London’s Lesbian & Gay Film Festival 2008 – Monday, April 7

Described as a gay version of a John Hughes flick, Russell P. Marleau’s The Curiosity of Chance revolves around a new — and openly gay — kid at school, appropriately named Chance Marquis, who does his best to survive the usual bullies and the overall conformity. In the cast: Tad Hilgenbrink, Brett Chuckerman, and Aldevina Da Silva.

In the Israeli drama Tied Hands, "a young man dying of AIDS sends his mother to find marijuana to alleviate his pain. This seemingly simple task becomes a painfully complex and increasingly desperate search." Directed by Dan Wolman, and starring Israeli acting legend Gila Almagor, Ido Tadmor, and Neli Tagar.

Persona (1965) is one my favorite Ingmar Bergman films. The story follows two women, a nurse and her nervous-breakdown’ed patient, who slowly end up meshing their personalities. Though perhaps more than a bit self-indulgent — Bergman unnecessarily keeps reminding us that we’re watching a movie — Persona is a profound and quite disturbing look into the human psyche. Liv Ullmann and Bibi Andersson star.

"Tense documentary following the organisers of a week-long World Pride event in Jerusalem, and the campaign of personal intimidation and institutional non-co-operation they face as a result of opposition to the event." That’s Nitzan Gilady’s Jerusalem Is Proud to Present, which shows that radical Christians, Muslims, and Jews have at least one characteristic in common: Bigotry. See, there’s hope for the world.

Following the screening, Rabbi Mark Solomon will take part in a onstage discussion.

More details/schedules at the festival’s website

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