Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
Posted by Stuart at 12:44 PM on October 27, 2002I feel guilty (!) when I don't have anything exiciting to say, but I have been fairly domestic the last few days. I've been making multiple runs to department stores and Tesco Lotus (Thailand's version of Wal-Mart) for home furnishings. It is easy to forget about all the things that one needs in a house: trash cans, laundry baskets, iron, ironing board, sheets, towels, detergent, silverware, mugs and glasses...
Ok, enough of that boring house talk! Last night I spiced up things a bit by going to watch movies that were part of the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. The annual Bangkok Pride celebrations are in two weeks and this festival is one of the activites leading up to the big event.
Last night's showings were short clips from Europe. The first set was Lesbian themed and the second set was Gay (male). I think most of the shorts were from the last 6 years or so, but luckily they were all new to me.
G&L Film Festivals are always hit or miss, as anyone who has been to one can tell you. Sometimes the movies are cute or funny or thought-provoking or entertaining or touching. On the other hand, they are sometimes disturbing or vile or too extreme or outrageous (in a bad way) or just plain bad acting, bad writing, and filmed with a home video cam.
All of these words are my opinion of course. Your milage may vary, as they say. The good things about these films (as with most independent, i.e. Non-Hollywood films) almost always push the boundaries of what is acceptable and "normal", both in filmmaking and in society in general. The movies last night were no exception. Although I have to admit I left the theatre with mixed emotions of being a little uncomfortable at some of what I saw yet touched deeply by other things, I can look back now and be very thankful for the opportunity to challenge my own views and ideals.
