Flare: Catch the sun

As the weather brightens up, although it's still rather chilly, the 35th BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival is coming into its final weekend with a series of virtual films and events. The programmers have really tried to recreate a festive atmosphere with lots of extras this year, including some musical playlists. But it really hasn't been the same at all - being able to meet journalists, filmmakers, actors and other friends has been sorely missed. Still, the films have been exceptional, and there are still tickets for some online screenings at BFI FLARE, plus free access to interviews and all of the short films, including the terrific Five Films for Freedom. Here are a few more solid highlights... 

Sublet
dir Eytan Fox; with John Benjamin Hickey, Niv Nissim 20/Isr ****
Israeli filmmaker Eytan Fox recounts another warm, observant story about people grappling with issues of culture and identity. It's a loose, thoughtful script that touches on themes in ways that are both engaging and meaningful without ever getting heavy. It's about the transformational power of an unexpected friendship, and how it might be able to remind who you are. Yes, this is a delicate, simple, beautiful little film... FULL REVIEW >

The Dose [La Dosis]
dir-scr Martin Kraut; with Carlos Portaluppi, Ignacio Rogers 20/Arg ****
From Argentina, this darkly involving thriller quickly pulls the audience in with its shadowy production design and intriguing characters. While adding plenty of pitch-black comical touches, writer-director Martin Kraut maintains a low-key pace that continually reveals creepy details about characters who are superbly underplayed for maximum effect. All of this creates wonderful freak-out interaction that quietly raises the tension and skilfully keeps the viewer on the wrong foot... FULL REVIEW >

P.S. Burn This Letter Please
dir Michael Seligman, Jennifer Tiexiera; with Michael Alogna, Claude Diaz 20/US ****
Beautifully compiled from original documents, archive film and new interviews, this film explores an under-documented segment of American history, namely the drag scene in 1950s New York, where young men found a sense of belonging. Even if it's a bit long, this is a wonderfully eye-opening trip into the past, revealing a lively subculture that's been underground for decades and today is a glorious part of the mainstream... FULL REVIEW >

Cured
dir Patrick Sammon, Bennett Singer; with Kay Lahusen, Frank Kameny 20/US ****
This rousing documentary confronts the "disgust, discomfort and fear" that was stoked in American culture in the mid-20th century, led by bigoted psychiatrists who wrongly labelled homosexuality as a mental disorder. With recently unearthed footage and vivid firsthand interviews, the filmmakers highlight people who forced the medical establishment to change a harshly discriminatory system. The film ends on a perhaps too-celebratory note, but is hugely informative and inspiring... FULL REVIEW >

Note that all reviews are linked on the site's BFI FLARE page, including the Five Films for Freedom and more shorts to come.