Film festival - day 3

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?
Festival synopsis:

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? is a whimsical romantic comedy that centers on two Taiwanese couples who are trying to navigate the rocky road of love amid emotional and sexual upheaval. Affable optician Weichung is married to office clerk Feng. The couple has one child and Feng yearns to have another. But Weichung is restless and unfulfilled—and he’s not the only one. His impulsive sister, Mandy, is engaged to sad sack San-San but dreams of becoming a soap star. Weichung’s life grows more complicated when it becomes clear that his past is far less straight than he lets on. At his sister’s wedding rehearsal dinner he crosses paths with Stephen, a flamboyant old friend who encourages Weichung to return to the gay life he had before getting married. When a handsome young flight attendant ventures into Weichung’s optical shop, it’s love at first—or near—sight, and although Weichung tries to fight his urges, he can only hold out for so long. Director Chen brings a light touch to the proceedings, peppering the action with pop culture references and comedic set pieces that result in a delicious cinematic confection that is never too sweet.

My review:
I loved this film!  I felt it hit all the marks: well-paced, sweet, romantic, realistic, funny, and well-acted.  This is a delightful film that tells the story of not being authentic but also shows the consequences of doing so.  5 out of 5 stars. 
Watch the trailer here.

Test
Festival synopsis:

An astutely crafted 1985 period drama set in the gay Mecca of San Francisco, Test

lovingly portrays this uniquely exciting and harrowing era as young lithe

Frankie navigates gay life in the city alongside the travails of being an understudy in a modern dance company and his evolving relationship with fellow hunky dancer Todd. As the newest and youngest member of an exciting contemporary dance company, Frankie faces a variety of challenges including the homophobic choreographer who commands him to “dance like a man!” When one of his fellow dancers is injured, Frankie must perform in his place. Todd, an established dancer in the same company and the bad-boy to Frankie’s innocent, helps Frankie prepare. It’s the classic test of skill and character. But a very different test looms on the horizon for both of them. As Frankie and Todd’s

friendship deepens, they navigate a world full of risk... and hope. Breathtaking new choreography, original music and lush cinematography showcase the natural beauty of San Francisco. Accompanying the recent burst of brilliant documentaries on the

AIDS epidemic, Test is an extraordinar y stor y full of nostalgia and

wistful memories about a complicated time. 
My review:
I enjoyed this film for its story, gripping music, and inventive choreography.  (Actor  Matthew Risch was also VERY enjoyable to watch shirtless most of the time.)  However the film really missed a great opportunity with mid-1980s styling.  There were no references to iconic 1980s clothing or hairstyles in this film,, and the main character is seen several times with a messenger bag which nobody had in the 80s.  4 out of 5 stars.
Watch the trailer here.

I Am Divine
Festival synopsis:

Harris Glenn Milstead might have seemed like an unlikely candidate to become an international icon. Growing up out of step with mainstream 1950s American culture and hailing from suburban Baltimore of all places, Glenn pursued his loves of food, horticulture, and hairstyling while daydreaming of a more glamorous life. But by the mid-1960s,

Glenn had teamed up with a maverick filmmaker-in-the-making named John Waters, and that daydream became a reality. In the process, a fierce, unrepentant, and larger-than-life new persona named Divine was born. Jeffrey Schwarz’s loving and definitive

documentary portrait of Divine takes us on the roller-coaster ride of a life like no other. At the heart of I Am Divine is intimate, behind-the-scenes insight into Divine’s lifelong

collaboration with Waters, from the early underground films, Pink Flamingos and Female Trouble, to the mainstream breakthrough of Hairspray. But Schwarz also fleshes out Divine’s private life, not to mention enough overlapping careers for ten lifetimes—a movie star, to be sure, but also a Cockette, a recording artist, a disco diva, and a live performer that turned the drag world on its head. Schwarz’s expertly crafted film is a warm, emotional, and hilarious love letter to one of Baltimore’s true originals.

My review:
I found this documentary to be delightful.  There were interviews with the usual suspects like John Waters and Mink Stole, along with lots of clips from Divine's film and concert performances and interviews.  4 out of 5 stars.
Watch the trailer here.