OUT IN AFRICA ‘07 FILM REVIEWS

Mambaonline takes a look at some of the highlights of the second 2007 Out In Africa Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, taking place in Joburg and Cape Town this November. More coming soon!

ALEXIS ARQUETTE: SHE’S MY BROTHER

Dir: Matthew Barbato & Nikki Parrott • USA • 2005 • 110min

Alexis Arquette has never achieved the mainstream success of his actor siblings Patricia, David or Rosanna; some might say because he’s always been open about his sexuality. Having met Alexis when he was a guest of the festival in 2002, I was surprised to learn that he had begun living as a woman and was planning to undergo gender reassignment surgery. This documentary depicts his journey towards achieving that goal – although we never actually get there. At least not on camera. It’s fascinating to watch, largely because of Alexis herself (who is at once charming, trashy and engaging) as well as thanks to the glimpses of a Hollywood’s celebrity family. Interestingly, although Alexis complains about the intrusion of the cameras and filmmakers, she was one of the film’s producers. It only adds fuel to speculation that the whole thing, including his surgery, is simply a publicity stunt by an unemployed drama queen. Its unresolved conclusion certainly makes you wonder if you’ve just watched an unscripted drama. Nevertheless, a highlight of the festival.

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ANYONE AND EVERYONE

Dir: Susan Polis Schutz • USA • 2007 • 56min

This is the documentary you wish your mother had seen before you came out. Anyone and Everyone is an impassioned plea for acceptance. In a series of often deeply moving interviews, parents and their children talk about the experience of coming out – something that almost any gay or lesbian must face in some way or the other. The subjects are all American, but range from African-American to American-Japanese families, from a variety of religious backgrounds. They tell their stories with great honesty, recounting their initial feelings and reactions to that pivotal moment which forever changes a family. An hour of little more than talking heads is rarely a good thing in a documentary, but in this case the emotional truths are so powerful that the simple style becomes an extremely effective framing device. The film tends to focus on families renewed and people inspired rather than the tragic or desperate scenarios we’ve all heard about (or experienced). At the same time it also succeeds in revealing the sad absurdity of all the unnecessary drama, angst and fear associated with coming out. Take the family – and bring tissues!

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BROTHERS OF THE HEAD

Dir: Keith Fulton & Louis Pepe • UK • 2005 • 93min

A remarkable film that stimulates the intellect and senses, but is not necessarily great fun to watch. Structured as a documentary, this fiction film (or mockumentary) tells the story of two Siamese twins who are moulded into a sexually ambiguous boy rock band by a dodgy music promoter. It’s dark, bleak and intense and is beautifully filmed and produced – mixing faux interviews and “archive” footage to create a disturbing and evocative tragedy. If you have a fetish for 70’s British rock music and all the decadence associated with that era, you’ll find this particularly fascinating. Some may question why this film is included in a gay and lesbian film festival; other than two brief man-on-man smooches there’s very little obviously gay material here, but the film is infused by an underlying homoeroticism. Possibly one of the best films of the festival, but also one of its most challenging and difficult offerings.

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EAST SIDE STORY

Dir: Carlos Portugal • USA • 2006 • 88min

This is an entertaining search-for-true-love tale set within an East LA Mexican neighbourhood. The young, hunky Diego works in the family restaurant while romancing another local Latino stud who is determinedly in the closet. When the area becomes increasingly gentrified thanks to an influx of openly gay couples, Diego must confront his own closeted status and his attraction to an already involved neighbour. The core of the story is nothing new, but the context of a Latino family and community, together with issues of cultural and racial tension, as well as internal and external homophobia, makes East Side Story a worthwhile watch. Ultimately, it’s a light and heartfelt film complete with hunky boys, a few funny moments and, of course, a happy ending.

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A FOUR LETTER WORD

Dir: Casper Andreas • USA • 2007 • 87min

This suffers from all kinds of problems, but is nonetheless immensely entertaining to watch – in large part because of its witty insights on gay life. It follows the gorgeous-but-camp sex-obsessed Luke (Jesse Archer) who finds himself falling for the wrong man. Archer, who is one of the film’s writers, is not the world’s most convincing actor (nor are his on-screen colleagues), but he has a certain dumb and daffy charm that I couldn’t resist. I soon found myself quite attached to Luke, or was it Archer? Either way, the film is sharply written and quite clever. Very gay, very fun and the kind of film that will only succeed (and it has won various awards) on the gay film festival circuit. Part of the joy in watching A Four Letter Word is recognising the uniquely gay characters and scenarios we know so well. See it with a group of friends. Archer is a guest of the festival.

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HOLDING TREVOR

Dir: Rosser Goodman • USA • 2007 • 110mins

A little more vim and vigour could have helped this little film a great deal – unfortunately it is undermined by a somewhat laboured pace. When Trevor’s junkie boyfriend overdoses on heroi