Three Identical Strangers

I recently saw the documentary "Three Identical Strangers", about triplets who discover each other at age 19.  

Each triplet was adopted by a different family in upstate NY who had no knowledge that their baby was a triplet.  One brother goes to a small college where he knows no one, but is recognized by returning students.  He's then introduced to the young man they thought he was, who turns out to be his identical twin brother.

This amazing reunion makes the papers and is noticed by the mother of a 3rd young man who looks exactly like the twins in the newspaper.  The three young men discover they are triplets and find they share many seemingly hard-wired personality traits and preferences.

But the film is far from being a sweet reunion story.  The adopted parents of the three triplets soon began to seek answers to many questions, the most pertinent being why they weren't informed their babies had siblings, yet alone, identical triplets.  The adoption agency said the triplets were split up because it was unlikely someone would adopt 3 infants, but little other info is given them.

Years later a writer researching twins discovers the triplets' separation as well as the intentional separation of several other sets of twins by the same adoption agency.  Little is known about the reason(s) for these separations other than the study of identical twins' and triplets' development in different socio-economic households.  The psychologist's study was never published and all the data was sealed until 2066 when all the researchers and uninformed participants are deceased.

Its a very interesting documentary which raises lots of ethical questions, and wants to weigh in on the 'nature versus nurture' question.

Grandma

I recently watched the film "Grandma", starring Lily Tomlin.  I hadn't heard of it, but Spouse did while listening to a Lily Tomlin interview on NPR.  He asked our friends Rick & Nick (who have a super duper home theatre) to get it so we can watch it together.

It was delightful.  Tomlin plays an aging, salty, feminist, lesbian, poet and academic who suddenly finds herself unemployed near the end of her career.  Her granddaughter shows up on her doorstep asking to borrow $630 so she can get an abortion.  Tomlin finds herself short on cash, but since the doctor's appointment is scheduled for that evening, she takes her granddaughter on a bit of a road trip to try and call in a few favors.  Watch the trailer.

There are several lessons learned in this film (I'll leave you to find them) in addition to it being a well-acted, sometimes funny, very timely film about relationships with our biological families and our chosen families.  Do yourself a favor and see this film. 

Film Festival - day 3

Here are the films I saw on Sat:
Life Partners
Sasha is a single lesbian and Paige is her straight best friend.  They do everything together, including binge-watching reality TV shows.  However, Sasha feels left out when Paige has less time for her when her relationship with Tim gets serious.  This film explores friendships, codependency, introspection, and loyalty in an honest and comedic way.  3 out of 5 stars.

10% Shorts
This was a collection of these short films:
Alone With People - A teenage lesbian comes out to her family.  5 out of 5 stars.  (No trailer found.)
Cruisin' Electric (1980) - A spoof commercial for a children's toy based on the iconic 1980 film "Cruisin'".  4 out of 5 stars.

Dinner at 40 - A gay man's insecurities peak at his birthday 40th dinner.  3 out of 5 stars.  (No trailer found.)
Jellyfish - A transvestite is befriended and then abandoned by a local fisherwoman.  3 out of 5 stars.  (No trailer found.)
Safe Word - A comical look at a couple's experiment with BDSM.  4 out of 5 stars.
See trailer here.
Secrets & Toys - Tension fills the studio apartment of a lesbian couple when one woman's mother comes to visit.  3 out of 5 stars.  (No trailer found.)
Tom in America - While rummaging for items to sell at a flea market, an older man finds a Tom of Finland doll takes him on a strange journey.  4 out of 5 stars.

Film Festival - day 2

Here are the films I saw today:

Lilting

This film artfully shows the struggle and lengths an English man is willing to go in order to care for his deceased boyfriend's Chinese mother who doesn't doesn't like him and doesn't speak English.  The details of the story are cleverly told via real-time interactions and flashbacks.  There are enough comedic elements to keep it from being too sad, but if you're like me you will need a tissue or two.  5 out of 5 stars.

Gerontophilia
20-something Lake gets a job at a nursing home and becomes aware that he is less interested in his young girlfriend than he is in the senior citizen men at the home.  When he perceives that a favorite male patient with whom he's become involved is being mistreated by the apathetic workers, he takes matters into his own hands.  While I found this film's subject to be interesting, I felt the main character Lake seemed detached and not at all passionate as most 20-somethings would be.  3 out of 5 stars.

Love Is Strange
When George is fired from his job at a Catholic school for getting married to his partner of many years, the couple has to sell their Manhattan apartment.  They are unable to find a new place to live before they must move out, so each man must stay with a relative or friend.  Not having a true home, disrupting their routines, and getting in the way of their graceous hosts causes a lot of stress for everyone.  Alfred Molina and John Lithgow offer stellar performances.  4 out of 5 stars.

I encourage you to look for these 3 films on Netflix, watch them in their entirety online, and/or find them at your local art house theatre.

Film Festival - day 1

I'm excited because today is the 1st day of the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival!  If you've read my blog for awhile you'll know this is an annual favorite event in which I've participated for 15 years.  I take off work in order to fit in as many films as possible into the 4-day festival.

What exactly is an independent film?  Why do I like them so much?  While Hollywood films are created to make money, indie films are created to tell stories. While Hollywood films typically have big budgets and must fit into the MPAA's rating system (G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17, X), indie films usually have little-to-no budget and are unrated. While Hollywood films usually fit into comedy, drama, or action categories, indie films are typically difficult to fit into a specific genre because their stories often tackle unusual and taboo subjects.  While Hollywood film endings are almost always predictable, indie films often have unexpected endings or leave the ending up to the viewer.  I just love them!

So here are the films I saw today:
52 Tuesdays 
16 year old Billie learns that her mother is transitioning to become a male and that she must live with her father for a year in order to give her mother space to reinvent herself.  Mother and daughter agree to spend time together every Tuesday. Billie undergoes a bit of transformation herself as she explores her independence and sexuality.  The film consists of slices of life that were actually filmed on each Tuesday of the year, so physical appearances and emotional developments are authentic.  4 out of 5 stars.

Appropriate Behavior
Shirin is a bisexual Iranian-American who is not 'out' to her family.  Her recent break-up from her girlfriend Maxine throws Shirin into a series of wild but comical escapades.  Living up to her families expectations and her own desire for acceptance are not easily joined, but I laughed along with Shirin through her ups and downs.  4 out of 5 stars.

The Way He Looks
Giovana has a crush on her best friend Leonardo who is blind, but he doesn't seem to notice so she helps him navigate in order to spend time with him.  Then Gabriel enters the picture, and an awakening takes place between the 2 young men. While Leonardo struggles for some independence from his overly-protective parents, he feels no struggle regarding his feelings for Gabriel.  This was a beautifully acted and well-paced film.  5 out of 5 stars.

I recommend adding all 3 of these films to your Netflix queue and/or seeing them at your local art house cinema.

Film festival - day 4

In the Name Of...
Festival synopsis:
n the Name Of is the captivating and emotionally powerful story of a charismatic Catholic priest struggling to reconcile his deep-rooted faith with the desires he has long fought to suppress. Father Adam is the spiritual head of a small parish in rural Poland where he also oversees a center for troubled teenage boys. Playing football and joining in manual

construction work, T-shirted Adam leads with a stern hand and a sympathetic ear, earning the respect of his charges. The atmosphere of danger and violence

permeating the young men’s lives and actions never truly disappears, however; it is merely kept in precarious check by the devout priest. Against this backdrop, Father Adam’s personal temptations emerge. Among the young men under Father Adam’s supervision is wild, Lukasz, a nearly mute local. As the mutual connection and friendship develops between the pair, Adam finds his growing attraction to the troubled Luckasz difficult to resist. Director Szumowska has crafted a beautifully textured and visually powerful work that takes a humane, non-judgemental look at the contradictions of Catholicism and sexuality. The film is an engaging portrait of confused emotions, longing and loneliness, and leaves us with the hope that, in accepting our failings, there is a chance for

happiness and self-acceptance.
My review:
This was a good film but could have benefited from better editing.  It showed the unnatural loneliness that plagues priests who take a vow of chastity.  It also explores the chasm between Catholicism and homosexuality against a backdrop of beautiful Poland countryside.  4 out of 5 stars.
Watch the trailer here.

Honeymoon
Festival synopsis:

It’s the wedding day of Radim and pregnant Tereza. As the family walks into church, Dominik, Radim’s adolescent son from his 1st marriage, breaks his glasses. They make a quick visit to the optometry shop next to the church. The optometrist, Ales, recognizes

Radim and the suspense begins. Ales has his reasons for crashing the wedding reception, held at the family’s large and beautiful country estate. Radim pretends not to know Ales, nor the meaning of the mysterious gift he presents. Ales is intent on telling Tereza the tragic story of the past that her new husband is hiding. When she confronts Radim, he shrugs it off. Meanwhile, Ales and young Dominik become acquainted over a mutual interest in photography. Ales lends the youth a vintage Nikon. As Radim watches Dominik with the camera, dark memories of his past surface. Honeymoon will keep you in suspense until the very end.

My review:
This was an interesting film with beautiful cinematography.  When Ales crashes the reception I was hoping he would reveal a passed affair with the lead male character Radim, played by the gorgeous Stanislov Majer.  Instead, Ales is there to warn Radim's bride that she is not marrying the man she thinks he is.  This is the story of the lasting effects of bullying, told from a tender yet heart-broken perspective.  4 out of 5 stars.
Watch the trailer here.

Pit Stop
Festival synopsis:

Recover ing from an ill-fated affair with a married man, Gabe finds solace in the relationship he maintains with his ex-wife and daughter. On the other side of town, Ernesto evades life at home with his current live-in ex-boyfriend by spending much of his spare time in the hospital with an ailing past love. Impervious to the monotony of their blue-collar world, they maintain an unwavering yearning for romance. Far from the gay

centers of the world, director Yen Tan explores the complex and oft-forgotten lives of gay men in small-town America. The understated, contemplative nature of Ernesto and Gabe's story is told from the perspective of an observer, allowing the audience - even if just for a moment - to understand what it means to be an outsider, capturing the emotional isolation the two men have grown accustomed to is captured in a subtle, optimistic, poetic fashion while avoiding melodrama. In a refreshingly quiet film, Tan’s protagonists never try to run away from their relatively hollow surroundings, but opt to fill life’s deepest voids with their tenacious confidence. 
My review:
For me this film showed two men, both of whom had been hurt by unsuccessful relationships, who still believed in the chance of happiness despite what they've been through.  Occasionally funny and often thoughtful, this film was enjoyable to experience.  4 out of 5 stars.
Watch the trailer here.

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.

Film festival - day 2

10% Shorts
Festival synopsis:
1.The Belgium Caper

Muriel is nearly 40 and still childless. Despite the misgivings of her girlfriend, Emmanuelle, she decides to take an emergenc y trip to the Belgians (neighbors of French people in Europe) where in vitro fertilization is legal. Thus begins a tragicomic journey.

My review: 
This short was mildly comical in need of better editing.  3 out of 5 stars.
Watch the trailer here.

2. Foremost in my Mind

Gail Marquis, an Olympic medalist (Montreal, 1976), met feisty Audrey Smaltz when the Olympian was 43 and Smaltz, a former model, was 61. They had both had earlier relationships, Marquis with women and Smaltz with men, but none lasted until they met each other and everything clicked. Their story will resonate with the late bloomers among us as it tracks the course of these women’s incredible lives.

My review:
This short showed 2 very successful women who meet and begin a relationship 'later in life'.  Interesting and enjoyable.  4 out of 5 stars. 
Watch the short here.

3. More Than Ever

Follow a 54-year love story between William Campbell and John Hilton, starting with their meeting in an NYC bathhouse in 1957, up to the present day, when an illness presents them with new struggles and an appreciation of their very special bond. 

My review:
This sweet and touching love story should win everyone over.  Its hard to imagine being with someone for 54 years!  4 out of 5 stars. 
Watch the short here.

4. The Kiss

After an alcohol-induced night out, Emilia, 20, wakes up in a strange apartment and that’s just the start of the strange events that follow.

My review:

I found this short to be a bit tedious and sophomoric.  2 out of 5 stars. 
Watch the trailer here.

5. P.D.A.

An urban gay couple disputes their very different views on holding hands in public, which leads to a much bigger exploration of their relationship.

My review:

This short was current and funny with an unexpected ending.  5 out of 5 stars. 
No trailer found.

6.  Wini & George

An unlikely friendship will change one young boy’s life forever. When George, a shy

8-year-old outcast, first meets Wini, his 75-year-old reclusive neighbor, she immediately frightens him. But soon enough, these two realize that they have more in common with each other than they do with the rest of the world.

My review:

Neighbor Wini understands that sometimes little boys like to play with pink stuffed ponies. Sweet and well done.  4 out of 5 stars.
No trailer found.

7. Spooners

After convincing his husband to retire their lumpy, old futon, Nelson is forced to come out in a spectacular way while shopping for a new bed at a mattress store. This charming comedy was directed by former Philadelphian Bryan Horch.

My review: 

This well-paced and smartly funny short had me laughing out loud at some points.  5 out of 5 stars.
Watch the trailer here.

In Hiding
Festival synopsis:

Janina is a young Polish woman living a lonely life with the father that raised her following her mother’s suicide. Towards the end of WWII, she is quite concerned upon discovering that her father agreed to hide the daughter of his Jewish friend. She quickly

becomes fascinated with the fun-loving Ester, a beautiful ballerina, who dreams of resuming a happy life when the war ends. When Janina’s father gets arrested, she is left to continue hiding Ester, and they live in nearly total isolation. Loneliness and fear bring

them closer together with increasing intimacy. When the war ends, Janina keeps news of the liberation from Ester, as her erotic fascination gives way to an obsessive desire to keep Ester to herself at all cost. In Hiding is a universal story with a unique, surprising twist. It is a story of human desperation with raw emotion that can make us renounce all moral inhibitions and the potential horrors that result. The two actresses give riveting performances that will linger with you long after the film ends. 

My review:

This film felt like it was 4 hours long, probably because too much time was spent setting the stage.  The film  took on a very dark and disturbing twist as Janina's obssession with Ester leads to murdering a nosey neighbor and Ester's fiance.  When the film was over I tried to decipher what point the filmmaker was trying to get across.  Human desperation?  The effect of war on people?  I did not find this film to be enjoyable or entertaining, although the actresses were believable in their roles.  2 out of 5 stars. 
Watch the trailer here.

Film Festival - day 1

Who's Afraid of Vagina Wolf?
Festival synopsis:

At her 40th birthday party, Anna wears her trademark Vagina outfit: a full size, bright pink, poofy costume, shaped like a large vulva!! In her 20s, she made several successful short films, but now life is dismal. She lives in a friend’s garage and is quickly wearing out her welcome. The only work she gets is dancing in her Vagina costume at small venues screening her old films. At one such event, she meets the sleek lesbian, Katia, who motivates her to make a film based on Virginia Wolf. Anna is smitten. She quickly writes

a screenplay, casts her longtime lesbian friends (Guinevere Turner and Carrie Preston of

True Blood) and recruits a grassroots film crew. As filming proceeds, Anna’s neurotic insecurities blossom out of control, causing cast and crew to walk out, and her eviction  from the garage. Homeless and down, she is surprised by the appearance of the one person  who can give her unconditional love. With renewed self-esteem, she edits her film, reconnects with her cast and crew, and is able to accept herself and the love she’s been longing for. This is a funny, quirky, sexy romp that will surely make you laugh and warm your heart.

My review:

This film's theme was familiar: the main girl is obssessed with a girl who's not interested in her and ignores another girl that's really interested in her.  This film also delves into the concept of whether or not someone can have personal success and career success at the same time, or if one must preclude the other.  While this film was entertaining, the 'story' wasn't fresh and I didn't find any of the actors' performances to be strong.  Oh, and the actress playing Katia had the most annoying fake accent.  I still don't know what country she was supposed to be from.  3 out of 5 stars.

No trailer found.

I'm So Excited!
Festival synopsis:

A psychic, a hit-man, a dominatrix, a crooked business person and a soap star (no, it is not the start to bad a joke), these are among the passengers aboard a disaster-prone aircraft in Pedro Almodóvar’s bawdy, mischievous, mescaline-laced new comedy of bad manners. When a Spanish flight heading for Mexico City is found to have defective landing gear, the crew decides to forego panicking in favor of a mile-high party. Presiding over the party is a trio of flamboyant male flight attendants, squeezed into slightly overstretched

uniforms, who manage to keep the banter lively: Joserra, a high-strung motor-mouth incapable of telling a lie; skinny tequila- and tablet-fueled Ulloa; and the overweight and

repressed Fajas, who carries with him a portable altar at which he prays for passengers’ souls. With a candy-colored exuberance that only an Almódovar film can have, get ready for a one-way ticket to binge-drinking, pill-popping and other such things people shouldn’t do with their seatbelts fastened. It is going to be a bumpy, but very fun ride. 

My review:

This film had all the makings of a hilarious comedy, but somehow never reached its goal.  The best part of the film is when the gay male flight attendants decide to put on a 'performance' to distract the passengers from anticipating a crash landing, by lip-synching and dancing to the Pointer Sisters' song "I'm So Excited!".  This film needed 3 or 4 more scenes like that.  Still the film was entertaining and had lots of quick, humorous moments.  3 out of 5 stars.

Watch the trailer here.

Free Fall
Festival synopsis:

In this moving and sexy drama, Marc is shaken to the core when he meets fellow police officer, Kay, on a training course and begins to develop feelings for him. When Kay asks to be transferred to Marc’s unit, the latter’s well-arranged life begins to sink into chaos. Torn between his love for his pregnant girlfriend Bettina and the rush of a completely new

experience, his life spins increasingly out of control. He soon finds himself estranged more and more from his family, but running away with Kay is not an option. Then one day Kay disappears without warning and leaves no forwarding address. It dawns on Marc that

his absence has ripped a gaping hole in his life. With his situation in free fall, Marc can no longer satisfy ever yone’s expectations - least of all his own. Director and co-writer

Stephan Lacant showcases the peculiar blend of homoeroticism and homophobia that exists in a mostly male environment like a police force. Most refreshing of all, no one is an out-and-out villain in the film, except perhaps a society that hinders people like Marc from

being their true and fully realized selves. 

My review:

This film's theme is certainly not new, but it was told in a modern way.  I thought the acting was very good.  Marc's struggle was aptly communicated without words and without over-acting.  Kay's head-over-heels feelings for Marc seemed genuine and idealistic.  My only fault with this film, and many with the same theme, is that it portrays a man who seems totally straight who is "turned" gay by seductive lover, when gay people know that is not how it happens.  The film would be more accurate to have shown Marc stealing glances at hot guys a few times, then reprimanding himself and suppressing his feelings, and THEN being seduced.  Despite this, the film was well done.  4 out of 5 stars.

Watch the trailer here.

Stranger by the Lake

Festival synopsis:

n a picturesque lakeside spot in southern France, men sunbathe and hunt for anonymous sexual encounters in the nearby forest. Handsome young romantic Franck finds himself striking up a friendship with obese Henri, but his eye and libido are more tickled by the 70s-porn-mustache-sporting and dangerously lethal Michel. One evening, Franck witnesses Michel drowning one of his conquests, which he discovers does little to negate his

attraction. Alain Guiraudie’s idiosyncratic, steamy mix of the comic and the tragic in this existential thriller was one of the most sexually explicit surprises at Cannes this year. Part beguiling love story, part noir murder mystery, Stranger by the Lake depicts an idyllic mini-universe where murderer and silent witness have to abide by a set of peculiar codes

and rituals. While its graphic scenes of gay sex are what will grab headlines, what is most impressive is the film’s unique ambiance of eerie atmospherics that are at once crisp and observant, and oddly dreamlike, or nightmarish. It is a provocative and accomplished effort by one of France’s most overlooked auteurs.

My review:

This film was shot entirely outdoors, with only 2 locations: the shore of the lake where gay men come to nude sunbath, and a wooded area adjacent to the shore where the men would 'cruise' and hook-up.  The scenery was pretty, the acting was good, and the story was compelling but unfortunately incomplete.  Franck becomes infatuated with a good-looking man named Michel at the lake and is determined to hook up with him. Despite witnessing Michel drown another man in the lake, Franck continues to pursue Michel.  No motive is ever given for the drowning.  Franck wants to have a relationship but Michel just wants a casual thing.  When Franck witnesses Michel murder 2 other men, he goes into hiding in the woods until dark.  The film ends abruptly without suggesting whether or not Franck gets out alive or not.  There is no closure to the story, and rather than leaving the ending up to the individual to ponder, the viewer is left wondering why the film  has no ending.  There is a LOT of male nudity and some actual sex.  3 out of 5 stars.

Watch the trailer here.

Film Festival - 1/2 day

Breaking the Girls
Festival synopsis: 

Beauty and brains are a lethal combination in this sexy psychological thriller by director, Jamie Babbit (Itty Bitty Titty Committee and But I am a Cheerleader).  The film centers on Sara, a twenty-something, ambitious, law student, who is supplementing her legal scholarship with a bartending gig. When fellow classmate Brooke sees Sara stealing from the tip jar, she ensures that the gorgeous strawberry-blond bartender is fired. On the same night, Sara meets Alex (Madeline Zima, Californication), a wild trust-fund beauty, who offers Sara a shoulder to cry on. As the friendship develops, the sexual sparks prove  irresistible. As they discuss what to do about Brooke, Alex tells Sara about Nina, her gold-digging stepmother. When Alex casually suggests to Sara that all their problems would be solved if they killed each other's enemies, Sara shrugs off the suggestion as a joke, but  then, somebody turns up dead. Reminiscent of Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train, Babbit has cooked up a plot so deliciously twisted and over-the-top, that once it’s in motion, it’s not clear where it’s going to lead.

My review:

Having already enjoyed "Itty Bitty Titty Committee" and "But I'm a Chearleader", I figured I'd enjoy this film too.  Actually, I believe this film was my favorite of the 3.  Very much like a Hitchcock film, the story has so many twists and turns that one has to continually recalibrate how one thinks the story will turn out.  Production values were very high and I enjoyed it a lot.  4 out of 5 stars.  Oh, and scruffy-faced, hairy-chested Shawn Ashmore is shirtless a lot.

View the trailer.

Film Festival time

Its that time of year when I get really excited about the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival which starts tonight!

This independent film festival is put on by our local film society and is sponsored in part by a grant from the DE Division of the Arts and advertising by local businesses.  Film screenings begin this evening and run through Sunday evening.  I've scheduled myself off work for the next 4 days to enjoy as many films as I can.

I love independent films because they are not made to appeal to the mass media or to make tons of money (a la Disney films).  They are made to tell stories; stories that don't always end happily, stories of people you may see but not notice, and stories where the 'good guy' doesn't always win.  They're often unpredictable, heart-wrenching, tender, touching, funny, sad, and memorable.  Although not a necessity, this festival's selections are always particularly relatable to me because they have lots of LGBT-themed films.

As I've done in the past, I will endeavor to see as many films as I can squeeze into the 4 1/2 days and will provide you with a synopsis of the films I've seen the day after I see them.  Some of them may become available at an 'art house' theatre if you live in a city that has one, while others may become available on Netflix in the future.

Curious to see if some films from past festivals are available now on Netflix?  Click on the tag 'RB Indie Film Festival' at the bottom of this post to see my synopsis of several previous years, and then type the film titles into the search bar on the Netflix site.

Film Festival: day 4

Shuffle
Synopsis: What would you do if each time you woke up you were at a different age in your life? For Lovell Milo this is not a theoretical question, but an every day part of life. Since the age of 26, although he’s never quite sure when that was, his world has been this way, a literal card shuffle, never knowing what he’s going to get dealt. The more his life jumps from year to year, the more restless he becomes, and ultimately he begins searching for clues to find a way out. Finally he notices a pattern to what he is experiencing and discovers there may be a reason for and a solution to this madness. A mesmerizing puzzle of a film, Shuffle is a blackand-white portrait of a disheartened young man’s second chance at life, a chance he may miss out on if he doesn’t play his c ards right.

My thoughts:  This was my favorite film of the festival.  Each day Lovell wakes up at a different time in his life, and struggles to figure out why and how to stop it.  Watch a trailer here.

Starbuck
Synopsis:  David Wozniak, who has worked his way down to being the delivery guy for his family’s butcher business, is 42 with not much going for him. For pocket change, he routinely donates sperm to a Montreal artificial insemination clinic, but a processing error has led to his sperm being used over and over, to successfully father 533 children!  Now, a group of those kids is suing the clinic to learn David’s true identity, as David hides behind his legal rights to anonymity, while a media circus ensues. The media dub the mysterious donor “Starbuck,” in honor of a true-life Holstein bull famed for his stud services.  Never one to accept a responsibility that he couldn’t better shirk, David sneaks through a variety of impersonations to peek into the lives of his young progeny, and discovers a talent for parental nurturing he never knew he had. Ken Scott’s uproarious high-concept comedy was the number one box office hit in Quebec last year, and it’s not just because audiences were in tears with laughter. They were in tears from the wellspring of joy that comes with the rediscovering of unconditional love.

My thoughts:  This was my 2nd favorite film of the festival.  It was very funny, very sweet, and very tender.  Watch a trailer here.

Film Festival: day 3

Margarita
Synopsis:  When Margarita, an illegal Mexican nanny, is fired by her cash-strapped yuppie employers, it sets in motion a chain of events that leaves her torn between loyalties and the law. Desperately in love, but feeling rejected by her shy, commitment-phobic girlfriend, Margarita becomes resigned to starting a new life back home in Mexico. The family quickly discovers that Margarita’s modest salary is the only good investment they’ve ever made and hatches a series of ill-conceived schemes to keep her in the country.  Suddenly, it seems like everyone wants to save Margarita; everyone that is, except the one person she actually wants to be saved by. In the guise of a family drama, Margarita looks, through the eyes of a hard-working illegal, at social injustice as it relates to class, race and immigration policy. With warmth, humor, and candor, Margarita also tells the story of the disillusionment, resentment, and alienation that inhabit the margins of our closest relationships.

My thoughts:  If you're like many you believe all illegal aliens should be deported, this film will cause you to think twice about such a blanket policy.  Beautifully acted, this story helps illustrate the very real human side of the immigration issue.  I liked this film a lot.

Time to Spare
Synopsis:  Maarten, a gay, 40-something music teacher, goes through empty nest syndrome when his savvy younger sister Molly decides to leave the home the two have long shared, to move in with her boyfriend. Her departure does open up new opportunities to him, however, when he meets Arthur, a closeted but very attractive man, and the two hit it off despite their differences. All does not go smoothly in either couple’s relationship, and soon Molly is moving back home and reconsidering her options even as Maarten’s mate Arthur reconsiders his own. Can true love ever be found in a world where all truth is relative?  First time feature film writer/director Job Gosschalk evokes terrific performances from his gifted cast in this vividly rendered seriocomic melodrama. The complexity of characters and storyline combine to create a richly moving tale that evokes both laughter and tears.

My thoughts: This film was great.  It expands one's definition of family and how far family members will go for each other.  Watch a trailer here.

Out in the Dark
Synopsis:  Nimer, a Palestinian student, is dreaming of a better life abroad. One fateful night he meets Roy, an Israeli lawyer, and the two fall in love. As their relationship deepens, Nimer is confronted with the harsh realities of a Palestinian society that refuses to accept him for his sexual identity, and an Israeli society that rejects him for his nationality. When his close friend is caught hiding illegally in Tel Aviv and sent back to the West Bank, where he is brutally murdered, Nimer must choose between the life he thought he wanted and his love for Roy. First time director Michael Mayer crafts a romantic drama that refuses to play it safe and in doing so captures the intensity of a relationship that is put under immense pressure every single day. Love between barriers leads to a life in the shadows and being left out in the dark.

My thoughts: I thought this film was great.  The story was solid, the acting was superb, the dilemma was very real and timely.  Also, it didn't hurt that both lead actors were hot.