Reeling 2005, the 24th annual International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, kicks off Thursday, Nov. 3, with a 7:30 screening at the Music Box with Summer Storm. This coming-of-age story from Germany focuses on the teenage Tobi, the de facto leader of his Bavarian rowing team, who slowly realizes that he is in love with his teammate and best friend, Achim. When the team prepares for an upcoming regatta at a secluded lake region, the arrival of openly gay competitors ( from Berlin naturally ) called the 'Queerstrokes' causes all hell to break loose. This film is made fresh by its sports-themed milieu, beautiful location photography, several melodramatic plot twists and turns, and a strong performance by its leading actor.
As noted in last week's roundup, the festival, which continues until Nov. 12, features more than 130 films featured in 67 programs. As in other years, Landmark Century Cinema, the Music Box, and Chicago Filmmakers will screen many of the selections. But Film Row Cinema at Columbia College will also screen many of the festivals selections.
Last week I offered some thoughts on films from the festival's opening week schedule ( at www.windycitymediagroup.com ) . Here are some highlights of the second week:
Wednesday, Nov. 9: Say Uncle
'Queer as Folk' star Peter Paige makes his writing and directing debut in this odd little independent feature with a lot of interesting flourishes, in which he also stars. It's the story of Paul, a gay artist who seems to live only for the moment when he can play with his Godson. When the child's family moves away, Paul is obsessed with finding another kid to replace him. He tries various methods and finally ends up happily joining in with the tots at his local playground. But when a mother ( Kathy Najimy in a rare serious role ) discovers that Paul is childless AND gay, she incorrectly targets him as a threat to the community. Paige's point—that innocence at any age needs to be protected and nourished and not immediately sullied by our modern day suspicions—is a good one but he sets up a lot of far-fetched situations to make it. 7 p.m. screening at Landmarks Century Centre Cinema with an after party.
The Journey
Set in the lush, rural Kerala, Chicagoan Ligy J. Pullapally's lyrical, lesbian-themed story covers territory rarely visited by Malayalam filmmakers. The film begins with the childhood friendship between beautiful, outgoing Delilah, and her new neighbor, the shy Kiran. As the two girls grow into young adulthood, their friendship intensifies into the Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name and in rural Malaysia, you'd better believe that lesbian taboos still exist. The sensitive story is integrated with great details of local customs and the film is beautifully photographed. 6:30 p.m. at Columbia's Film Row Cinema.
Strange Fruit
Writer-director Kyle Schickner's feature focuses on William Boyals ( Kent Faulcon ) a Black gay attorney in New York who returns to the backwater Louisiana home town of his youth in order to investigate the supposed suicide by hanging of a close friend ( and perhaps one-time lover ) . The racial stereotypes ( along with the gay slurs ) in this melodramatic mystery thriller are so pronounced and so strained to the point of incredulity that I expected to see Sidney Poitier, Pam Grier, and LeVar Burton and the rest of the Roots cast make cameo appearances. But Schickner makes a few coherent points, and is aided by some eccentric casting in the supporting parts and Faulcon in the lead. 8:30 p.m. screening at Columbia's Film Row Cinema.
Thursday, Nov. 10
eXposed: Making of a Legend
Is it possible that the creation of a porn film could be anything more than titillating and potential J/O material? This jocular documentary cheerfully attempts to debunk that notion. Mr. Pam, the film's female director, was with the cast and crew of the Colt Studios production of BuckleRoos. She captures seemingly everything you'd ever want to know and a lot that you don't care about. Stupid and sexy and kinda fun nonetheless. 9:30 p.m. at the Landmark's Century Centre Cinema with several of the doc's porn stars in attendance.
Bad Girls Behind Bars
Chicago lesbian filmmaker Sharon Zurek splices together four prison girl movies into one of those interactive movie experiences ala 'The Sing-A-Long Sound of Music.' The films include the Pam Grier exploitation camp fest Women in Cages ( 1971 ) , where she plays the lecherous lesbian matron, Alabama, and an early Barbara Stanwyck film from 1934, Ladies They Talk About. The other clips feature Anne Heche and Ione Skye. This is a terrific guilty pleasure, fun for the ladies and the guys with a similar passion for the no good gals. 8:30 p.m. at Columbia's Film Row.
Friday, Nov. 11
Adam & Steve
The story concerns the duo of the title who meet up again 15 years after a bad one-night stand and their straight friends ( Parker Posey and Chris Kattan ) who are determined to keep them together. Described as a 'hilarious comedy,' this was was written and directed by Craig Chester who also stars. Chester is probably best known to gay audiences for his performance as Nathan Leopold, Jr. in the 1992 Swoon. The movie also features Melinda Dillon, Julie Hagerty, Sally Kirkland, and Jack Plotnick. 9 p,m, at Columbia's Film Row.
Saturday, Nov. 12: little man
This heart-wrenching documentary in which a lesbian couple fight to save the life of their prematurely born son, a 'micro-preemie' who is born weighing less than 1 pound and given a 1% chance for survival is simply amazing. Filmmaker Nicole Conn ( writer-director of Claire of the Moon ) and her political activist partner Gwen Baba go through hell and back to save the little Nicholas' life while the stress and the constant medical crises slowly but surely wear away at their relationship. Highly recommended, this is one of the strongest entries in this year's festival. 3:15 p.m. at Columbia's Film Row Center.
The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green
Daniel Letterle ( Camp ) stars in the title role of this woefully underdone comedy. Based on the popular gay cartoon strip, Ethan is in the midst of a relationship crisis after breaking up with his professional football player boyfriend. Director George Bamber tries hard to squeeze laughs out of what is yet another film about West Coast narcissistic golden boys. 8:30pm at Columbia's Film Row Center.
Call ( 773 ) 293-1447 or online at www.reelingfilmfestival.org .
