LA CORONA, CIAO, MULLIGANS at Outfest 2008
I’ve seen two of the Girls’ Shorts: Guinevere Turner’s Late, and Amanda Micheli and Isabel Vega’s Academy Award-nominated La Corona.
In Late, we hear several phone messages as the camera slowly moves around what appears to be an empty room. The "climax" was hardly a surprise, and apart from the obvious underlying irony I wasn’t quite sure what the point of the film was. Nevertheless, it’s worth a look.
La Corona — really, a must-see — takes a behind-the-scenes look at a curious beauty pageant in which Colombian women serving time for murder, armed robbery, guerrilla warfare, and so on vie for the prize of Prettiest Gal in Cell Block XYZ. The goings-on are entertaining — uncomfortably so — as the young women talk about their violent past while concerning themselves with the appropriate makeup and costumes they need to have on so as to dazzle the jury.
More than the smiles of the winner, the tears of one very upset loser, conversations about murdering people followed by the nonsense the women spout while being interviewed on the makeshift runway, and cries of racism and rigged juries, what most impressed me about La Corona were the relatively cozy relationship the guards and wardens have with their charge (I wonder what things are like when there aren’t cameras around), and the fact that the competitors’ cellblock-mates are as vociferous in their cheerleading as the most rabid soccer fans. In other words, there’s nothing like pointless rivalry and tribalism to make human beings feel worthy and alive. Let that be a lesson to all. Note: At about 40 minutes, La Corona isn’t exactly a short film.
Synopses from the 26th Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival website.
FRI 7/18 7:00pm
Fairfax 1
Ciao (top photo)
(USA, 2007, 87 mins)
In English/Italian/Mandarin with English subtitles
Directed By: Yen Tan
SCR: Yen Tan & Alessandro Calza
When Mark dies in a car accident, his best friend Jeff is left to tie up loose ends as he mourns. While sending emails of the sudden passing, Jeff meets Andrea, Mark’s Italian online boyfriend. On a whim, Jeff and Andrea decide to meet, each hoping to gain a sense of closure. Ciao is a beautiful and poignant film exploring the often difficult path to accepting loss amidst the hope of new beginnings.
FRI 7/18 7:00pm
DGA 1
Girls’ Shorts
Program Running Time is 94 min
Sometimes a girl’s life is like an obstacle course — trying to navigate ex-gay conversion, fights over babies and dildos and then there’s the prison beauty pageant. Or perhaps it is more like a mystery novel. What’s going on in that S & M dungeon? Why is big sis trying to dress like a boy? And why isn’t that hottie picking up her phone? This exceptional shorts program has it all!
Late
Directed By: Guinevere Turner
USA, 2008, 7 min
Wicked Desire
Directed By: Angela Cheng
USA, 2008, 13 min
Fighter
Directed By: Sharon Barnes
USA, 2008, 11 min
Happy Birthday
Directed By: Roberta Marie Munroe
USA, Canada, 2008, 15 min
The Thorny Rose (above)
Directed By: Carrie Schrader
USA, 2008, 8 min
La Corona (The Crown)
Directed By: Amanda Micheli, Isabel Vega
USA, 2007, 40 min
FRI 7/18 8:30pm
Ford Amphitheatre
Mulligans
(Canada, 2008, 92 mins)
(In English)
Directed By: Chip Hale
SCR: Charlie David
College roommates and best friends Tyler and Chase (Charlie David, Kiss the Bride) are in for one crazy summer in Mulligans, a romantic comedy with a gay twist. Straight Tyler invites gay Chase to stay with him and his parents, Nathan and Stacy (Thea Gill, Queer As Folk) at their lakeside vacation home. Nathan and Chase hit it off immediately; their relationship takes many twists and turns before reaching a scandalacious climax. Filled with great performances, Mulligans is a crowd pleasing film about granting oneself a second chance.
FRI 7/18 9:15pm
Fairfax 2
International Boys
Program Running Time is 83 min
Welcome to the Wide World of Shorts. Here you’ll find Icelandic wrestlers and German soccer players in love, hooligans fighting on the playground, and divorced dads pulling a daughter between them. And it’s boy-hunting season in the mountains of Switzerland and the gardens of France! These globetrotting stories are touching, funny and honest.
Every Other Weekend (above)
Directed By: Tim Slade
Australia, 2007, 15 min
Robin’s Hood
Directed By: Kent Monkman,
Gisele Gordon
Canada, 2007, 6 min
Souljah
Directed By: Rikki Beadle-Blair
UK, 2007, 10 min
HerzHaft
Directed By: Martin Busker
Germany, 2007, 15 min
Wrestling
Directed By: Grimur Hakonarson
Iceland, 2007, 21 min
Landleben (Vie champetre)
Directed By: Lukas Egger
Switzerland, 2007, 16 min
FRI 7/18 9:45pm
DGA 1
Sugar Rush
(UK, 2006, 75 mins)
Directed By: Sean Grundy
Fun, hilarious and honest, the British TV import Sugar Rush follows the adventures of Kim, a perky redheaded teenager. Kim is in lust — the object of her desire is gorgeous bad girl Sugar. Their relationship is mutually beneficial — Kim will do anything to be in the presence of the luscious Sugar, and Sugar has schemes to involve Kim in — lots of them and none of them very legal. These first episodes will surely leave you a Sugar addict!
A JIHAD FOR LOVE, HOMOCCULT: Outfest 2008
AFFINITY, ANTARCTICA: Outfest 2008
Slamdance Film Festival 2009: Call for Entries
THE NEW TWENTY, WHIRLWIND: Outfest 2008
TWO LOOKS, International Girls Shorts: Outfest 2008
Derek Jarman, Peter Berlin: Outfest 2008
Donna Deitch, Dan Butler: Outfest 2008
Ferzan Ozpetek, Bruce LaBruce: Outfest 2008
MAMMA MIA!, "Rough and Ready" Shorts: Outfest 2008
BREAKFAST WITH SCOT Opens Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
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