Although a bit clunky in execution, the story related in director Stefan Haupt's The Circle ( Der Kreis ) is nevertheless such a powerful and tender one that it quickly overcomes its minor shortcomings.
It's lovely to know that Switzerland thought so highly of the movie it made the film its official submission for both Golden Globe and Oscar consideration. The docudrama is the story of Ernst Ostertag and Robi Rapp, who, in 2003, became the first same-sex couple granted legal recognition in Switzerland. The two young men—a schoolteacher and a female impersonator—met in the midst of Zurich's thriving gay scene in the mid-50s. Switzerland at that time was one of the few places where homosexuality wasn't illegal.
Ernst and Robi's love affair encompasses the history of the The Circle, the Swiss-based gay periodical that in its heyday boasted readers worldwide. But the idyllic gay scene and the publication eventually—no surprise here—became compromised by outside forces and soon, repression, raids and all manners of homophobic prejudice became the norm.
That the relationship between Ernst and Robi survived and thrived makes for a very rewarding, inspirational tale—all that much more as the movie is narrated by a still-vibrant Ernst and Robi. Bagdad Café's Marianne Sagebracht co-stars as Robi's compassionate mother in the flashback sequences. The film will be available digitally beginning March 3 and on DVD March 31 from Wolfe Releasing. https://www.wolfevideo.com/products/circle-the/
February in queer movie history
Among the many notable LGBT movie history moments in February one date stands out above the rest: the Feb. 19, 1986 opening of writer-director Bill Sherwood's Parting Glances. Out actor Richard Ganoung and John Bolger star as a Manhattan gay couple whose relationship has reached a turning point just as one of the men is leaving for an overseas job for a long period.
Sherwood presented the couple and their gaggle of eccentric, high-spirited friends in a refreshing, unapologetic light that hadn't been seen in movies before. Steve Buscemi made his first mark in film as a gay punk-rock singer unsentimentally battling with AIDS, and Kathy Kinney co-starred as an artist friend of the couple. Best are Ganoung and Bolger as the young, sexy lovers whose relationship is presented in such a clear eyed, loving way.
Tragically, Sherwood discovered during filming the indie that he had been stricken with AIDS and the world lost a huge talent when he died soon after the film premiered. The movie rates very highly in the queer movie canon—and everything from Looking to Weekend to Queer as Folk to Will & Grace can be traced back to Parting Glances. The Outfest Legacy Project restored the film in 2007 but a definitive home release has yet to appear. ( Hey Criterion: How 'bout it? )
Mega Maggie
Currently the darling of Downton Abbey as the tart tongue Violet Crawley, the dowager countess of Grantham, Dame Maggie Smith is also featured in The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, opening in theaters March 6.
Smith has given so many stellar film performances ( forget television and stage ) that it's hard to know where to begin with recommendations for those wanting to experience more Maggie. Try these on: Robert Altman's Gosford Park ( which Downton Abbey's Julian Fellowes also wrote ), with Smith playing an even bitchier variation of Lady Crawley; battling wits with Bette Davis ( and dressed in a man's tuxedo at one point ) in the Agatha Christie murder mystery Death on the Nile; turning up her nose at Cher in the WWII dramedy Tea with Mussolini; hilarious in The First Wives Club as the social arbiter supreme of New York, Gunilla Garson Goldberg, horrified at the tacky behavior of social climber Sarah Jessica Parker; and vividly clutching her rosary at Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act and Sister Act 2. More Smith is on the horizon: She stars in The Lady in the Van, a fact-based dramedy coming to theaters this November.
Moms in the house
What better way to wrap up Black History Month at the movies than with two movies featuring the iconic stand-up comic ( and lesbian ) Moms Mabley, once billed as the "Funniest Woman in the World?"
The foghorn-voiced comedian, renowned for her appearances on The Ed Sullivan and the Smothers Brothers TV shows, inspired a long list of performers that included Whoopi Goldberg who so adored her that in 2013 she made a documentary about Mabley for HBO. Moms Mabley: I've Got Somethin' To Tell You is Goldberg's loving tribute to the comedy legend who died in 1975. The film ( which is available on DVD ) covers Mabley's vaudeville years and includes tributes from Goldberg, Kathy Griffin, Quincy Jones, and others while giving us a glimpse into her undercover lesbian romances.
The year before Mabley's death she starred in the blaxploitation comedy Amazing Grace, in which she plays a poor but earnest woman often concerned with feeding her friends and neighbors fried chicken and who works to turn the tide in an ugly and corrupt mayoral campaign. The film isn't much ( to say the least ), but Mabley has her moments. Also, on the plus side, it's a virtual time capsule of the early '70s. Slappy White, Roscoe Lee Brown, Rosalind Cash and, yup, Gone with the Wind's Butterfly McQueen co-star. Long unavailable, Amazing Grace has recently been released on both DVD and Blu-ray from Olive Films. http://www.olivefilms.com/films/amazing-grace/
Upcoming movie calendar
Highlights from films opening in Chicago Feb. 27 and March 6 ( or available digitally ):
Dear White People ( 2/27 )—Out writer/director Justin Simien's whip smart race comedy has a one-night screening at the DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Pl., at 6:30 p.m. http://www.dusablemuseum.org/events/details/dear-white-people
Focus—Will Smith tries to reclaim box -office glory in a con-man caper that pairs him with luscious blonde Margot Robbie ( The Wolf of Wall Street ) as a very sexy fly in the ointment. Hunk du jour Rodrigo Santoro ( 300, I Love You Phillip Morris ), Gerald McRaney and out actor BD Wong co-star.
The Lazarus Effect ( 2/27 )—I see dead people—that is, once I bring them back to life. A group of smarty-pants medical students discovers a way to make the dead arise in this creepy thriller that has shades of Flatliners, the 1990 Julia Roberts-Kiefer Sutherland movie about smarty-pants medical students delving into the mysteries of life and death. This one stars Olivia Wilde and American Horror Story's twisted heartthrob Evan Peters. Mark Duplass and Donald Glover co-star.
Incall ( 3/5 )—An indie gay horror film about a gay massage therapist whose new lover enlists his help in robbing and murdering wealthy male clients. Out writer-director Brock Riebe ( who also stars ) will be on hand along with other cast members for the film's Chicago premiere ( and a post screening Q&A ) on Thursday, March 5, at 9:30 p.m. at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N. Clark St. http://www.incallmovie.com/
Chappie ( 3/6 )—Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver, Sharlto Copley and Dev Patel star in this near-future reversal on Robocop in which the title robot—a droid working for the mechanized, brutal police force—is stolen by rebels, reprogrammed and becomes a champion for the underclasses. From District Nine/Elysium director-co-writer Neill Blomkamp.
Maps to the Stars ( 3/6 )—Director David Cronenberg returns with this study of a dysfunctional movie star ( isn't that an oxymoron? ) played by Julianne Moore. Robert Pattinson and John Cusack co-star. It's playing exclusively in Chicago at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave. http://www.musicboxtheatre.com/features/maps-to-the-stars
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel ( 3/6 )—Maggie Smith ( see note earlier in article ), Judi Dench, Bill Nighy and Dev Patel return in this sequel to the smash 2011 dramedy from director John Madden about a group of expatriate Brits relocating to exotic India to live out their sunset years. This time out, silver fox Richard Gere is on hand to raise the temperature of all and sundry. Expect more septuagenarian romance and hijinks from what promises to be another genial Bollywoodesque comedy of manners.
She's Beautiful When She's Angry ( 3/11 )—Mark your calendars for director Mary Dore's documentary about the founding of the National Organization for Women ( NOW ) and the ensuing, more radical side of feminism. The film opens exclusively in Chicago at the Music Box ( more about the film in the March 4 issue of WCT ).
Interested in reading some of my in-depth reviews? The Best of Knight at the Movies: 2004-2014—a compilation book of my film reviews from a queer perspective for Windy City Times is available through www.knightatthemovies.com .
