From left: Pelo Malo, Sunsan Sontag, Mala Mala, Something Must Break, Der Samurai & Love is Strange.
Tribeca Film Festival 2014
Our selection of not-to-be-missed LGBTQ films.
The Tribeca Film Festival starts this Thursday, April 17th and runs until the 27th. There are countless films, over 100 titles and shorts, but just a handful of LGBTQ films of interest, so I thought I’d just cut to the chase and simply list them here for you. I desperately tried to attend screenings of each but got lost in a sea of publicists so only managed to see half of the six playing.
I am confident the following titles will be standouts:
Pelo Malo (Bad Hair):
This film is a thoroughly engaging and at times heart wrenching tale about a young boy, Junior, living with his single mother in Caracas, Venezuela who wants nothing more than to straighten his unruly hair — “a fixation that stirs homophobic panic in his overtaxed mother.” Junior tries an array of home spun procedures to get smooth shiny hair and even gets half a blow-out from his grandma all to no avail. The doting grandmother and female best friend add some levity to the situation that has a poignant and bittersweet end.
A total immersion into the transgender community of Puerto Rico, Mala Mala which basically means “fierce” as in a heightened feeling of elation, as opposed to it’s original meaning, “I’m on my period” covers all the territory from political activism to street walking/prostitution. We follow a diverse cast in this riveting documentary as they campaign for human rights, by appearing in civil court to plead their case for equal employment in the work place. I won’t tell you how it turns out except to say the film is totally “Mala Mala!”
On the heels of his successful 2012 film Keep The Lights On, director Ira Sachs brings us this new take on modern love. Starring actors John Lithgow and Alfred Molina who play a couple separated by extenuating circumstances, Love is Strange takes us on a roller coaster ride of emotion as the two men sort out their relationship up close and at a distance. Sachs never disappoints, I totally look forward to seeing this film.
I just love the writings of Susan Sontag, especially her book ‘On Photography.‘ What a great opportunity this is to have an intimate look at her life written in her own words and narrated by actress Patricia Clarkson. Susan discusses her early infatuation with books, her first experience in a gay bar, her marriage and her last lover, celebrated photographer Annie Liebowitz. Filmmaker, professor, literary icon and political activist, all boiled into one extraordinary tour de force whose work still resonates with great vitality today.
I didn’t see this film but it sounds like a real gem from Sweden that explores the big question of gender and sexuality. There are two main characters who enter a relationship, one defying gender norms, Sebastian and the other straight identifying Andreas. Apparently Sebastian wants to transition to become “Ellie” and Andreas can’t deal with the fact that he is attracted to a man. Sounds like a perfect set up for a thoroughly engaging and thought provoking film.
I started to watch this movie from a reclining position in my bed and thought it was thoroughly engrossing but fell asleep before the end (but don’t let that deter you). What I can tell you is there is a sword wielding figure wearing a white dress running around the forest in East Germany killing people. There’s also a straight laced cop who, as the press notes state “Becomes increasingly powerless to resist the draw of the Samurai’s feral otherness” It’s a bit kinky and scary but in a good way.
That’s my round up. Check the Tribeca Film Festival film guide for theaters, dates and screening times. Each film has multiple screenings. Prices range from $9-$30. Good luck and enjoy the show.
