30th Flare: Moving forward

The 30th BFI Flare came to a close last night with an epic party. I left at 12.15 while it was still in full flow (sadly, the all-night Tube isn't running quite yet!). Here are some final comments on the closing night film (pictured above) and short films I caught over the past 12 days...

Summertime [La Belle Saison] 

dir Catherine Corsini; with Cecile De France, Izia Higelin 15/Fr **** 

An earthy honesty infuses this complex romantic drama set amid the women's rights movement of the early 1970s. But while the politics are strong, it's the intensely personal story and engaging characters that make the film so involving. And it's beautifully directed by Catherine Corsini, drawing out big emotions without even a hint of sentimentality.

I managed to catch 15 short films during the festival, including documentaries, comedies, dramas and even a couple of animated ones. Here are my top 5:

Mother Knows Best (Mikael Bundsen, Swe) tells its story in two shots: a brief prologue and then a stunning 9-minute scene as a mother drives her son through the city, chatting nonstop. She wants to be supportive of his relationship with his new boyfriend, but she inadvertently reveals much darker feelings. Beautifully acted by Alexander Gustavsson and Hanna Ullerstam.

The Guy From Work (Jean-Francois Leblanc, Can) plays like a fly-on-the-wall documentary shot in extreme close-up, which is a bit unnerving as scenes are underscored by the sound of shop machinery rather than music. It centres on a shy middle-aged married man who develops a crush on a talkative colleague and then dares to write him a letter. Provocative and powerful.

Bedding Andrew (Blair Fukumura, Can) is very simple: Andrew Morrison-Gurza is a disabled guy lying on his bed talking about his yearning sexuality, and how frustrating it is that people only seem to want to be with him out of pity. It's raw and honest, especially as this smiley, genuinely nice guy tells some genuinely awful anecdotes and reveals his undying inner hopes.

Dawn (Jake Graf, UK) is a lovely little moment between two people on a park bench as they wait for a bus in the early morning. The guy is blind, the girl is trans, and they both have personal issues that they're not quite ready to deal with openly. There's not much to it, but the misty photography is gorgeous, and it leaves us thinking.

No Strings (Eoin Maher, UK) traces a one-night stand between two guys - one is Welsh, the other Irish - both are looking for something superficial. When the visitor misses his last train home, he has to stay the night, which forces them to get to know each other a bit. It's beautifully played, and very nicely shot to bring the audience right into the story, revealing truths that transcend the gay setting.

30th Flare: Hanging tough

The 30th BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival continues on the Southbank through this coming Easter weekend. It's quite a lively atmosphere, with filmmakers mixing with audiences through both casual encounters in the cavernous BFI Southbank complex as well as a series of receptions and parties that run throughout each day. In one day this week, I was able to chat informally with directors and/or actors from five films (apart from scheduled interviews I've had for work). Here are some more highlights as the festival approaches its closing days...

I Promise You Anarchy [Te Prometo Anarquia] 
dir Julio Hernandez Cordon; with Diego Calva, Eduardo Martinez Pena 15/Mexico 1h28 **** 
Earthy and realistic, this drama centres on a group of young skaters roaming the streets of Mexico City. The film has an artful lyricism to it, finding beauty in some very, very dark situations. Clearly, filmmaker Julio Hernandez Cordon is a fan of Gus Van Sant's work, adding his own distinct political/cultural touch.

Henry Gamble's Birthday Party 
dir Stephen Cone; with Cole Doman, Pat Healy 15/US ***. 
Warm and relaxed, this is a knowing exploration of the undercurrents that swell beneath the squeaky clean surface of strongly religious families. With some 20 characters, the film takes on a wide range of issues, all centring on how American Christians are preoccupied with sexuality. And the personal touches make it resonate.

Like You Mean It 
dir Philipp Karner with Philipp Karner, Denver Milord 15/US **. 
This skilfully assembled drama is packed with compelling issues, although it struggles to connect with the audience due to stilted pacing and a somewhat cold approach that doesn't quite break the surface. Essentially it's about that moment when a relationship runs dry. But before resolving this, the film shifts into a pointed depiction of mental health issues... FULL REVIEW >

Coming Out 
dir Alden Peters; with Alden Peters, Ritch Savin-Williams 15/US **** 
Despite the blandly generic title, this documentary has plenty to say about the topic, especially for people living in tolerant societies. Filmmaker Alden Peters filmed the moments he told his family and friends that he was gay, but the bigger issue is his own personal journey to understanding himself. It's a sharply well-crafted film that's both witty and moving.

BEST OF YEAR 
Tangerine
dir Sean Baker; with Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor 15/US ****.
This film is so fresh and original that it's easy to forget that it was shot entirely on an iPhone, proving that money isn't what makes a movie engaging. With snappy dialog, colourfully complex characters and a farcical plot that's genuinely hilarious, this is a seriously unforgettable Christmas comedy... FULL REVIEW >

30th Flare: Holding on

The British Film Institute's 30th Flare event continues apace all week with a lineup of far above-average films that have an LGBT angle. And along with the superb movies, it's been great to be able to hang out with the filmmakers. I've interviewed a few of them, and just had drinks with others from all over the world, sharing the issues they face in getting these stories told. Here are more highlights...

Holding the Man

dir Neil Armfield; with Ryan Corr, Craig Stott 15/Aus ****

Based on a true story, this Australian drama is evocatively shot and edited, and it's thankfully focussed on its engaging characters rather than the plot or themes. Director Neil Armfield stirs in a sweet, complex mix of emotions as Tommy Murphy's script addresses some very important issues. But the 1970s-1990s setting makes it feel oddly past its time, sometimes overstating the message. Even so, it's honest and powerfully moving. [Pictured above: Stott and Corr with Sarah Snook.]

Departure 

dir Andrew Steggall; with Juliet Stevenson, Alex Lawther 15/UK ****

Dark and introspective, this drama isn't always easy to watch, especially with its sometimes overpowering sense of impending doom. But the performances are so astute that it's impossible to look away. And with his first feature writer-director Andrew Steggall shows remarkable skill at bringing universal experiences to vivid emotional life.

Closet Monster 

dir Stephen Dunn; with Connor Jessup, Aaron Abrams 15/Can ***. 

Filmmaker Stephen Dunn takes a strikingly introspective look into the life of a young boy who feels like his life is spiralling out of control. Beautifully shot and edited, the film mixes artfully stylised flights of fancy with earthy themes that cut to the heart of big issues like bullying and self-loathing. But more than that, this is a thoughtful exploration of someone learning to accept his sexuality... FULL REVIEW >

Ka Bodyscapes 

dir Jayan Cherian; with Jason Chacko, Kannan Rajesh 16/Ind **** 

With a deceptively gentle, observant style, this is a seriously pointed depiction of young people bristling against the harshly extremist culture in Kerala. The film openly challenges the accepted misogyny and homophobia in both Islam and Hinduism. But this is much more than a political film, as the bold writer-director Jayan Cherian keeps the focus on the resonant personal drama.

Seed Money: The Chuck Holmes Story 

dir-scr Michael Stabile; with John Waters, Chi Chi LaRue 15/US **. 

The fascinating life of iconic Falcon Studios founder Chuck Holmes is recounted in this rather lacklustre documentary. The problem is that filmmaker Michael Stabile seems more interested in Holmes' groundbreaking porn movies than in the man himself. But he's also too timid to show proper clips, instead editing them almost comically to get an R rating. Which means that the documentary, while educational, misses the point it might have made.

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C R I T I C A L   W E E K

As for regular releases screened to the press this week, I caught up with Nia Vardalos' sequel My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, which is the same warm-silly culture-clash comedy as the 2002 original; Zootropolis (aka Zootopia) is lively and entertaining, and also the usual Disney franchise-launching concoction; Idris Elba stars in the energetic anti-terrorism thriller Bastille Day; the French teen-sex drama Bang Gang: A Modern Love Story is too mopey to be as provocative as it wants to be; and Mark Cousins' I Am Belfast is a lyrical but deeply quirky look at the Northern Irish capital.

This coming week I have a very late press screening (tonight) of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice plus Natalie Portman in the Western Jane Got a Gun, but most of my time will be spent at Flare.

30th Flare: Reaching out

The 30th BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival had a great weekend of screenings - it's an unusually strong programme this year, with beefy films that tackle big issues in inventive ways. For some reason, I haven't managed yet to attend a festival party since the opening night, but I'm hoping to rectify this over the next few days and the coming weekend. Here are some more highlights...

Nasty Baby 
dir Sebastian Silva; with Sebastian Silva (pictured above), Kristen Wiig 15/US *** 
Meandering through a series of messy events in the lives of a group of hapless people in Brooklyn, this film has a gripping authenticity to it that's both engaging and knowing. And then a momentous plot point kicks in, suddenly making it feel utterly fictitious as the characters suddenly become very different people. This is probably actor-filmmaker Sebastian Silva's point, but it's seriously jarring.

4th Man Out 
dir Andrew Nackman; with Evan Todd, Parker Young 15/US ****
With a very clever script, this is much more than the usual coming out comedy, as its focus is on the way a group of friends are forced to redefine their friendships when one of them reveals that he's gay. Intriguingly, the film is much more about how the straight world copes with homosexuality than the other way round. Which makes it both important and hilarious.

Beautiful Something 
dir Joseph Graham; with Brian Sheppard, Zack Ryan 15/US ***. 
Strikingly introspective and honest, this multi-strand drama is set amongst gay artists from various strata of society. Writer-director Joseph Graham invests the film with a poetic sensibility that taps in to deep feelings that will resonate with anyone in the audience. Although the structure feels artificial, the emotions are honest.

Theo and Hugo [Theo et Hugo Dans le Meme Bateau] 
dir Olivier Ducastel, Jacques Martineau; with Geoffrey Couet, Francois Nambot 16/Fr ****. 
With striking honesty, this lovely Before Sunrise-style romance is bold and unflinching in the way it approaches the drama around the moment when two young men meet. As the events unfold in real time in the early morning, filmmakers Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau and actors Geoffrey Couet and Francois Nambot take a refreshingly realistic approach to some very big issues.

Women He's Undressed 
dir Gillian Armstrong; with Darren Gilshenan, Jane Fonda 15/Aus **.
This rather indulgent hybrid biopic/documentary is tagged as the story of someone "nobody has ever heard of". But triple Oscar winner Orry-Kelly is one of the greatest costume designers of all time. With some 300 films to his credit, he certainly made Hollywood's greatest actresses look fabulous. Although his personal life remains something of a mystery.

30th Flare: Taking pictures

The 30th BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival heads into its first weekend with strong crowds and lots of filmmakers in attendance. The selection this year is especially varied, with high-quality documentaries (that's Robert Mapplethorpe, above) and foreign films alongside dramas of every conceivable budget. Here are some more highlights...

Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures 
dir Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato; with Edward Mapplethorpe, Nancy Rooney 16/US **** 
In documenting the life of photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, filmmakers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato open with Senator Jesse Helms' hysterical rant in Congress in 1990: "Look at the pictures!" he screamed in outrage, demanding that they be censored. It's a clever approach that finely explores the line between art and pornography, skilfully painting a detailed portrait of a notorious figure.

Akron
dir Sasha King, Brian O'Donnell; with Matthew Frias, Edmund Donovan 15/US ****
With a bright, easy approach, this Midwestern drama never makes an issue of its central teen same-sex romance. Instead, this is a story about a wide range of people trying to overcome a shared past tragedy. It's a bit melodramatic, and also rather straightforward, but the characters are engagingly realistic and the message is important.

From Afar [Desde Alla]
dir Lorenzo Vigas; with Alfredo Castro, Luis Silva 15/Ven ****
Twisty and unexpected, this Venezuelan drama stars acclaimed Chilean actor Alfredo Castro as a lonely man who strikes up a tentative relationship with a young street thug. It's a remarkably involving film, because the characters have so many sides that they lead the audience on a quest for understanding. Equally impressive is how first-time filmmaker Lorenzo Vigas never sensationalises the subject matter... FULL REVIEW >

Girls Lost [Pojkarna] 
dir Alexandra-Therese Keining; with Tuva Jagell Louise Nyvall 15/Swe ***.
Gorgeously shot with a clever fairy-tale tinge to it, this Swedish teen drama explores the complex issue of gender identity from an offbeat angle that's both challenging and thoughtful. The plot kind of meanders off the rails along the way, but the themes and characters remain strongly resonant and vitally important.

B E S T   O F   Y E A R
Carol
dir Todd Haynes; with Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara 15/US *****
With delicate precision, this story unfolds in a way that's both true to its period and fully relevant now. A beautiful companion piece to director Todd Haynes' Far From Heaven and Mildred Pierce, this is based on a Patricia Highsmith novel about two women trying to live their lives the best they can, but finding themselves against the grain of society. And it carries a powerful kick... FULL REVIEW > 

30th Flare: Watching movies

The 30th BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival kicked off last night with the world premiere of The Pass in Leicester Square, followed by a terrific party at The May Fair Hotel with plenty of time to chat with the actors and filmmakers and catch up with my festival cohorts. The next nine days will play out on the Southbank with a flurry of screenings and events that explore gender, politics and lifestyle. This is one of the biggest film festivals in the UK, and the programme has grown stronger and stronger over the 19 years I have been covering it. Here are some highlights from the festival's first few days...

The Pass
dir Ben A Williams; with Russell Tovey, Arinze Kene 16/UK ****
A strikingly insightful exploration of the constraints of celebrity, this adaptation of John Donnelly's play retains its theatrical stylings, setting the action among four characters in three scenes over 10 years. But it's refreshingly complex, constantly challenging audience expectations and attitudes. And it's hugely boosted by a charismatic performance from Russell Tovey.

Naz & Maalik 
dir Jay Dockendorf; with Kerwin Johnson Jr, Curtiss Cook Jr 15/US ****
With a pointed, warm sense of humour, this wry comedy cleverly sets big themes against each other. Over the course of a single afternoon, writer-director Jay Dockendorf sends these gay Muslim teens on a small adventure that has big repercussions. It's an open-handed, hugely engaging film packed with small surprises.

Jason and Shirley
dir Stephen Winter; with Jack Waters, Sarah Schulman 15/US **
This cheeky fake documentary explores the making of the acclaimed 1967 doc Portrait of Jason. Shot with a homemade aesthetic, the film is clearly improvised, as if filmmaker Stephen Winter just pointed his camera at his actors, letting them play with the premise, then trying to make some sense of it in the editing. It may be intriguing, but this lack of structure leaves the film with no real momentum.

Inside the Chinese Closet
dir Sophia Luvara; with Andy, Cherry, Mei 15/Ned ****
This gentle, meandering documentary looks at the complexities of gay life in China, where young gay men try to blend in by marrying lesbians and adopting children. Without offering glib answers, filmmaker Sophia Luvara observes layers of issues in the generational gap, as new attitudes toward diversity strain against old traditions.

B E S T   O F   Y E A R
Grandma
dir Paul Weitz; with Lily Tomlin, Julia Garner 15/US ****
A sharp script and another beautifully measured performance from Lily Tomlin seamlessly mix comedy and pointed drama to tell an engaging story that isn't afraid to ruffle a few feathers along the way. It may feel both constructed and slight, but between the lines there's plenty of gristle to chew on... FULL REVIEW >

FLARE 1: First steps

The 28th BFI Flare (previously known as the London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival) kicked off Thursday night with the European premiere of Lilting, the Ben Whishaw drama that won the cinematography award at Sundance in January. London writer-director Hong Khaou was on hand for a Q&A along with Whishaw and cast members Naomi Christie (pictured above with Whishaw and below with everyone after the screening), Andrew Leung, Peter Bowles and Morven Christie. And everyone went on to the kick-off party at Pulse.

There were more parties on Friday, with networking drinks for delegates followed by a fabulous disco in the Riverfront Bar. Also on Friday, I had a lively interview director Darren Stein and actor Michael Willett who are here with their comedy G.B.F., and I'm looking forward to seeing them again at the film's big party on Sunday. I'm not sure how many of these late nights I can endure before I collapse in a heap, but I'll give it a good go! Here are some programme highlights for Friday and Saturday...

Lilting
dir-scr Hong Khaou; with Ben Whishaw, Cheng Pei-pei 14/UK ****.
With the same delicate approach to character interaction as he showed in his shorts Summer and Spring, filmmaker Khaou creates a drama that skims right along that line between brittle denial and warm emotional catharsis. It's an astonishing drama that carries us deep into the situation, forcing us to think both about the details and the much bigger picture. At the centre are two people struggling to find a way to connect. After the sudden death of her son Kai (Andrew Leung in seamlessly lyrical flashbacks), Junn (Cheng) feels trapped in her nursing home, having never learned English during all her years living in London. Then Kai's boyfriend Richard (Whishaw) reaches out to her, hiring an interpreter (Naomi Christie) to help her communicate both with him and with a man (Peter Bowles) she's met in the home. But Kai had never come out to his mother, and Richard tries to respect that as long as he can. Both Whishaw and Cheng deliver staggeringly transparent performances that let us see their thoughts and feelings in every scene, even though they're incapable of expressing them. The film has an effortless lightness, with a beautiful sense of both photography and editing that gently carry us through the story using earthy humour and raw emotions that never get remotely sentimental. A real stunner.

G.B.F.
dir Darren Stein; with Michael J Willett, Paul Iacono 13/US ****
Like a special episode of Glee without the songs, this colourful and often very silly comedy takes on some big themes without getting heavy handed about them. Even the "what I learned" speech at the end is undermined in a way that makes it both resonant and meaningful... FULL REVIEW >

Last Summer
dir-scr Mark Thiedeman; with Samuel Pettit, Sean Rose 13/US *.
This nostalgic drama is achingly artful but so indulgent that it never lets us in. Filmmaker Thiedeman's camera floats over tanned young skin in ways that are never remotely sexy: it's like flicking through a book of pretty photos. There's a decent story here, but Thiedeman is more interested in moods and images than exploring human connections. Set in rural Arkansas, the film centres on unambitious teen Luke (Pettit), who's struggling just to graduate from high school while his brainy boyfriend Jonah (Rose) looks ahead to a bright university career. The idea of these lifelong partners being separated should spark some emotion, but Thiedeman pretentiously focuses instead on glistening leaves (echoes of Malick) and achingly long establishing shots (a la von Trier) that leave the film feeling like an extended A&F advert. So in the end they're just bodies without personalities.

Bridegroom
dir-scr Linda Bloodworth-Thomason; with Shane Bitney Crone, Tom Bridegroom 13/US ****
Hugely emotional from the very beginning as it chronicles the love story between two young men, this documentary begins as the moving but unremarkable narrative of a real tragedy then shifts into a staggeringly personal statement about a political reality. The pungent question is: why were these men never allowed to properly love each other? Filmmaker Bloodworth-Thomason keeps the pace brisk, with tight editing and a focus on the people and their emotional reactions to everything that happens. Shane is at the centre of the film, talking about the senseless accidental death of the love of his life, Tom Bridegroom. It's sad but hardly noteworthy, although the filmmaking draws us in long before events take the strongly topical turn that makes the film resonate in an almost overwhelming way. By the end, there isn't a dry eye in the house - yes, this doc carries a serious punch, as well as a hugely important statement about love and family. As Shane asks, "Why do the people who were supposed to love Tom the most fight so much against who he was."

BEST OF YEAR SCREENING:
Behind the Candelabra
dir Steven Soderbergh; with Michael Douglas, Matt Damon 13/US ****.

Much more than a biopic about Liberace, this expertly assembled film recounts a true love story in a way we rarely see on-screen: with honest humour, real feeling and startling insight. It also boasts quite possibly the most camp production design ever... FULL REVIEW >