The LGBT Film Festival (NewFest) celebrates
its 25th anniversary, and with the U.S. Supreme Court gay marriage ruling what a
celebration to be had. So often with ‘themed issue’ festivals one approaches screenings with more than a little trepidation of ‘will this be agit-prop’?
Based on only seeing 3 films there’s not a scent of agit prop anywhere! Those
who can’t make tonight’s screening of Who’s Afraidof Vagina Wolf? (Mon Sept 9)- director Anna Margarita Albelo
attends for a Q & A- are strongly urged to find a copy. It may be sort of a
gay anthem Hollywood ending, but then, some things in life do happily end ever
after. Did we also say it was very, very funny and quite sad? The Festival’s closing night film (Sept 11) Chris Mason Johnson’s Test also ends if not happily then melancholic rather than maudlin. If you were
around circa 1985 the brilliantly remembered details in this film certainly
draw a smile e.g. not getting that phone call because the telephone cord is
tangled, and the remote yet strangely intimate answa-machine message that plays
like an old LP record - something that mobile phone messaging/mail just can’t
seem to beat. The acting is great, the music and for once superb dancing and
choreography. And actors who can dance!- they are all in close-up and there are
no doubles listed in the credits. Brian de Palma’s Passion was seen at last
year’s New York Film Festival and is what it is. And as with all de Palma
brilliantly is: exquisitely choreographed with some Jerome Robbins' ballet Afternoon
of a Faun thrown in for very good measure.
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