BFI Flare: Dance the night away

The 38th edition of the British Film Institute's Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival heads into its first weekend with a flurry of special screenings and guest actors and filmmakers. I'll be chatting with quite a few of them over the next couple of days, plus a number of Q&As alongside screenings. There aren't many film festivals left that allow audiences and moviemakers to mix, and this one sometimes feels like it's slipping away, as it begins to feel more corporate each year. But there's still some life and sass left at BFI Southbank, so if you can get there, it's worth the time. And the movies have been notable this year. There's a strong presence from Canada in the highlights here..

Crossing
dir-scr Levan Akin; with Mzia Arabuli, Lucas Kankava 24/Geo ****
After his moving drama And Then We Danced, Swedish-Georgian filmmaker Levan Akin continues to explore society's margins with this involving story set in the persecuted trans subcultures of Georgia and Turkey. Bracingly observant, this humane film tackles big issues with unusual sensitivity, refusing to focus on harsher aspects of life for people simply trying to exist in a place that rejects them. So the film is engaging, uplifting and important... FULL REVIEW >

Close to You
dir Dominic Savage; with Elliot Page, Hillary Baack 23/Can ***
Shot improv-style, with intensely intimate camerawork, this Canadian drama relies on the strong presence of Elliot Page as a young man confronting his connections with his family and lingering feelings for an old flame. Director Dominic Savage finds moments of honest insight within scenes that are continually heightened by conflict. This allows the actors to play emotional scenes with unusual nuance, but it also leaves the film feeling somewhat meandering and indulgent.

Backspot
dir DW Waterson; with Devery Jacobs, Evan Rachel Wood 23/Can ***
Centred around teen cheerleaders, this Canadian drama has plenty of punchy energy in its handheld camerawork, raucous song score and high-energy acrobatics. And the cast is excellent. But the writing and direction leave little space for the audience to get involved, as every thought and feeling is carefully chosen and depicted without nuance. Still, there are moments when we can identify with the characters, and the larger themes are vivid... FULL REVIEW >

We Forgot to Break Up
dir Karen Knox; with Lane Webber, June Laporte 24/Can **.
There's a strong mix of musical and visual sensibilities in this Canadian period drama, which traces the life of a high school band into the big time. Oddly, there's the feeling that this was written to a screenplay formula, rather than capturing firsthand experience of real life, so all of the characters and plot points feel constructed. This makes it tricky to engage with either the people or their story, as it feels cinematic rather than authentic. But the larger themes running through the film make it worth a look.

B E S T    O F    Y E A R

All of Us Strangers
dir-scr Andrew Haigh; with Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal 23/UK *****
Like Weekend's more challenging big brother, this contained British drama from Andrew Haigh uses incisive storytelling to explore connections in a fractured society. He shoots it in his usual bracingly naturalistic style, this time augmenting the story with a surreal sensibility that draws on the creative process itself. And it's beautifully played by a focussed, invested cast. This is a gently involving, darkly personal film that carries a massive emotional wallop... FULL REVIEW >

Full reviews will be linked on Shadows' BFI FLARE PAGE >

For festival information, BFI FLARE >