Michael Kutza's Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF) is back in its 47th incarnation with Oct. 6-20 with another tantalizing mix of eagerly anticipated star-driven features to the obscure, offbeat "finds" that all the hallmarks of the event. More than 150 films are on the schedule this year. As usual, a host of stars and filmmaking celebritiesfrom John C. Reilly to Anthony Mackie and Dennis Farina to My Week with Marilyn director Simon Curtiswill attend festival screenings and the many red-carpet events.
Fans of LGBT-themed films will be pleased to see that CIFF's OUTrageous program (its section of gay-themed movies) includes a nice assortment of internationally flavored movies. (See capsule descriptions below.)
In addition to those movies, CIFF will screen many LGBT-tinged films in the main section. Some will feature queer movie audience faves, like Martha Marcy May Marlene, which co-stars out actor Sarah Paulson (screens Oct. 8); Tilda Swinton in We Need to Talk About Kevin (screening Oct. 12 and Oct. 18 with John C. Reilly in attendance Oct. 12); up-and-coming British heartthrob (and possibly gay) actor Luke Evans in Three Musketeers (screening Oct. 16); Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender and Keira Knightly in David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method (screening Oct. 10); and Ralph Fiennes' directorial and starring turn in Shakespeare's Coriolanus (screening Oct. 13). The Bully Project (screening Oct. 11), Carol Channing: Larger Than Life, and Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel are just three documentaries with LGBT themes or undertones being screened at the fest.
Other high-profile movies (all receiving their Chicago debuts) include Kirsten Dunst in the end of the world oddity Melancholia (screening on Oct. 7); Orlando Bloom in the medical drama The Good Doctor (screening Oct. 16); and Jennifer Garner and Modern Family's Ty Burrell in the wacky comedy Butter (screening Oct. 19), among many others.
The Last Rites of Joe May, a character study focusing on an aging con artist starring Chicago actor Dennis Farina, is the fest's opening-night presentation. Farina, along with fellow Steppenwolf Theatre alum Gary Cole will walk the red carpet and attend opening night festivities on Thursday, Oct. 6 beginning at 6pm at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St., followed by a cocktail/hors d'oeuvres reception at the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph.
CIFF's annual Black Perspectives Tribute honors actor Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker, The Adjustment Bureau, Million Dollar Baby), who memorably played gay in Brother to Brother, with a career retrospective award Saturday, Oct. 15. The event begins with red-carpet arrivals at the Chase Auditorium, 10 S. Dearborn St., at 7:30 p.m. followed by the tribute and onstage Q&A with Mackie, the awards presentation and a post-event reception at theWit Hotel.
The centerpiece screening of the festival is the eagerly anticipated My Week with Marilyn, based on the memoir of writer Colin Clark (played in the film by Eddie Redmayne, who played gay in Savage Grace). Clark's memoir focuses on the filming in the late 1950s of The Prince & the Showgirl, the famously controversial movie comedy that teamed actor-director Laurence Olivier (played by Kenneth Branagh) and Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams), and his unexpected assignment to squire Monroe about London town (and keep her in line) during filming. As noted, director Simon Curtis (along with screenwriter Adrian Hodges) will attend the Oct. 12 screening at the AMC River East.
French star Jean Dujardin takes the lead in the fest's closing-night feature, The Artist, a sensation at Cannes (where Dujardin won Best Actor) and other film festivals. The movie, a homage to the silent-film era, is the first all-silent movie (in glorious black and white) to reach commercial theatres in decades. It screens Thursday, Oct. 20, at the AMC River East.
The eight films in the OUTrageous film program include the following titles. (Note: Descriptions come from CIFF press materials.) All foreign films include subtitles.
American Translation (France)Why is it always the cute ones who harbor the deep dark secrets? When Aurore, the daughter of a wealthy American, falls for sexy Frenchman Chris, she has no idea what adventure lies ahead. Escaping the doldrums of life in the city, the two set out on a road trip with some unexpected, unsavory detours. A thrilling blend of passionate devotion and degeneracy, this French Natural Born Killers asks how far you would go for love. Screens Oct. 8, 9, 13
His Mother's Eyes (France/Spain)With ambition and charm matched equally by a complete lack of remorse, best-selling author Mathieu will do anything for a good story. To write the unauthorized biography of celebrity news anchor Lena Weber (Catherine Deneuve in a career-topping performance), not only does he secure a job as her assistant but also seduces Lena, her estranged daughter who is searching for her own son, and anyone who gets in his way, regardless of gender. Screens Oct. 9, 10, 16
Leave It on the Floor (USA)Sheldon Larry's delightfully cheeky musical about the glamorous world of voguing follows the journey of one young gay African American as he finds his place in the world. After being thrown out of the house by his homophobic mother, Brad stumbles into L.A.'s competitive underground drag-ball scene where he discovers a brave new world of friendship, love and acceptance. The movie features original songs by Beyonce's creative director, Kim Burse, and dynamic choreography by Frank Gatson, Jr. Screens Oct. 7, 8
Love Actually…Sucks (Hong Kong)Hong Kong cult filmmaker Scud pushes as many buttons as possible with these six tales about love, sex and decadence. Opening with a scandalously shocking wedding, Love Actually…Sucks! continues its exploration of the dark side of romance with tales about an incestuous relationship, a painter who falls for his male model, a fitness trainer in search of young flesh, a lesbian couple with issues, a deadly love triangle and a love story between a dance teacher and his older student. Screens Oct. 7, 8, 10
Madame X (Indonesia)In this Indonesian-styled Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, our transsexual superhero goes up against Mr. Storm, The National Morality Front and his deadly burqa-clad wives. A dark wit pervades this daring, camp-filled first feature from director Lucky Kuswandi. Screens Oct. 12, 14, 16
Romeos (German)Lukas, a female-to-male transgender youth undergoing hormone replacement therapy, travels to Cologne, Germany, for his compulsory civil service. There he meets Fabio, who embodies all Lukas wants to be. However, can he open up to Fabio? And what will happen to their relationship if he does? The charisma, sensitivity and chemistry between the leads makes this unique love story a treasure to watch. Screens Oct. 16, 18
Tomboy (France)Gender identity and friendship lie at the heart of this sweet, heartbreaking film. After moving into a new home with her mother and sister, 10-year-old Laure willingly poses as a boy after being confused for one by neighbor Lisa. As Michael, Laure soon wins the admiration of neighborhood boys for her soccer skills and girls for her sensitivity. No matter how imaginative Laure is in dealing with boy issues, keeping her true identity secret will prove difficult as she and Lisa become closer. Screens Oct. 7, 8
Without (USA)On remote Whidbey Island, Joslyn is in charge of caring for an old man in a vegetative state while his family is on vacation. Totally isolated from the worldno Internet, no cell phone signalher fragile mental state slowly begins to crumble. In a chilling and nuanced debut, Joslyn Jensen delivers an outstanding performance as a young woman struggling with her sexuality, loneliness and frail mind in this haunting film. Screens Oct. 8, 9, 12
Unless noted otherwise, all films will screen at the AMC River East 21, 322 E. Illinois. Complete information on tickets, show times, special events are available by calling 312-332-FILM (3456) or visiting www.chicagofilmfestival.com .