As the movement to purge library shelves of LGBTQ voices surges on, Frameline47 counters this representation setback by continuing to do what it does best, amplify — loudly and proudly — voices from within the community by showcasing them on film.
In fact, quite a few of the 90 films that’ll be showcased in the annual San Francisco LGBTQ film festival sprung from an author’s mind, including the popular YA novel “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe,” the get-your-hankies-out French novel “Lie to Me” and the lovely memoir “Fairyland” (the opening night feature), set in San Francisco.
The festival’s in-person experience this year runs June 14-24 with screenings in San Francisco (the Castro, the Roxie, the 4-Star, the Balboa and the Vogue) and in Oakland (the New Parkway Theater). After that, you can sit on the couch and stream many of those same films at home from June 24 through July 2.
There will, of course, be splashy parties and special events, including a Pride Kickoff screening of “God Save the Queens” (June 23) followed by a Pride Party at Oasis in San Francisco. Oakland’s opening night selection (June 15) brings the sensual “Chestnut” to the New Parkway.
To order tickets and to view the entire lineup, visit frameline.org.
Here are a few of our recommendations.
“Big Boys”: Meet Jamie (Isaac Krasner), a 14-year-old who’s always prepared in case of an emergency and a teen who’s well-versed on how to properly season in mom’s kitchen and even out in the woods. Jamie harbors a big secret, though: He’s crushing hard on his cousin’s boyfriend, cute and cuddly Dan (David Johnson III). Director Corey Sherman’s body-positive debut sees Jamie fumbling about in a low-budget charmer that’ll click with both the YA and adult crowds. Screenings: June 17 at the Castro Theatre (Sherman slated to attend); available to stream starting June 24.
“A Place of Our Own”: Two Bhopal, India, transgender friends resolve to stare down hate and overcome obstacles thrown in their path. That shapes this placidly paced vérité-like drama directed by a crew of first-time filmmakers. The SXSW Film Festival Audience Award winner finds Laila (Manisha Soni) and Rashni (Muskaan) contending with eviction notices, obnoxious drunks and coworkers and homophobic remarks. What “Own” does best is relate the resiliency of these two queer women who remain true to themselves as they fend off hate and refuse to conform to the dictates and prejudices of others. Screenings: 6 p.m. June 17, the Roxie; available stream starting June 24.
“The Lost Boys”: Although set in Belgium, director Zeno Graton’s taut drama examines a very American problem — the incarceration of young male teens. Graton’s knockout debut is just as convincing in portraying the all-consuming attraction between unwanted Joe (Khalil Gharbia of “Peter von Kant”) and volatile William (Julien de Saint Jean). The leads are exceptional, and Graton’s direction and pacing never slackens. It’s a standout in the lineup. Screenings: 8:30 p.m. June 21, the Castro (Graton and de Saint Jean are slated to attend); available stream after June 24.
“Lie With Me”: Anyone who’s read Philippe Besson’s elegant 2019 award-winning novel will know it’s best to bring hankies to see Olivier Peyon’s cinematic adaptation. As transcendent as it is passionate, this gorgeous adaptation flips between two different time periods — the ‘80s and the present: The former when successful novelist Stéphane Belcourt (Guillaume de Tonquédec) returns aftemore than two decades to his French hometown where he connects with a younger man (Victor Belmondo) tied to his past. Stéphane’s arrival flashes him back to a more exuberant, younger self (Jérémy Gillet) who is falling hopelessly in love with farm-boy Thomas (Julien de Saint Jean, also in “The Lost Boys”). Reflective, sensual and filled with tender performances, particularly from de Saint Jean, it tells a powerful story of longing and loss. Screenings: 6 p.m. June 16, Roxie Theater (de Saint Jean is slated to attend); also available to stream after June 24.
“Pornomelancholia”: Director Manuel Abramovich’s racy debut offers a non-judgmental peep-hole view into the making of a depressed porn star. Not so surprisingly, it’s sexually explicit in how it depicts laconic Oaxaca factory worker Lalo (Lalo Santos, a porn performer) advancing from racy selfies in his undies to a starring role as Emiliano Zapata in an adult movie. Initially, Abramovich might seem to be merely cataloging his ascendancy with voyeuristic titillation. Well, it does that, but it also comments about machismo and bravado. Screening: 9:45 p.m. June 19, Roxie Theater.
“Clashing Differences”: A women’s organization gets rocked when they realize that their board is composed of only white women. Ooopsie. They scurry to rectify that by quickly assembling a panel of women of color and then have them talk about their experiences at a country estate — filmed, of course, to reflect that, by golly, the leaders do care and support representation. The token gesture blows up, as prejudices, agendas and past relationships lead to fights. Merle Grimme’s thoroughly enjoyable feature debut packs a punch and hilariously throws shade at lip-service tokenism. It’ll receive a shared world premiere with the Filmfest München in Germany. Screenings: 6 p.m. June 16, the New Parkway (director Grimme and others expected to attend); available to stream starting June 24.
“Kokomo City”: Four transgender sex workers in New York and Georgia talk with great candor and insight about their profession, dreams and lives in D. Smith’s B&W eye opener of a documentary. Smith’s debut heralds a great career but sadly serves as the painful eulogy for one of its subjects — 35-year-old Koko Da Doll who was shot dead April 18 in Atlanta. Details: 1 p.m. June 17, the Castro.
“All the Colours of the World Are Between Black and White”: While Nigeria lacks the vile anti-LGBTQ laws that Uganda just passed, it’s still a hostile environment for anyone discovering or expressing their gayness. In this tender vérité-like drama, insular delivery driver Bambino (Tope Tedela) and gregarious shop owner and photographer Bawa (Riyo David) meet away from the eyes of others in the city of Lagos, where no one can see their attraction grow. Director Babatunde Apalowo’s debut is a beauty and speaks poignantly about the struggles of its characters. It’s one of the strongest directorial debuts in the program. Screening: 4 p.m. June 18, the Castro; (Apalowo is scheduled guest).
“Theater Camp”: What could possibly go wrong if a tech bro (a well-cast Jimmy Tatro) who doesn’t know a “Wicked” from a widget becomes the guiding force behind a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants New York drama camp for kids and teens? So much. In their feature debut, directors Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman take full advantage of a killer cast and the spritely screenplay they wrote along with scene-stealer Noah Galvin. Anyone who is/was a drama kid at heart, or a parent of same, will laugh at and relate to the loony antics that ensue. Ben Platt and Molly Gordon make a winning combo as the co-directors of a kooky theater production the kids are working on. Screening: 6 p.m. June 21, the Castro.
“Every Body”: Director Julie Cohen’s illuminating documentary introduces us to three people whose stories rarely get heard (or even mentioned) in America. River, Alicia and Sean are all intersex and have long confronted discrimination, disrespect and ignorant remarks. Cohen — co-director of “RBG” and “My Name is Pauli Murray” — has made one of the most important documentaries of the year, a game changer that enlightens and provides a disturbing look at the insidious steps once commonly authorized by medical professionals to “fix” intersex babies. Screenings: 1:15 p.m. June 24, the Castro (expected guests River and Cohen).
“Chestnut”: Time is running out for new college grad Annie (Natalia Dyer) who needs to relocate from Philadelphia to Los Angeles so she can start a career in the finance biz. But she’s ambivalent about the move, a sentiment that grows once she meets two attractive restaurant workers, the flighty, flirtatious Tyler (Rachel Keller) and the more even-keeled and introspective Danny (Danny Ramirez). Annie crushes on both (it’s easy to see why) as she abandons commitments and decides to party with the always elusive Tyler. Director Jac Cron’s elemental narrative debut — receiving a world premiere — organically captures that uncertain malleable time post graduation when we just can’t make a decision in love and life. Screenings: 6 p.m. June 15, New Parkway (expected guests include Cron).
“Coming Around”: Sandra Itäinen takes a straightforward, fly-on-the-wall approach in showing the courage that Eman Abdelhadi, a queer Muslim living in New York, must summon before she can come out to her conservative but loving mom. She has a strong eye for visual metaphors (apparent near the end) but she’s also sensitive about relating this vulnerable human story as Abdelhadi’s relationship with her boyfriend evolves. Screenings: 1 p.m., June 22, the Castro (expected guests include Itäinen and Abdelhadi); available to stream beginning June 24.
“Will-o’-the-Wisp”: If you’ve dipped your toe into the surreal canon of Portuguese filmmaker João Pedro Rodrigues, it shouldn’t be a shock to learn that his latest is utterly undefinable. Raunchy, playful, and even grazingly touching, it starts in 2069 and then hurls us back in time to a fire station where the sparks fly between a prince Alfredo (Mauro Costa) and a hot fireman (André Cabral). There are showstopping musical numbers, plentiful eyefuls of nudity and much more. I loved every 67 minutes of it. But linear narrative lovers will hate it. Screening: 6 p.m. June 23, Roxie Theater.
“Fairyland”: After her mother’s tragic death in a car accident, Alysia moves in with her gay poet dad (Scoot McNairy) in 1970s San Francisco. While he’s ill-equipped in some ways to care for a child, since he’s starting to explore his sexuality more and is busy building his writing career, he is in other ways a good, loving father. As director Andrew Durham’s wistful adaptation of Alysia Abbott’s memoir reflects there was much love and freedom to be had in the unconventional household she grew up in. Durham and crew take great care in re-creating San Francisco of that era as well as in depicting the harrowing AIDS crisis. The performances from McNairy, Nessa Dougherty as a young Alysia and Emilia Jones as a teen and adult Alysia make it all that more moving. Screenings: 6:30 p.m. June 14, the Castro (expected guests include Durham, Dougherty and producer Sofia Coppola).
“The Mattachine Family”: Need a good cry? You’ll get that in director Andy Vallentine’s sentimental dramedy about two committed men (Nico Tortorella and Juan Pablo Di Pace) and how their differing views about fatherhood drive a wedge in their relationship. Part of “Mattachine’s” charm and appeal derives from the queer community that lead character Thomas (Tortorella) hangs out with in Los Angeles while his actor hubby (Di Pace) is away shooting a TV series. Supporting players Emily Hampshire of “Schitt’s Creek,” Jake Choi, Cloie Wyatt Taylor, Heather Matarazzo and Carl Clemons-Hopkins are in perfect step with the poignant screenplay from Danny Vallentine. This one feels like authentic. Screenings: 6 p.m. June 15, the Castro; (both Vallentines, Tortorella and Wyatt Taylor are slated to attend); also available to stream beginning June 24.
“Taylor Mac’s 24-Decade History of Popular Music”: Bay Area filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman do an incredible job capturing Taylor Mac’s Herculean 24-hour performance piece, an acclaimed stage show which takes an irreverent, often critical look at music through 24 decades (it has played in the Bay Area). Through interviews with Mac and scenes of backstage preparations — particularly in regards to the elaborate costumes Mac wears — we feel we’re a part of this 10-years-in-the-making production. At the same time, the film opens a window to show how Mac got to where he is, and how the AIDS epidemic plays a pivotal part in the production. Mac’s comments about growing up in Stockton particularly resonate. Screenings: 8:15 p.m. June 24, the Castro (Mac, Epstein and Friedman are slated to appear).
Contact Randy Myers at soitsrandy@gmail.com.
Source: www.mercurynews.com