The shape of things to come (short films)

Not quite coming out films, but the bits before them, crushes, are explored in this collection. None of the stories are unique, or even that interesting, in a much explored genre. Instead we have to look at the quality of filmmaking on offer.

‘Mr A’ (USA) is probably the worst of the bunch. Clipped to such an extent that it offers little insight, it would have benefited from fewer scenes, more thoroughly explored, rather than just building up to the disappointing ‘crotch-grabbing’ moment.

‘Benny’s Gym’ (Norway) treads familiar territory of bully and bullied entering into a vaguely homoerotic relationship. The saving grace for this short is the age of the actors, four or five years younger than your typical angst-ridden teenager, giving it a more innocent and intriguing vibe.

‘Awakening’ (Denmark) is the old classic, guy lusts after his girlfriend’s father who tries it on with him on a duck-hunting outing. OK, not strictly a well trodden path, but it feels like it, because it is once again based on sexual guilt. The most intriguing moments were when the two men were simply hugging, unable to speak. I felt the camera needed a little distance from the action to allow the viewer to read into it – instead I felt like I was constantly being nudged in a certain direction by what I call ‘shifty-eye acting’.

Unusually, for me, I’m championing a UK short film, ‘Protect me from what I want’. The plot is as simple as you get. Boy picks up another boy on the street, they have sex. But it is the masterful manipulation of expectation that turns this one line description into a short film full of character and meaning. Saleem’s hesitation, is observed at every moment, while Daz’s (that guy who plays Carl in Shameless) enthusiasm for the tryst, rather than being salacious or soulless, becomes something much more romantic.

‘Coming out’ stories are sometimes seen as universal to the gay community, as it is something that nearly everyone goes through. But in my opinion, this can make the experience more diverse, and as such, becomes a difficult subject to handle with conviction. ‘First crushes’ on the other hand, can be a delightful ride, as long as the characters, regardless of sexuality, are convincing enough to take you with them.

Tim Macavoy

Burn the Bridges

Mexican director Francisco Franco is an accomplished theatre director, and it shows in the best possible way in this, his debut film. He allows the talented actors room to breathe and feel their way through limited dialogue. Plot is secondary to characterisation and atmosphere, but at heart this story is about leaving the past behind and moving – as the title suggests. It is also a love story, love is abundant, although not necessarily in the form of a lasting relationship between any two people.

Irene Azuela, in particular, gives an Ariel award-winning performance as Helena, who feels the burden of caring for her dying mother, and sensitive brother. With typical Latin confidence it moves easily from light humour, to dark emotion. The beautiful cinematography frames what has, so far, been the most thoughtful film of the festival.

Chef’s Special

Another mainstream-feeling family comedy, that proves this is the most successful genre of the festival. I howled with laughter all the way through – it is easy to see why this was such a success in its native Spain.

Maxi is a stressed out chef of cartoon proportions. His ex wife dies and leaves him with his unwanted kids. The restaurant is up for a Michelin star, but his staff are falling to pieces (particularly his Maitre d’ played by the brilliant Lola Duenas) and to top it off, he’s fallen for the hot ex-footballer who’s just moved in across the hall. Yep, it’s a farce, and they do it well.

While sexuality is a part of the story, it’s not overplayed at the expense of primary character traits. It’s a nice-looking, well paced film, that I think would go down very well with British audiences, waiting to laugh at a plethora of un-PC jokes.

Tim Macavoy

One Summer in New Paltz + Campillo si, quiero

Two documentaries on gay marriage.

New Paltz is a small town in New York state. Its 26 year old straight mayor, Jason West, decides to defy anti-lgbt policies of the Bush administration and perform gay marriages (what a dude!). The narration is delivered in a pleasing ‘fairytale’ style, which subtly ridicules the bigoted ogres. This works best when tapping into the romance of the small man versus the monsters. It does dwell a little too much on the craziness of Westboro Baptist church (‘God hates fags’) and inefficiently drops in the Iraq war, but it’s a timely exploration of American civil rights.

Less high profile to us Brits is another small town Campillo de Ranas, Spain. Gay marriage was legalised in Spain in June 2005 (not the term ‘marriage’ please British legal system!). Many larger city councils refused to carry out the act, but gay Mayor, Francisco Maroto took the bull by the horns (see what I did there?). It paints a charming and idyllic picture of a progressive village, filled with love. Some critics will challenge that there is no conflict in the documentary. But, according to ‘Paco’ as he is known, it is true. Conflict exists in the expectation of conflict, and the reward for the viewer is pleasant surprise. That liberal country life is possible, and that our ‘hero’ mayor, who is seen performing so many marriages, alone, does end up with his own husband.

What is so interesting about these documentaries is their existence. It may be time to explode some myths surrounding the ‘safety’ of the city, and the ignorance of the country. Progression, in these cases, exists at grass roots, and the knowledge that love and equality are a right, regardless of the law. It’s also about visibility in the context of domesticity, rather than parades and ghettoes. Mayor Maroto grins and tells us: ‘Gays weren’t grown in cabbage fields, we have families’. This is beginning to be seriously (and humorously explored).

Tim Macavoy

“I can’t think straight”

This is straight out of the clichéd rom-com mould. You know exactly who loves who, who gets in the way and how it will all end up. The only discernible difference is that they are both women – one Jordanian, the other of Indian descent – as if that should matter.

A testament to the poor quality of this film is the fact that it is entirely dubbed. Yes, it’s a British film in the English language, but it is dubbed. Before anyone decries “Oh but they didn’t have the money for good equipment, funding is so hard to get for lesbian cinema,” just take a look at some of the excellent short films on offer and ask if this needed to be made at all. What was so important about this dross that I need to sit through an hour and a half of poor filmmaking with a woman sitting next to me in the cinema snorting sharply out her nose every five seconds.

I’m writing this, sitting on a train, watching James Corden sleeping opposite me and it is infinitely funnier.

The sad thing is that many women watching this (I was one of about four men) appreciated it – not because it was good, by their own admittance – but because it existed at all. Please, lesbians, make some better movies, you don’t have to suffer anymore!!!

Nighthawks

A cast of actors and non-professionals feature in this film about a schoolteacher cruising London bars and clubs, restored by the BFI 30 years after it’s premiere. It was one of the first films to openly portray gay life in Britain. Essential viewing for anyone studying queer cinema. But that doesn’t mean we have to like it.

The soundtrack is tortuous. An endless series of bleeping early synth dance music (at least it would be if it had been made by someone who knew what that was – instead they roped in a classical musician with only a passing knowledge). That is layered with mumbled semi-improvised dialogue, in a kind of Mike Leigh way but without any drama. What should probably have been an exploration of alienation and desire, turns into several disjointed scenes of people meeting for the first time, without anything to say.

One redeeming scene – which I could have watched a whole program on – was when the teacher openly and honestly answered questions on his sexuality from his class. The questions come from real kids who show a mix of interest/homophobia. The consequent chastisement of the teacher from his superior, only hints at the difficulties faced by gay teachers, then and now.

Patrick 1.5

Patrick 1.5 is a delightful feel-good movie, reminiscent of a Sunday afternoon family movie…but with gays. This is very much tapping into the zeitgeist of queer cinema, that I reported from last year’s IRIS prize. Coming out stories and angst are on the decline, instead we are seeing a slew of (very good actually) family based comedy-drama, particularly gay parenting.

Goran and Sven are a happily married couple who are preparing to adopt a baby. But due to a typo, (it doesn’t seem convoluted, I promise!) instead of a 1.5 year old, they have to take in a 15 year old homophobic criminal. It deftly examines suburban life and the need for parenting, regardless of sexuality.

It was a joy to be in a sold out screening with a throng of chuckling/tearful homosexuals (and friends) grateful that we have reached a point in our culture where this type of film may become more and more mainstream, yet devoid of cliché and condescension.

Tim Macavoy