BFI Flare: Spread the love

And that's a wrap on the 40th BFI Flare, closing the programme with the South African comedy Black Burns Fast and the usual epic party last night. Then today was the best-of day in the cinemas. I saw 25 features and 13 shorts (including the Five Films for Freedom) over the past 12 days - my favourites are below, after are my last three film highlights...

Black Burns Fast
dir-scr Sandulela Asanda; with Esihle Ndleleni, Muadi Ilung 26/SA ***
With a sassy sense of humour, colourful sets and costumes, and videogame-style graphic flourishes, this teen comedy from South Africa lands somewhere in the region of shows like Heartstopper, Sex Education and Never Have I Ever. It's enjoyable simply for what it is, and the writing is cute and often very funny. But it's never particularly pointed about the serious themes that are raised. So it ultimately feels somewhat simplistic.

Satisfaction
dir-scr Alex Burunova; with Emma Laird, Fionn Whitehead 25/UK ***.
Artful and moody, but set in sundrenched Greece, this romantic drama feels weighty from the start. Writer-director Alex Burunova flickers in time to intersperse the back-story with the main narrative, and each strand has its own visceral approach, cleverly contrasting the settings using emotions, colours and textures. This approach also drops in darkly disturbing revelations that give the film provocative edge. 

What Will I Become?
dir Lexie Bean, Logan Rozos; with Lexie Bean, Logan Rozos 26/US ****
Even with a very dark central topic, this documentary, is made with a sense of hopefulness. This is a clear-eyed, deliberately emotive look at why so many trans youth commit suicide, and directors Lexie Bean and Logan Rozos know this situation far too well. The fact is that more than half of trans teens try to take their own lives, largely because they can never be themselves. It's not an easy film to watch, but it's powerful, important and urgent.

RICH'S BEST OF FEST

1. Drunken Noodles (Lucio Castro, US)
2. Maspalomas (Aitor Arregi/Jose Mari Goenaga, Spain)
3. On the Sea (Helen Walsh, UK)
4. Perro Perro (Marco Berger, Argentina)
5. Cherri (Fabian Suarez, Cuba)
6. Keep Coming Back (Sergio De Leon, Uruguay)
7. Strange River (Jaume Claret Muxart, Spain)
8. The Last Guest of the Holloway Motel (Ramiel Petros/Nicholas Freeman, UK)
9. Lunar Sway (Nick Butler, Canada)
10. To Dance Is to Resist (Julian Lautenbacher, Ukraine)

Honourable mention: Can't Go Over It, I Am Going to Miss You, The Broken R, Big Girls Don't Cry, Hunky Jesus, 10s Across the Borders, Out Laws, What Will I Become? 

FAVOURITE SHORTS

1. Yellow Bucket (Simon Brooke, UK)
2. Magid/Zafar (Luis Hindman, UK)
3. Theo (Monica Palazzo/Jo Galvv, Brazil)
4. Kiloran Bay (Michael Bruce, UK)
5. I Hate Helen (Kate Lambert, UK)

Full reviews will be linked to the SHADOWS @ BFI FLARE page.

BFI Flare: Sing it out

We're in the final weekend of the 40th BFI Flare festival, with what will hopefully be an epic party tonight. There have been a lot of very good films here this year, and I still have a few to watch before my final post tomorrow night. Tomorrow is best-of-fest day, so screenings will feature sold-out films, top-rated ones and noted movies from the past year, as well as highlights from the festival's four decades, well worth catching again on a big screen surrounded by an appreciative queer audience. Meanwhile, here are five more festival highlights...

I Am Going to Miss You
[Eu Vou Ter Saudades de Você]
dir Daniel Ribeiro; with Alice Marcone, Gabriel Lodi 26/Br ****
Inventive Brazilian filmmaker Daniel Ribeiro creates an audacious twist on the soapy romantic drama by casting every role in the film with a trans actor, whether or not they're playing trans characters. So the film is making an important political statement simply by its very existence. It's also an involving story of a couple that realises that perhaps they have grown in different directions, even though they still love each other deeply.

Can't Go Over It
dir-scr Ethan Fuirst; with Susannah Perkins Taylor Trensch 26/US ****
Astutely exploring an offbeat friendship, this comedy drama follows two queer 30-somethings who worry that their friendship might have run its course. Much of the film consists of them walking through a forest chatting about random topics. But writer-director Ethan Fuirst brings out subtle shifts in their dynamic in very clever ways, gently touching on the way people grow and change at different rates, and what it takes to stick together. 

Drunken Noodles
dir-scr Lucio Castro; with Laith Khalifeh, Joel Isaac 25/US ****
As in his astute 2019 drama End of the Century, Argentine writer-director Lucio Castro opens this story with a young man arriving in a city and getting friendly with the local boys. Like that film, this is a complex exploration of how we connect with other people on a range of different levels, altering our life trajectory in the process. The story unfolds in chapters that are presented out of order, inventively creating a knowing wave of powerful emotion.

Cherri
dir-scr Fabian Suarez; with Juan Miguel Mas, Noslen Sanchez 25/Cub ****
There's an unusual optimism running through this Cuba drama, which centres around an overweight dancer who has absolutely no regrets. Cherri is a terrific, fully formed character who wins us over with his hopefulness and compassion, even if it sometimes feels misplaced. Actor Juan Miguel Mas and filmmaker Fabian Suarez have created something that's surprisingly thoughtful and tender, shattering stereotypes in the process. 

The Broken R [Rotacismo]
dir Ricardo Ruales Eguiguren; with Ricardo Ruales Eguiguren, Julio Ricardo Ruales 25/Ec ****
An autobiographical collage, this documentary is remarkably introspective as young Ecuadorian filmmaker Ricardo Ruales Eguiguren recounts the details of his unusual life. He's exploring a condition he inherited from his father and his struggle to accept his sexuality. What he comes up with is a hushed film that beautifully reflects his thoughtful personality. And it is packed with knowing observations that are easy to identify with.

Full reviews will be linked to the SHADOWS @ BFI FLARE page.

BFI Flare: Live it up

This is a busy week at the 40th BFI Flare with a flurry of premieres, including the world premiere of the flambuoyant British biopic Madfabulous, with much of the cast and crew in attendance. I've enjoyed watching shorts and features every day, and now we're heading into the final weekend (epic party incoming!). Here are five more highlights from the festival, and Critical Week is down below...

Madfabulous
dir Celyn Jones; with Callum Scott Howells, Ruby Stokes 26/UK ***.
An outrageous figure from the British aristocracy gets the lively biopic treatment here. Wrestling his unruly story into a movie structure weakens the momentum in the second half, but this is a superb depiction of how difficult it is to be yourself within the constrains of polite society. Director Celyn Jones creates several superb sequences, augmented by particularly magnificent costumes. And the performances have a lovely depth.

Big Girls Don't Cry
dir-scr Paloma Schneideman; with Ani Palmer, Noah Taylor 26/NZ ****
From New Zealand, this introspective drama follows a teen girl on a journey of discovery that's involving, moving and sometimes disturbing. Writer-director Paloma Schneideman evokes her perspective beautifully, complete with contradictions and misconceptions. So the film continually finds inventive ways to challenge the audience to understand the messiness of navigating a desire that doesn't fit with everything you've been taught. 

On the Sea
dir-scr Helen Walsh; with Barry Ward, Lorne MacFadyen 25/UK ****
Earthy and realistic, this understated drama set in North Wales quietly explores masculinity with characters ranging from 15 to 70. It's an observational film that gets under the skin with layers of interaction that's dryly humorous, and a central storyline about a man taking an unexpected journey into his own sexuality. Writer-director Helen Walsh has a terrific eye for complex family dynamics and deeper personal feelings.

To Dance Is to Resist
dir Julian Lautenbacher; with Jay LeReve, Vol'demar Kabus 26/Ukr ****
Spanning four years in Kyiv from Russia's February 2022 invasion right up to the present, this documentary centres on two young men who demonstrate their resilience through performance art. The film vibrates with a rave-style vibe, blending rehearsals and shows with fly-on-the wall scenes of everyday life, all under the constant threat of bombs. It's an engaging, evocative expression of personal freedom and, yes, resistance.

Mickey & Richard
dir Ryan A White, AP Pickle; with Richard Bernstein 26/US ***.
Shot in black and white with full-colour clips, this documentary tells the story of Richard Bernstein, better known as the beefy 1980s pornstar Mickey Squires. Narrated by Richard, this is a frank and openhanded walk through the life of a man who simply took advantage of everything that came along and enjoyed every moment of the ride. And filmmakers Ryan A White and AP Pickle allow his warm sense of humour to shine.

Full reviews will be linked to the SHADOWS @ BFI FLARE page.

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C R I T I C A L  W E E K

Party alert! There were three festive screenings this week that inspired special posts on my Instagram: Halle Bailey and Rege-Jean Page star in the corny but entertaining romcom You, Me & Tuscany; Zazie Beetz leads the charge in the nutty horror comedy They Will Kill You; and Riz Ahmed premiered his hilariously sharp new TV series Bait. I also caught up with Judy Davis, Miriam Margolyes and Jacki Weaver as sassy nuns in the charming New Zealand road movie Holy Days, plus lots of movies at BFI Flare. There was also a live performance of Where There Is No Time at Seven Dials Theatre

Coming up this next week, I'll be watching Adam Scott in Hokum, horror thriller Undertone, Laszlo Nemes' new film Orphan, and a special screening of the Marilyn Monroe/Clark Gable classic The Misfits, plus many more films at BFI Flare.

BFI Flare: Cuddle up

I'm enjoying the eclectic films presented at the 40th BFI Flare, which has taken over the Southbank for 12 days this month. We're at the midpoint of the festival, so I'm fairly exhausted by my schedule, as I have to keep watching the regular releases of the week as well as lots of festival films, then find time to write about them. Here are four more superb movies that I hope will get proper releases at some point in the near future. The first is already on Apple TV in North America...

Perro Perro
dir-scr Marco Berger; with German Flood, Juan Ramos 25/Arg ****
Shot in glistening black and white by cinematographer Martin Farina, this surreal drama is so playful that it immediately makes us smile. Argentine master provocateur Marco Berger continues to explore masculinity and connection by blurring lines of sexuality, in this case teasingly lusty inversion of reality. Even if the metaphor is strained, the timeless filmmaking style gives a kick to deeper ideas. It's also sweet and very sexy.

Strange River [Estrany Riu]
dir-scr Jaume Claret Muxart; with Jan Monter, Nausicaa Bonnin 25/Sp ****
Following a Catalan family on a biking holiday along the Danube in Germany and Austria, this understated film zeroes in on a teen as he discovers inexplicable sense of his own desire. But this isn't a coming-of-age story, or a coming-out film. Instead, writer-director Jaume Claret Muxart is inventively digging under the surface to find truths that span generations. So it becomes a fascinating portrait of a family at a pivotal moment in time.

The Last Guest of the Holloway Motel
dir Ramiel Petros, Nicholas Freeman; with Tony Powell, Mick McGuire 25/UK ****
This is one of those engaging, riveting documentaries in which you join the filmmakers on an unpredictable ride, as new details surprise them and us in real time. Ostensibly this is a film about the closing down of a landmark motel in West Hollywood, but directors Ramiel Petros and Nicholas Freeman discover a protagonist in its final manager Tony Powell, an English football star who vanished without a trace more than 40 years ago.

Out Laws
dir Lexi Powner, James Lewis; with Friedel Dausab, Rosanna Flamer-Caldera UK/26 ****
Tracing the experiences of three human rights activists, this engaging documentary explores how British colonialism left a legacy of harsh anti-gay laws around the world. Thankfully, the central figures add a buoyant hopefulness as they encourage each other to keep up the good work. And with a wide range of experts, filmmakers Lexi Powner and James Lewis trace the topic's history and present-day realities with honesty and clarity.

Full reviews will be linked to the SHADOWS @ BFI FLARE page.

BFI Flare: Put your hands in the air

The 40th BFI Flare continues with a party atmosphere on the Southbank this weekend, welcoming filmmakers, actors and fans in a way that's become forgotten at most film festivals. And the range of films has been thoroughly enjoyable, a varied mix that includes quite a few inventive, incisive documentaries. Here are notes on a few more movies...

Low Rider
dir Campbell X; with Emma McDonald, Thishiwe Ziqubu 25/SA ***.
British filmmaker Campbell X takes the audience from London to Cape Town and beyond on a wild odyssey of self-discovery for a pampered city girl who doesn't think before she jumps. The assured writing and direction mixes engaging, sparky characters with picturesque locations and unexpected narrative twists and turns. The story gets rather melodramatic from time to time, but the film remains engaging and thoughtful.

Lunar Sway
dir-scr Nick Butler; with Noah Parker, Liza Weil 26/Can ****
Set in a present-day Canadian Wild West, this thoughtful film explores an unexpected relationship between people who are still working out who they are on their own, let alone together. Writer-director Nick Butler takes an offbeat approach to storytelling, drawing us in with a sense of mystery and random details before flipping the film into various genres. It's also nicely shot to capture the locations as well as the inner lives of these people.

Keep Coming Back [Siempre Vuelven]
dir-scr Sergio De Leon; with Bruce Pintos, Juan Wauters 25/Uru ****
Revealing the mix of memories, desires, fantasies and dreams swirling around inside a young man's mind, this Uruguayan drama finds unusual resonance in its surreal flourishes. It's also a rare movie about homing pigeons, using them as a symbol for grief and inheritance, as well as unwanted truths about sexuality that won't go away no matter how hard you try. And writer-director Sergio De Leon assembles this with a singular light touch.

Jaripeo
dir Efrain Mojica, Rebecca Zweig; with Efrain Mojica, Noe Margarito Zaragoza Aguiniga 26/Mex ***.
Diving into Mexico's cowboy culture, with its heavy-drinking machismo and raucous jaripeos (aka rodeos), this skilfully shot documentary has deeper intentions relating to sexuality and culture. Cameraman-cowboy Efrain Mojica, working with writer and filmmaker Rebecca Zweig, is exploring how it feels to be a young queer ranchero. The film's slightly aloof, introspective approach finds poetry in gorgeous imagery and evocative ideas.

Full reviews will be linked to the SHADOWS @ BFI FLARE page.

BFI Flare: Let your light shine

The 40th BFI Flare kicked off on Wednesday night with a lively world premiere for Hunky Jesus at BFI Southbank, attended by many of the cast and crew, including several of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, who ceremoniously conferred sainthood on the film's director on-stage. This was followed by a terrific party, as always running very late on a school night! And now the festival is up and running at full speed. This is my 30th year covering this event, and here is the first handful of notes about films I'm watching (Critical Week is below)...

Hunky Jesus
dir-scr Jennifer M Kroot; with Sister Roma, Sister Vish Knew 26/US ****
Recounting the story of San Francisco's iconic Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, this documentary is hugely entertaining on a variety of levels. Aside from being riotously funny and drenched in vibrant colours and joyous sunshine, the film is also remarkably informative as it both chronicles the sisters' history and explores their approach to life. Even more important is the way filmmaker Jennifer Kroot provides a series of pointed kicks.

Maspalomas
dir Aitor Arregi, Jose Mari Goenaga; with Jose Ramon Soroiz, Nagore Aranburu 25/Sp ****
With a pointed premise that's rarely depicted on screen, this Basque drama continually catches our attention with honest drama and realistic emotions surrounding an older gay man. Filmmakers Aitor Arregi and Jose Mari Goenaga take a superbly offhanded approach to the narrative and characters. Shot in an almost documentary style, the film relies more on unspoken interaction than dialog, which encourages the audience to engage more deeply.

10s Across the Borders
dir Chan Sze-Wei; with Xyza Pinklady Mizrahi, Teddy Oricci 25/Ph ****
Covering the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand, this documentary captures the exuberant spark of queer young people who find a sense of belonging at voguing balls, carrying on the iconic New York tradition. Using fly-on-the-wall camerawork, filmmaker Chan Sze-Wei allows these bright stars to reveal their hopes and aspirations in conversation with each other. Their big personalities come through in everything they do, especially when they're striking provocative poses.

Uchronia
dir Fil Ieropoulos; with Kristof Lamp, Flomaria Papadaki 26/GR ***
Inspired by Arthur Rimbaud's poem A Season in Hell, experimental Greek filmmakers Fil Ieropoulos and Foivos Dousos take an outrageously surreal look at queer identity and legacy. Their multi-lingual approach inventively mixes documentary and drama, using a kaleidoscopic range of film clips. It's a bold film that continually takes jabs at how society pushes damaging ideas while compromising and commodifying messages. It's a hypnotic philosophical romp through history.

Full reviews will be linked to the SHADOWS @ BFI FLARE page.

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C R I T I C A L  W E E K

Watching Oscars live in London on Sunday night, I enjoyed the show for the most part, even if it lacked the surprises I always love. At least there was a very rare tie (for live-action short). Michael B Jordan was a worthy winner, the largest cheer of the night, while Jessie Buckley gave far and away the best speech. And it was great to see Autumn Durald Arkapaw claim a trophy. Conan O'Brien was a funny but uneven host. Some gags were inspired, others felt corny. Reunions are fun: those Bridesmaids girls are hilarious, and it was lovely to see Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor mark 25 years since Moulin Rouge. On the other hand Avengers Robert Downey Jr and Chris Evans were less fun. Highlights were the two big musical moments, with the dazzling Sinners extravaganza and a Golden K-pop moment. The extended in memorium segment went on a bit, but reminded us of the huge figures we lost last year. 

As for movies, I watched Aneurin Barnard and Jeremy Piven in the uneven thriller Past Life, the warm and scrappy five-strand Irish drama Abode, Christian Petzold's gorgeous German drama Mirrors No 3 starring Paula beer, the gorgeous and inventive Marianne Faithfull doc Broken English, and two excellent docs that were up for Oscars: Iran's moving Cutting Through Rocks and the blood-boiling The Alabama Solution. There was also a live performance of the drama Where There Is No Time at Seven Dials Theatre.

Coming up this next week, I'll be watching Zazie Beetz in They Will Kill You, Jude Law in The Wizard of the Kremlin, Miriam Margolyes in Holy Days, Gianfranco Rosi's Pompei: Below the Clouds, and the premiere of Riz Ahmed's new TV series Bait. Plus of course quite a lot more movies at BFI Flare.

A season of Italian films...

Over five days, a flurry of acclaimed films were specially screened at BFI Southbank as part of Cinema Made in Italy in London, sponsored by the British Film Institute and Rome's Cinecittà studios. I caught six of the films, and I spoke with two of my long-time favourites: actor-filmmaker Valeria Golino and director Isabel Coixet (interviews to come). There was a clear focus this year on women's stories, which provided a superb point of view to a variety of powerful stories. Here are notes on the films I watched...

La Gioia [aka Joy]
dir Nicolangelo Gelormini; with Valeria Golino, Saul Nanni 25/It ***.
Brisk and involving, this Italian drama pulls us in with characters who have vivid internal lives, including yearnings for companionship that are easy to identify with. At the centre, this is the story of a complex relationship, and director Nicolangelo Gelormini inventively depicts how it awakens the heart of a woman who had given up hope for herself. This is a dark, multi-layered story full of ideas that get deep under the skin... FULL REVIEW >

The Last One for the Road [Le Città di Pianura]

dir Francesco Sossai; with Filippo Scotti, Sergio Romano 25/It ****

Set in Veneto (the original title translates ironically as The Cities of the Plain), this lively comedy deconstructs the road movie genre as three men travel in circles looking for their next final drink together. While highlighting local culture and landscapes, director-cowriter Francesco Sossai cleverly explores generational issues using offhanded comedy. It's such a charmer of a film that it's impossible to watch without a smile on your face... FULL REVIEW >

Three Goodbyes  [Tre Ciotole]
dir Isabel Coixet; with Alba Rohrwacher, Elio Germano 25/It ****
Diving straight into the life of a long-term couple, this Italian drama immediately finds resonance with its authentic dialog and transparent performances. This isn't easy watch, as it circles the disintegration of a relationship. But director-cowriter Isabel Coixet balances the pain by filling the screen with honest emotion, warm humour and genuine affection. This is a lovely, involving film with something important to say... FULL REVIEW >

Fuori [aka Outside]
dir Mario Martone; with Valeria Golino, Matilda De Angelis 25/It ***.
Recounting the story of noted Italian actress and author Goliarda Sapienza, hinging around her brief but life-changing stint in prison, this slightly overlong film jumps around in time, which can be a little tricky to keep up with. But director Mario Martone grounds each scene in earthy realism, while Valeria Golino delves deeply under the lead character's skin. There's nothing remotely simple about this offbeat portrait of an artist... FULL REVIEW >

A Brief Affair [Breve Storia d'Amore]
dir-scr Ludovica Rampoldi; with Pilar Fogliati, Adriano Giannini 26/It ****
Opening amusingly with a chess game that includes a boxing interlude, this Italian comedy takes an offhanded approach to illicit attraction. Writer-director Ludovica Rampoldi playfully explores a fling that slides into a relationship. Then as the comedy becomes increasingly dark, the film builds some rather bonkers tension. But even if it starts to feel silly, it's impossible to look away. And it ends with a series of proper kicks... FULL REVIEW >

Heads or Tails? [Testa o Croce?]
dir Alessio Rigo de Righi, Matteo Zoppis; with Nadia Tereszkiewicz, Alessandro Borghi 25/It ***
From Italy, this beefy Western is told through the eyes of a woman who finds herself on the wrong side of the law with a handsome buttero, or cow-herder. Director-cowriter Alessio Rigo de Righi creates traditional genre imagery in terrific Italian locations while adding artful internalised touches that see into the characters' thoughts. The film has a meandering plot and a jaunty tone, finding edgy humour while poking fun at cliches... FULL REVIEW >

See also: BFI >  •  CINECITTA >

BFI Flare: People get ready

The 39th BFI Flare festival wrapped up this weekend with a terrific closing night film in Night Stage, which led to a superbly celebratory wrap party. Here are comments on that film and one other, plus notes on the shorts I managed to catch and my best films of the festival..

Night Stage [Ato Noturno]
dir-scr Filipe Matzembacher, Marcio Reolon; with Gabriel Faryas, Cirillo Luna 25/Br ****
From the opening shot, this Brazilian drama channels the surging operatic sensibilities of Brian De Palma's 1980s erotic thrillers. But what's coming is thoroughly rooted in the present day, mixing more open-minded public opinion with ideas that are still transgressive. Filmmakers Filipe Matzembacher and Marcio Reolon create a wonderfully lurid visual sensibility alongside characters who are complex, shady and likeable. And they delight in making us think.

Some Nights I Feel Like Walking
dir-scr Petersen Vargas; with Miguel Odron, Jomari Angeles 25/Ph ****
Lush cinematography captures the colours and textures of the Philippines, creating a vivid backdrop for this gritty drama about a group of fast-talking teens who run wild in the streets. The plot sends them on an odyssey that's strongly involving, largely because the characters and situations are so complex. Writer-director Peterson Vargas includes a terrific mixture of emotions in these found brothers who care for each other in the face of hatred.

Shorts 
I only saw 11 short films at this year's Flare, which is a very small number for me. These include this year's strong selection of Five Films for Freedom, which are available free to view worldwide during the festival. My favourite was one of these, Dragfox (Lisa Ott, UK), a witty stop-motion musical comedy about a boy who is coaxed by a cheeky fox (voiced by Ian McKellen) to let his true self out into the world. Other favourites included the earthy street-kid drama Home (Donja R Love, US) and the snappy dress-up-and-sing comedy Wait, Wait, Now! (Ramon Te Wake, NZ).

Rich's Best of the Fest

1. 
   High Tide (Calvani, US)
2. Viet and Nam 
   (Truong, Vie)
3. Night Stage
   (Matzembacher/Reolon, Br)
4. The Astronaut Lovers (Berger, Arg)
5. Memorabilia
   (Lum/Verow, US)
6. Departures 
   (Eyre-Morgan/Ely, UK)
7. Some Nights I Feel Like Walking (Vargas, Ph)
8. Really Happy Someday (Stevens, Can)
9. We Are Faheem & Karun (Onir, Ind)
10. The Wedding Banquet (Ahn, US)

Full reviews will be linked on Shadows' BFI Flare page when published.

BFI Flare: Dance the night away

We're coming into the final weekend of the 39th BFI Flare, and I still have quite a few films to watch, including the closing film Night Stage, followed by a party, which I think we all need after such a busy 12 days. I also want to catch up on this year's Five Films for Freedom. Here are some more highlights...

A Night Like This
dir Liam Calvert; with Alexander Lincoln, Jack Brett Anderson 25/UK ***
Because this film is so beautifully shot in locations around London, it doesn't really matter that the city's geography is rather fantastical, as are two major coincidences in the plot. As lonely people at the end of their rope intersect over one fateful night, it's the big ideas rippling through Diego Scerrati's script that hold the interest. And director Liam Calvert maintains a warm, intimate tone that nicely balances the sometimes overpacked dialog and performances.

The Astronaut Lovers 
[Los Amantes Astronautas]
dir-scr Marco Berger; with Javier Oran, Lautaro Bettoni 24/Arg ****
Smart and very funny, this romcom from Argentina takes an audacious premise and spins it with snappy dialog that playfully references a wide range of movies along with the titular metaphorical running gags. Writer-director Marco Berger takes his usual astute look at masculinity and identity, avoiding cliches while playfully remaining faithful to the genre. Indeed, he includes an unapologetic romance that sneaks in through character-based wit. 

Sandbag Dam 
[Zečji Nasip]
dir Cejen Cernic Canak; with Lav Novosel, Andrija Zunac 25/Cro ***.
Set in rural Croatia, this relaxed drama skilfully captures the everyday rhythms in this place, focussing in on a young gay man who finds himself at a crossroads in his life. The title refers to a wall of sandbags that protects a village from rising river levels, and of course this also represents the wall this guy has built to hide himself from those around him. As a slice-of-life drama, this is a very powerful film that has a lot to say about how a culture can push people away.

Winter Kept Us Warm 
dir-scr David Secter; with John Labow, Henry Tarvainen 65/Can ****
Pristinely restored, this Canadian drama was made in 1965 by student filmmaker David Secter, starring his classmates. In the style of the French New Wave, the film features a subtly gay narrative at a time when homosexuality was criminalised. So it's understandable that the approach to the topic is discreet, but the plot is remarkably sophisticated, taking what today feels like a fresh run at this kind of narrative. This makes it both involving and surprising.

Full reviews will be linked on Shadows' BFI Flare page when published.

~~~~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~
C R I T I C A L  W E E K

BEST OUT THIS WEEK:
Time Travel Is Dangerous
Holy Cow • The Penguin Lessons
Misericordia • Viet and Nam
PERHAPS AVOID:
A Working Man
ALL REVIEWS >

Aside from films at BFI Flare, I also watched Jack Quaid in the guilty-pleasure action comedy Novocaine, Jason Statham in the derivative A Working Man, Jason Isaacs and Gillian Anderson in the engaging true story The Salt Path, Steve Coogan and Jonathan Pryce in the engaging true story The Penguin Lessons, plus two live stage performances at Sadler's Wells: Outsider and Crow/Pigeons.

This coming week I'll be watching A Minecraft Movie, whatever that is, Rami Malek in The Amateur, Miguel Gomes' Grand Tour and British drama Restless, plus more films at BFI Flare's closing weekend.

BFI Flare: Hit the road

We're into the second half of the 38th BFI Flare film fest, and I've been enjoying the wide range of films in the programme. The four highlights noted here are quite an eclectic bunch, very different styles of moviemaking from four countries — a comedy, drama, collage and documentary...

Drive Back Home
dir-scr Michael Clowater; with Alan Cumming, Charlie Creed-Miles 24/Can ****
Based on a true story that took place at a time in Canada when men were sent to prison for being gay, this film bristles with dark humour as it recounts a story involving brothers and entrenched societal homophobia. Writer-director Michael Clowalter and his cast fill the screen with sparky attitude and offbeat character touches that are both funny and honest. It's a lively, entertaining movie that cleverly uses its period to explore present-day attitudes.

The Pleasure Is Mine [El Placer Es Mío]
dir-scr Sacha Amaral; with Max Suen, Katja Alemann 24/Arg ***.
Like its central character, this drama from Argentina is a bit flippant and enigmatic, pulling us in with pure charm. Unfolding in fragments of scenes, this observant film follows a quick-thinking hustler who finds it easier to manipulate people than to make a meaningful connection. Writer-director Sacha Amaral shoots with offbeat wide-screen camerawork that sharply captures the characters, which makes it eerily easy to put ourselves in their shoes.

Memorabilia
dir-scr Charles Lum, Todd Verow; with JJ Bozeman, Justin Ivan Brown 24/US ****
Planned by filmmaker Charles Lum before his death and completed by his collaborator Todd Verow, this experimental film is a collage-style film memoir tracing a gay man's sexual journey, including things rarely spoken of on film. It's also unusually honest in its depiction of inner yearning, creating a gorgeously lusty vibe that runs through even in the more prosaic interludes. So the cumulative effect is dreamy and resonant.

Fatherhood 
[Tre Fedre]
dir-scr Even Benestad, August B Hanssen; with Kristopher, David, Sindre 25/Nor ***.
Warmly soft-spoken, this documentary presents three men in a relationship in a matter-of-fact way. Being gay in Norway has never been a problem for these guys, although being a throuple did catch people off guard, as did the way they planned to become parents. These are earthy, funny men who will clearly make good fathers, and the film knowingly traces their journey as they prepare for the birth.

Full reviews will be linked on Shadows' BFI Flare page when published.