The Best of Flare Film Festival 2021 (Film)
This year’s BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival recently finished, and just like last year, it was a virtual festival. But that didn’t stop people from buying tickets to watch the amazing selection of films. Here are a few of the highlights:This Romanian film places the spotlight on a gay policeman, who while not out at work, gets involved in a tense standoff between a crowd at a gay film festival and a group of religious homophobic protestors. While Cristi (a brilliant Conrad Mericoffer) has a lover who is visiting him for the weekend from Paris, can’t show favor to the LGBT activists, even when one recognizes him. Conflict, and and tension, escalates, and Cristi is forced to act in a way that is against his lifestyle. Based on a true story, Director Eugen Jebeleanu’s excellently captures the life of a closeted police officer who has to make decisions that clash with his personal life. Written by Ioana Moraru
Kiss Me Before It Blows Up (Kiss Me Kosher)
Israeli Shira (Moran Rosenblatt) takes her new German girlfriend Maria (Luise Wolfram) to meet her parents, and goofy brother, in this delightful first feature by Shirel Peleg. Shira has a reputation around town as a serial dater, but after a whirlwind romance with Maria they move move together and it looks like a wedding is on the horizon. Whilst Shira’s family welcomes Maria with open arms, grandmother Berta disapproves, wishing instead for a nice Jewish girlfriend for her favourite granddaughter. And as their cultural differences become apparent, will Shira and Maria’s relationship pass the test, even when Maria’s parents come to visit? Cleverly directed and written by Shirel Peleg.
The Dose (La Dosis)
A long-time nurse becomes suspicious of a new co-worker in this thriller from Argentina. Marcos (Carlos Portaluppi) is the senior nurse in the ICU but when Gabriel (Ignacio Rogers) joins his unit Marcos quickly takes a liking to the young and handsome man, but Gabriel is not who he seems, and neither is Marcos. Martín Kraut’s suspenseful thriller builds up the tension (both sexual and dramatic) in a film that takes twists and turns, unfortunately twists and turns that are not good for the patients.
In her very last film role, the late, great Cloris Leachman steals this movie as the grandmother to Russell (Thomas Duplessie). Russell shows up on her doorstep and Margaret (Leachman) takes him in. (Leachman was 94 when she made this movie). Russell is at a crossroads about his life but wants to be an actor. But in his hometown he was a drag queen performer so he takes his act to the local gay-friendly bar in his grandmother’s town. Of course Russell and Margaret bond in a way they never did before, and Russell excels. Unfortunately Leachman died earlier this year. Written and directed by Phil Connell.
AIDS DIVA: The Legend of Connie Norman
A Los Angeles Act-Up organiser is remembered for her fierce resistance to both transphobia and the AIDS virus. Connie Norman, a local Los Angeles activist who worked tirelessly to make a difference, is profiled in this film. Director Dante Alencastre deftly handles this portrait of a woman who was way before her time who led the way in activism. Directed by Dante Alencastre.
Cured
A documentary that explores the campaign by key U.S. activists to remove homosexuality from the American Psychiatric Association’s definition of mental illness. It’s a fascinating look at the fight that not many people are aware of. The story of social and medical injustice carried out by medical boards in the U.S. is shocking, and more so as the victims recount their stories. Directed by Bennett Singer, Patrick Sammon
Mama Gloria
Mama Gloria is a fierce woman who has become a local hero to younger trans women in Chicago. In this documentary by Luchina Fisher in her debut film, Gloria Allen, who is Mama, is shown as a fixture in her community who, through hardship and turmoil, overcame this to become a role model, and a local celebrity.
P.S. Burn This Letter Please
Decades ago a successful Hollywood agent received dozens and dozens of letters from New York City drag queens. Why? He used to be friends with them in NYC back in the 1950’s. These letters were discovered after he passed away in Los Angeles, and these letters form the basis for this well-crafted and moving documentary. Some of the authors of these letters are alive to recount their lives during this time, recounting their stories as it was just yesterday, with photos used as evidence of their previous lives. A simply beautiful film, directed by Michael Seligman, Jennifer Tiexiera.
