OT - Report from OutFest

[starboardlight]

So I mentioned that I've been volunteering with LA's OutFest, the lgbt film festival. It's the longest continuously running film festival in LA, and will celebrate it's 25th anniversary next summer. Anyway, I've been working mostly as usher/ticket taker, and only worked one of their many parties. As usher I got to sit in on many films, and there have been some really good films this year that I'd highly recommend.

Keep your eyes out for C.R.A.Z.Y. It's already hitting Canada, I believe. A beautifully film about a boy who's the fourth of five sons, dealing with his sexuality as well as his relationship with his brothers and his father. It's funny and evoked the 70's beautifully. It's also made great use of the soundtrack, which includes music from Pink Floyd, Bowie, Patsy Cline among others. The music didn't simply function as filler, but rather helped to tell the story. Definitely a dvd I'm looking forward to adding to my collections.
http://www.outfest.org/tixSYS/2006/filmguide/eventnote.php?EventNumber=4742

Reinas (Queens) is a film out of Spain, featuring 5 actresses who are known as Amodovar's muses. It follows 6 gay men, their mothers and fathers, as they all prepare for Spain's first gay marriage ceremony. It's fun film with lots of absurd plot points that are funny and entertaining.
http://www.outfest.org/tixSYS/2006/filmguide/eventnote.php?EventNumber=4740

Un Amour Ă  Taire (A Love to Hide) from France follows two gay men during the turmoil World War II. This is a film that hits hard emotionally, so be prepared to cry a bit. I left the theater and there was more than few people breaking down in various corners of the theater.
http://www.outfest.org/tixSYS/2006/filmguide/eventnote.php?EventNumber=4770

[Aloysius J. Gleek]

Thank you, Nipith, I'm DYING to see all three movies you mention (and please do tell us if there are more entries from the LA festival)--I have now added them to my IDMb 'MyMovie' list--interesting, they were all made in 2005, just as BBM!

I love Montreal, and I wish I had seen C.R.A.Z.Y. when I had a chance to see the movie last year ( http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0401085/ ) --I'll be seeing it as soon as I can!

(The IMDb) User Comments:
27 out of 37 people found the following comment useful:-
a must see!, 5 June 2005

Author: mtrottier78 from Canada

This is a movie I will never forget, which is so rare. It is a diamond. The best Canadian movie ever. the best movie about the 70s ever. The best movie about religion stigmas and evolution of the occidental societies ever. You will hear from this movie.

The director, Jean-Marc Vallée, brings us in the peaceful and warm-hearted Quebec of the 60s and 70s which is a period of great changes in all North America. The music of the film is magic and you will be astonished but the performance of the actors. Michel Côté as the father, and Danielle Proulx as the mother are so realistic. it's unbelievable.

Probably the best movie since Mireilles' City of God.

The others are (again):

Reinas (Queens) http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0434304/

18 out of 22 people found the following comment useful :-
Manuel GĂłmez Pereira, back to top form, 10 April 2005

Author: newland80 from Vitoria, Spain

...."Reinas" is Pereira's return to top form, with a clever and engaging plot which uses the celebration of the first gay wedding in Spain as a macguffin to tell the story of six gay men who are about to marry and their parents, especially their mothers. The film avoids clichés in an intelligent way, so the gay sons are portrayed as people from different social strata and conditions....

However, the film belongs to the mothers. They are in fact the "queens" the title refers to. Pereira has been lucky enough to assemble a bunch of our greatest actresses: Carmen Maura, Marisa Paredes, Mercedes Sampietro and Verónica Forqué. Betiana Blum, an unknown Argentinean actress, is, however, the standout with her over-the-top character, Ofelia....

I found the film highly satisfying and very entertaining, so if you like spending two hours with a good comedy you won't feel disappointed.

and--

Un amour Ă  taire (A Love to Hide) http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0444518/

2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
A Truly Amazing film, 31 May 2006

Author: ter-sha from New Zealand

I have just seen this film at the Out Takes film festival in Auckland. All I want to know is why there is so little information on the internet about this truly amazing film. It is a masterpiece that should be recognised world wide.

A wonderful multi layered storyline,brilliant acting and production values far superior to most that regularly win awards. Profoundly moving, it will have you thinking for several days afterwords. Tragically, it seems destined to reaching only a tiny audience.

I feel privileged to be apparently one of the few who will get the chance to see this remarkable film. I strongly recommend it to anyone who is as lucky as me. Already in my top 10 movies of all time.

Wow! Must, must see! I'll mention that I want to see Francois Ozon's Le temps qui reste (Time to Leave) while it's in the theater-- http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0417189/

Thanks again--

xxxx
John