yay for buddy flix! Tru was a good point of view character, but Dex the buddy totally stole the show. :)
Do Comeco ao Fim
This is the story of two brothers whose intense childhood bond becomes tangled up in adult infatuation. As the brothers grow up, their intimacy, while innocent, begins to concern the adults around them as being inappropriate. Oblivious to the adults’ suspicion, the boys are happy, their love only full of protective fraternal affection.
Later, on the night of their mother’s funeral, the brothers — now fully grown — are alone together. With nothing left to lose or hide, they find comfort in each others’ arms, fulfilling a desire they’d denied themselves since childhood.
Brazilian audiences flocked to this controversial and complicated film before it hit the international film circuit. The adult brothers (played by athletic and model-beautiful Joao Gabriel Vasconcello and Rafael Cardoso) radiate heat and chemistry, and Abranches’ poetic tone moves the film away from sensationalism toward intimate authenticity.
Slash fandom has again spoiled me. I think this movie was relying on the audience's incest squick to provide the narrative tension. Without that, there was no real plot to the film: no conflict to resolve, no character growth, no narrative arc other than the linear progression of time. It was a nice story: boys are close since childhood; family suspects but after conversing quietly among themselves decide to be supportive; boys get together as adults and live happily ever after. That was pretty much it. Oh well.
BearCity
It’s summer in New York City, and the neighborhood bears are coming out of hibernation. A group of friends is getting ready for the annual week-long celebration of all things bear, but plans keep getting turned upside down. BearCity is Queer As Folk meets Sex in the City — only with more hair and tons of hot bear-on-bear action!
Closet cub Tyler fantasizes about stuffing Santa’s stocking and finding a Daddy bear to do more than cuddle. But as he dives into the bear community, he finds that it can be hard for a hairless guy to get some fuzzy loving. Scene stealers Brent and Fred are the maybe-not-so-monogamous couple who invite him to move in as they figure out how to spice things up.
Southern bear-belle Michael struggles to juggle his lover, his job search and his body image issues, but an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction might solve all three. Rakish Roger is the stud-about-town, and he’ll pretty much bang anyone with facial hair. That is, until an awesomely awkward encounter at the local bowling alley challenges both his bowling prowess and his bear-loving mojo.
Also keep an eye out for a Pretty Woman-style bear fashion montage, a hilariously competitive threesome that should be called “Who’s Turn Is It Anyway?” and a surprise cameo from Project Runway’s favorite fashion bear, Chris March. Add to that some adorable eye-candy, an indispensable fairy-god-roommate, beer busts and “stroller meat,” and BearCity makes for a quirky, beartastic summertime romp
Whee! This movie wins the award for my festival favorite! I loved it and would change nothing about it - it was really that awesome. As a romantic comedy, the main romance was immensely satisfying ... the guys had a slowly building attraction but realistic obstacles keep it at a smoldering UST stage for most of the film. The secondary pairing was an established relationship and I just totally believed those guys had been together forever. Their shower threesome should win an award for "most plot development occurring during a sex scene" or something and was also absolutely hysterically hilarious to boot. The third pairing was really sweet and dealt more explicitly with the body image issues that were a central theme of the film. It was so awesome to see such a genuinely body positive message on the big screen.
I am totally getting this on DVD (it should be coming out through TLA Releasing at some point) and will then proceed to try to make everyone I know watch it. It's just that awesome. Yay!!!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-06-29 12:02 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-06-29 05:11 am (UTC)