Lie (Miente)
Rafi Mercado (Puerto Rico, 2009, 94 min.)
In Spanish, with English subtitles
Henry has a humdrum life working in a video store, in direct contrast with his vibrant, chaotic artwork. All in a matter of days, two people--Paula and Diff--come into his life and turn it inside out. Paula, a striking photographer, is running from a violent ex-husband who killed her female lover. Diff, a street guitarist who saves Henry from an assault, is sexy and all-out crazy...which, somehow, makes him even sexier. As Henry's relationship with Paula progresses, his homoerotic friendship with Diff becomes increasingly risky and propels the three into a dark, sultry triangle of lies and intrigue.
Riot Acts: Flaunting Gender Deviance in Music Performance
Madsen Minax (USA, 2009, 82 min.)
Punk, folk, dance, rock--genre doesn't matter. The trans musicians of Riot Acts share their diverse and complex stories through their unifying passion: music. The role of gender in the music is important and insignificant at the same time, as it's all still only a part of the greater human experience. The instances of gender nonconformity that are shared in Riot Acts are as vast and varied as the styles of music played. Who is trans in the band? Who's not? Who cares? In the end, it's really just the music that matters.
Fig Trees
John Greyson (Canada, 2009, 104 min.)
Unlike any documentary you've seen before, Fig Trees tells the story of two AIDS activists, Tim McCaskell in Canada and Zackie Achmat in South Africa, both fighting to
make treatment accessible for all. Using interviews, archival footage, and a fantastical opera to let the story unfold, what results is a beautiful and evocative look at the current landscape of the global AIDS battle. Following Zackie Achmat's strike from his own AIDS medication until treatment was available for all South Africans, Fig Trees looks at political and artistic interpretations of the disease with biting humor and richly layered operatic narrative. Beyond politics, beyond celebrity, the film explores the stories of true catalysts for social change.
Shank
Simon Pearce (UK, 2008, 90 min.)
With nothing much in his life except drugs, drinking and violence, gang member Cal has a secret that he keeps hidden from his rough-and-tumble mates--his unspoken desire for Jonno, his straight best friend. When Nessa, Cal's "crazy bitch" gang leader, suspects there may be something going on, she sets out to confirm her suspicions, divide loyalties, and destroy him. A brutal confrontation in an abandoned factory leaves no one unscathed. First-time director Simon Pearce makes a thrilling and explosive debut, defying typical coming-out film conventions by embracing street culture and darker queer themes. The sex is explicit, the violence is harrowing, and the hot, young cast is utterly impressive.
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