UPDATED! OIA 2009 FILM REVIEWS

Mambaonline takes a look at some of the highlights of the 16th Out In Africa Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, taking place in Joburg and Cape Town this September. This page will be updated in the coming week with more reviews, so do check back.

APOSTLES OF CIVILISED VICE

Dir: Zackie Achmat • South Africa • 1999 • 104min

Before he was world-renowned as head of the TAC and a respected AIDS-activist, Zackie Achmat, as it turns out, was a film director. And now, Out In Africa is re-screening his 1999 documentary, Apostles of Civilised Vice. In it, Achmat shines a light on the history of South African gays and lesbians – from Dr. James Barry all the way through to Simon Nkoli and Judge Edwin Cameron. He re-enacts historical scenes and uses archival footage where he can, to proudly display how queer culture has played a part in South Africa’s history. This film should be seen by all South Africans, not just those who are out and proud. For the first time it contextualises all those who came before us and in so doing ensures we have a more gay-friendly history – even if it won’t appear in any history books anytime soon.

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BOYSTOWN (Chuecatown)

Dir: Juan Flahn • Spain • 2007 • 93min

This fun Spanish offering by director Juan Flahn stands out for a number of reasons, one being its lead couple: two adorable, attractive bears who are in dramatic contrast to the typical chiselled buff gay movie character we’re so used to. In fact, the one Adonis-type character in the film is a killer estate agent who is attempting to convert older apartments in Madrid’s gay district into chic gentrified homes. It’s a fitting and clever analogy for our gay pop culture which pressures us to believe that gay men should be mindless gym-honed clones obsessed with designer living. There’s also a bitter mother in law intent on separated the happy couple and an ageing detective on the case who seems to be losing her mind just as her sidekick son edges his way out of the closet. The film is light-hearted, well acted and filled with that uniquely Spanish quirkiness so famously represented by Pedro Almodóvar. Boystown gave me a warm fuzzy feeling and left a smile on my face. It’s one of the festival’s highlights.

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CHRIS AND DON – A LOVE STORY

Dirs: Guido Santi & Tina Mascara • USA • 2007 • 90min

Chris and Don – A Love Story, is a fantastic documentary that candidly recounts the relationship of world-renowned writer, Christopher Isherwood (the movie, Cabaret was based on his book Goodbye to Berlin) and now-famous artist Don Bachardy. The film begins in the 1950’s, when Isherwood, who was in his late 40’s, meets Bachardy who was just 18. Although they were worlds apart in terms of age, upbringing and experience, they remained committed to each other for over 34 years, until Isherwood died in 1986 from prostate cancer. Chris and Don – A Love Story is mesmerising as the relationship between the two men is explored through interviews, archival footage and home movies. For better or for worse, they were there for each other with Bachardy nursing and exclusively painting Isherwood throughout the course of the disease until he died. If you feel hopeless in the belief that true love doesn’t exist – watch Chris and Don – A Love Story.

Rating: 3/5
Flesh Factor: 0/5

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THE CURIOSITY OF CHANCE

Dir: Russell P. Marleau • Belgium / USA • 2006 • 98min

The Curiosity of Chance is most disappointing because it seems to have so much going for it but fails to live up to its potential. It’s not often we get to see a move in the high school comedy genre featuring a gay lead, which is what the film offers. Sixteen-year Chance Marquis, attempts to find acceptance at his new high school but is instead bullied and relegated to the category of school misfit. Together with his two oddball friends and one increasingly friendly and hot football jock he comes to terms with his identity and his role in school and his military family. Sadly, The Curiosity of Chance generally fails on a number of levels. Because it’s set in an international high school in Europe most of the actors have heavy accents. This jars with the American lead (Tad Hilgenbrink) and, most importantly, not being English first language speakers seems to affect their comic timing. In fact, throughout the film, the attempted wit almost always fails to really elicit any laughter or a broad smile. Without effective humour, the film teeters on the edge of the expected high school movie clichés (barring some fun appearances by a gaggle of fabulous drag queens that is). Everyone is committed to their part, the film is competently made, features a great 80’s soundtrack and there is clearly much good will invested in the endeavour. It’s a pity it merely mildly amuses instead of truly delighting.

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DIRTY LAUNDRY

Dir: Maurice Jamal • USA • 2006 • 100min

I’m a huge fan of Loretta Devine. Whether it’s as the acerbic secretary on Eli Stone or the acerbic wife on Grey’s Anatomy she is fabulous. Which is why I was so looking forward to seeing the divine Ms Devine in Dirty Laundry. I wish I hadn’t. Dirty Laundry revolves around Sheldon (Rockmond Dunbar, “C-Note” in Prison Break) a high-flying, gay New York journalist who returns home to Georgia after he discovers he has a 10-year old son, Gabriel. Once there, he not only has to confront his past, but also deal with his family, consisting of his (acerbic) opinionated mother, Evelyn (Devine), still-at-home sister, her daughter and his brother. In almost no time at all, old arguments start up again between Sheldon and his family members. And with the surprise arrival of Sheldon’s white boyfriend from New York, Sheldon is forced to come clean about his life and his lifestyle. The acting in Dirty Laundry is average to say the least with less-than-perfect performances coming from the whole cast. Even Devine, who spends most of the movie lapsing, almost out