The London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival is no more ….
by Roger Walker-Dack | 9th March 2014
In an age where re-branding seems to be so crucial the British Film Institute has renamed this, one of the world’s longest running gay film festival, as BFI FLARE and removed all mention of anything homosexual in its title. In a statement that raises more questions than it answers, the powers that be, claim that many of the audience could not relate to ‘lesbian and gay’ which they considered ‘old-fashioned and conservative’! Let’s just hope they remember to put LGBT somewhere in their byline otherwise this move will not ‘ blaze with a sudden burst of flame’ but peter out like a damn squid.
Whatever we may think of the name, the programme is still an excellent one with something to see for everyone.
Here are some of the ones that we at thegayuk.com are looking forward too:
HAWAII: from Award winning Argentinian writer/director Marco Berger comes this two hander drama of a game of power and desire when one hot summer Martin works for his old school friend. This the most simplest of tales that stunningly unfolds in an impeccably subtle provocative manner. Very hot.
G.B.F. a high school movie where having a gay best friend is the latest must-have accessory for every teenage girl. Very cute. squeaky-clean comedy that is meant to be for the young, or at least the young at heart. Has scene stealing Megan Mullaly (Will & Grace’s Karen) as one of the parents. Really good fun.
REACHING FOR THE MOON: Based on the true story of the roller-coaster relationship between American Pulitzer Prize Winning Poet Elizabeth Bishop who was a bit of a cold fish, and her very fiery lover Lota de Macedo Soares. a highly successful and wealthy Brazilian architect. Passionate and compelling.
CONCUSSION: a mid-life crisis where a marriage between a lawyer and an ex-real estate house flipper turned housewife who live with their two kids in a comfortable affluent NY : she finds her purpose in becoming an escort/hooker to service other frustrated middle-aged women. Beautifully told this erotically charged lesbian drama is one of the best of its kind.
BRIDEGROOM: From the opening scenes of Linda Bloodworth-Thomason's heartbreaking documentary which covers the accidental death of 29 year old Tom Bridegroom you know that the story is going to be overwhelmingly sad, but what you are not prepared for is the undeserved rancor and animosity of his parents to the partner he left behind. An unmissable tearjerker
VALENTINE ROAD: This powerful account of a fatal hate crime in a California school will shake you rigid as all the aftermath unfolds and there seems to be more compassion for the straight boy than the transgender kid he killed. It’s one story you really wished was not true. Excellent.
CONTINENTAL: Malcolm Ingram’s delightful new documentary is the story of N.Y’s most famous Bath Houses: the one where Bette Midler got her first big break. Fascinating look back at our history.
P.S. When it comes to the big Gala Films we recommend that you skip the Opening Night LILTING a well-intended but rather flat small drama from newbie director Hong Khau with surprisingly a wishy-washy performance from Ben Whishaw.
However try the Closing Night Film ‘52 Tuesdays’ from Australia about the year a mother and daughter dealt with her mother transitioning her gender. It quite rightly picked up a Best Director Award for Sophie Hyde the filmmaker.
To find out more or book tickets visit: http://www.bfi.org.uk/Flare
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