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The Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, (MGLFF) now in its 13th year, is back. The festival open tonight and runs until May 1, with 50 films over 10 days. This year’s selections include all kinds of features, from Tomboy, an animated short about a queer kid, to the documentary Rock Hudson: Dark and Handsome Stranger. It also does an excellent job of giving filmmakers from around the world a chance to display their talents by screening films from such countries as Italy, Israel, Spain, Germany, France, and Denmark.
“This festival will entertain, educate, and inspire our community. We have a film for everyone — some deal with difficult and powerful issues, and other that touch your heart,” says MGLFF Chair Lily Saborit. But with over 50 films available, it can be difficult to narrow down your choices. Fear not, Cultist has done the dirty work for you. After the jump is a list of 5 must-see movies at MGLFF.
5. Spork
For starters, Spork has one of the best movie soundtracks since Natural
Born Killers or maybe even Purple Rain. If you grew up in Miami, you’ll
squeal in retro pleasure when you hear “Jealous Fellas” by Dimples Tee
and “Supersonic” by JJ Fad. Apart from its killer soundtrack, Spork is a
darkly funny version of Napoleon Dynamite. Except with a girl. Sort of.
The titular Spork was born with both sets of genitalia, but there is
never a doubt that she is a girl – she just happens to be a girl with a
penis. Most of the movie will seem familiar to you in the sense that we
are all familiar with the outcast, the mean girl, and the big, redeeming
dance off. As familiar as some of these plot devices are however, it
seems that they were intentionally used by writer/director J.B. Ghuman
Jr. to treat an unusual subject in a way that the audience could
identify with. He succeeded.
Monday, Apr 25, 2011 7:00 p.m. Regal Cinemas South Beach (1120 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach)
4. Hello My Name is Lesbian
Who would have thought that women in Denmark were so wild? In Hello My
Name is Lesbian, documentarians Haahr Andersen and Minna Grooss
intersperse 50 years of historic footage with live interviews to depict
the lives of lesbians as well as the stereotypes they deal with every
day. The film relies heavily on the subject interviews for its content,
but also throws in some interesting facts about lesbian history, such as
the gatherings on Femo Island in the 1970s. These were hippie-like
gatherings (think Woodstock) in which women would walk around naked and
meet in masturbation groups to watch each other masturbate. Who knew
that women had their own version of the circle jerk?
Wednesday, Apr 27, 2011 7 p.m. Regal Cinemas South Beach (1120 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach)
3. Weekend
This UK film is about a one night stand, which could have turned into a
lifelong commitment, but instead reverted back into a three night
stand. Tom Cullen (Russell) and Chris New (Glen) meet at a gay club and
end up at Russell’s apartment for a night of sexy and very realistically
shot man-on-man sex. Although they disagree on just about everything,
they sense some kind of spark between them that extends beyond the
physical. Through his characters’ conversations, writer/director Andrew
Haigh does a great job of introducing social issues such as gay marriage
without sounding preachy. Instead, we hear valid arguments from each of
the characters with different points of view. As different as Russell’s
and Glen’s life philosophies are, they manage to like and respect each
other in spite of their differences. If only life could be so simple.
Saturday, Apr 30, 2011 7:00 p.m. Colony Theater (1040 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach)
2. We Have to Stop Now 2
This shouldn’t be billed as a feature since it is really a compilation
of episodes from the second season of a web series by the same name, but
it is definitely worth seeing. Executive producers and co-directors,
Jill Bennett and Cathy DeBuono, play Kit and Dyna – a couple who happen
to be therapists who also happen to be in therapy. Although their book,
How to Succeed in Marriage Without Trying, is selling like iPads, the
two women want a divorce. Of course the premise automatically lends
itself to comedic situations, and the clever writing by Ann Noble keeps
it from becoming trite and clichéd. Think of Curb your Enthusiasm meets
The L Word. Lesbian stand-up comedienne Suzanne Westenhoefer does
surprisingly well as the Kit and Dyna’s therapist and Noble gives a
standout performance as Kit’s sister Cindy – a pot-smoking savant who
shows off her French and kissing, separately. The soundtrack is random
and unimpressive and completely ruins the flow of some scenes. Even so,
the women all turn in endearing performances. In fact, you’ll have
become so enamored of the characters in this “movie,” that you’ll
probably start following the series (especially after the abrupt ending
leaves you flat).
Sunday, Apr 24, 2011 7:00 p.m. Regal Cinemas South Beach (1120 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach)
1. Tomboy
A. LGBT cartoon characters need our support and B. We love animated
movies. Seriously though, despite all the inroads that LGBT characters
have made in film and television, we are way behind the times when it
comes to animated films and series. So, this is our socially conscious,
LGBT activist, politically motivated pick for MGLFF. Besides, you get to
watch five other short films with it as part of the What Women Like
event.
Tuesday, April 26 at 9 p.m. Regal Cinemas South Beach (1120 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach)
Ticket prices for MGLFF feature films range between $7 and $12. Call
305-534-9924 or visit mglff.com. Tickets may also be purchased at the
guest services counter at Regal Cinemas South Beach between noon and 10
p.m.
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