Every January, the snowy ski town of Park City Utah, is hit by an altogether different kind of blizzard: The Sundance Film Festival. Founded by Robert Redford some 20 years ago, the festival has gone from small shindig devoted to American independent films to an internationally renowned, attended—and buzzed about—industry event.
As per usual, thanks in part to its queer programmers (including Outfest founder John Cooper), the festival also serves as a preview of the year's upcoming gay cinema. So below you'll find a roundup of what we'll surely see at some of 2001's gay film festivals, on cable stations, and hopefully, in regular ol' movie theaters near you.
Chain Camera
Directed by: Kirby Dick
The Story: Dick gave ten students at Los Angeles' John Marshall High School digital video cameras. After a week, in chain letter fashion, the cameras were passed on to another ten students, and so on. Frank about sex, substance abuse, and difficulties at home, the kids are also refreshingly funny and diverse—including a 13-year-old lesbian couple. Awwwww! The Buzz: Very good. "You really get the sense you're looking at a new generation you've never seen before," says out Sundance programmer Shari Frilot.
The Confusion of Genders
Directed by: Ilan Duran Cohen
The Story: A smart, satirical, and talkative French film following the exploits of a slutty, bisexual lawyer who thinks he should be in love with his obsessed, pregnant female colleague—but continues bed-hopping with half of the guys and girls he meets. The Buzz: Ooh-la-la! Tres sexy, although Frilot notes, "It's more a movie for the mind than the groin."
The Deep End
Directed by: Scott McGehee and David Siegel
The Story: In this emotional, nail-biting noir, harried mother Tilda Swinton covers up for her gay, teenage son when she discovers the dead body of his lover. But for how long will she hold up for when a blackmailer arrives ... . The Buzz: Sundance is just the start for this Deep End! Variety gave its high n' mighty blessing, while Fox Searchlight picked it up for a record-breaking $4 million.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Directed by: John Cameron Mitchell
The Story: Based on Mitchell's acclaimed Off-Broadway musical/rock opera, Hedwig takes us on the journey of an East German, glam rocker whom, at the behest of his American GI lover, underwent a bad sex change which left him with a, well, you can guess what. With animation sequences, Stephen Trask's Grammy-nominated songs, and Mitchell as Hedwig, it's Tommy for the queer set. The Buzz: More buzzing than in a bee's nest. Hedwig's the toast of Sundance, winning its Dramatic Audience and Dramatic Directing awards. It'll hit theaters and gay film fests—compliments Fine Line—circa summer.
Hey Happy!
Directed by: Noam Gonick
The Story: In this ravey, fantastical fairy tale, a DJ named Sabu is determined to have sex with 2,000 men. And although only one guy away from his goal, he has to work fast—a deadly flood approaches! The Buzz: They're raving! Literally! "In the end he gets pregnant by the sperm child," Frilot shares merrily. "And it's got this really amazing rave soundtrack and takes place in this rave culture of displaced time and space."
History Lessons
Directed by: Barbara Hammer
The Story: Queer film legend Hammer (and multiple Sundance vet) pieces together archival footage and new skits to reconstruct pre-Stonewall lesbianism. But this is no dry history lesson ... Hammer sometimes devilishly manipulates her material, turning it totally pink! The Buzz: Enroll now! This is a lesson well worth learning, and possibly Hammer's most audacious work yet. "It's so rare to see humor in an experimental film," Frilot adds, "and it's so irreverent in the Barbara Hammer style"
Julie Johnson
Directed by: Bob Gosse
The Story: Dutiful wife and high school dropout Lili Taylor suddenly decides to defy tradition, expectations, and her cop hubby by taking up astrophysics ... and lesbianism with best friend Courtney Love. You go, girl! The Buzz: Mixed so far, but between its lesbian content and inspirational story, Julie Johnson should appeal to both Opraholics and queers alike. Plus, "it's great to see these two actresses on screen with this material," Frilot nods. "It's rare you get this caliber of star to play this kind of role."
L.I.E.
Directed by: Michael Cuesta
The Story: Set in Long Island, this coming-of-age film involves a 15-year-old boy who just lost his mother but finds a very different kind of adult's love with a sixtysomething man named Big John. The Buzz: Hushed but intrigued. And Cuesta's edgy pederasty theme is anything but sensationalized in its execution.
Lost and Delirious
Directed by: Lea Pool
The Story: Openly bisexual, Quebecois director Pool's first English-language film examines life— and love—within a posh, all-girls school. The Buzz: "A piece of eye candy for girls," Frilot enthuses. "Pretty hot action. The leads are beautiful and it's a very contemporary story of lesbian lust in a boarding school."
101 Reykjavik
Directed by: Baltasar Kormakur
The Story: Hlynur's a 28-year-old adolescent who lives with his mother in Iceland. When her lesbian lover joins the household a twisted game of musical beds begins. The Buzz: This slice of Iceland is HOT! "It's so particularly Icelandic," adds Frilot. "And the family they form is a big challenge—I'm not sure gays or lesbians have seen this. It's fresh."
National 7
Directed by: Jean-Pierre Sinapi
The Story: When a cranky, wheelchair-bound resident of a home for the disabled demands sex with roadside prostitutes, gets it, and suddenly becomes all smiles, the other residents are quick to follow. Based on a true story. The Buzz: A very special film, and perhaps the first to really confront sexual needs within the disabled community.
Our Lady of the Assassins
Directed by: Barbet Schroeder
The Story: Returning after 30 years, a middle-aged gay writer finds his once idyllic Colombian hometown a drug and danger capital. Regardless, he soon falls into a relationship with one of its violent —and very young—gang members, Alexis. The Buzz: Great, with much attention given to its performances by Columbian stage actor German Jaramillo as the writer and an actual street kid, Anderson Ballesteros, as Alexis.
Possible Loves
Directed by: Sandra Werneck
The Story: Like Run Lola Run or Sliding Doors, Possible Loves shows us the three possible lives of a man named Carlos—and the encounter which could determine their respective outcomes. The Buzz: Queer—in both the curious and gay sense.
Princesa
Directed by: Henrique Goldman
The Story: In this queer Cinderella fable, 19-year-old transvestite Fernanda hits Milan's red light district in hopes of raising money for a sex change. Might her Prince Charming come along in the process? The Buzz: With its cast of fierce, real-life prostitutes, daring material, and an overriding message about self-acceptance, Frilot insists that this won't be turning into a pumpkin at midnight.
Scout's Honor
Directed by: Tom Shepard
The Story: Produced with ITVS, Shepard's accomplished documentary examines the Boy Scout's antigay policies and those who fight it, including Scouting For All's adolescent, straight upstart Scott Cozza. The Buzz: Excellent. The winner of Sundance's Freedom of Expression Award, this is sure to hit PBS stations ... and hopefully help change the Boys Scouts' bigoted and silly policy.
The Sleepy Time Gal
Directed by: Christopher Munch
The Story: Jacqueline Bisset stars as a dying, former radio announcer who aims to reconnect with the daughter she gave up for adoption, while her gay son would rather distance himself. The Buzz: Bisset's still a woman we love, while Munch's (The Hours and Times) direction is sublime as ever—although perhaps a bit TOO sublime for mainstream audiences.
Southern Comfort
Directed by: Kate Davis
The Story: Robert Eads, a female-to-male transsexual, has ovarian cancer. But stuck in ignorant, rural Toccoa, Ga., no doctors will treat him, so Eads spends his last days reconciling with family, friends, and male-to-female lover Lola Cola, while preparing for a final appearance at an annual transgender conference. The Buzz: More than a few have shed tears over this moving chronicle and plea to the medical community for tolerance and understanding. Winner of Sundance's top jury award this year, Southern Comfort begins its theatrical engagements in February with an HBO pickup thereafter.
Stranger Inside
Directed by: Cheryl Dunye
The Story: Having just been moved to the State Facility for Women, a young African American learns that her long-thought-dead mother may be inside as well. How far will she go to ensure they aren't separated again? The Buzz: Is there some honey around here? With Stranger Inside, "a prison film like we've never seen" according to Frilot, Dunye proves to be a director who's truly arrived. Premiering on HBO. Chicago filmmakers Yvonne Welbon and Catherine Crouch
The film stars Yolanda Ross, Davenia McFadden and Rain Phoenix. The film was produced by Jim McKay and Michael Stipe's C-Hundred Corp for HBO. The film was co-written by Cheryl Dunye and Catherine Crouch. Yvonne Welbon was an associate producer on the film. Crouch and Welbon are Chicagoans.
Together
Directed by: Lukas Moodyson (Show Me Love)
The Story: The family that stays together, plays together—or perhaps with others, too, including members of the same sex in this look at life within a '70s commune. The Buzz: Another surprisingly warm look at queer life by Swedish director Moodyson. "They go through journeys that are sincere and honest and GAY," Frilot adds.
Trembling Before G-D
Directed by: Sandi Simcha Dubowski
The Story: Over the course of five years, Dubowski documented the trials and tribulations of gay and lesbian Hasidic and Orthodox Jews, and how they integrated themselves in cities from Brooklyn to London to Jerusalem. The Buzz: Very strong indeed. Dubowski's devoted handling of these highly personal and emotional stories is a passionate, cinematic mitzvah.
Other queer-interest titles in Park City this year: Te Amo (Made in Chile); Enigma; The Times of Harvey Milk (reissue); The Beaver Trilogy.
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