“We’re doing our best to find venues given the circumstances,” says Charlie Boudreau, Executive Director of Image + Nation. The opening film, Wildhood, is diffused [ce jeudi soir] at the Museum Cinema. But our internet platform is super efficient. Our programming is fully available there, with single tickets, packages and passes for those who want to watch movies like crazy! ”
One would have thought that the pandemic would slow down the production of LGBTQ + films. Nay! Most of the films presented were released this year. And relate to a multitude of themes. Love, of course, but also self-discovery, immigration, polyamory, intersex, old age, resilience or cultural differences. “I have rarely seen such a range of such accomplished films,” says Charlie Boudreau.
Press watched a lot of movies. The cinematographic experiences are varied. We share our favorites with you, but other films are worth the effort.
Such as The Swimmer, an Israeli film about a gay swimmer caught between his rage to win and his outbursts towards one of his fellow Olympic candidates. Or Te llevo conmigo (I Carry You With Me), on the desire of many gay Mexicans to immigrate to the United States.
Lesbian films come from emerging voices, that is, from countries where very few LGBTQ + films usually come out. For example, The Hill Where Lionesses Roar, from Kosovo, marks a changing society. Luàna Bajrami describes a youth in search of new sensations. Or Celts, from Serbia, illustrating, there too, a country which advances, in spite of the war, since the story takes place in Belgrade during the conflict of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Films directed by young women who are relevant new voices in international cinema.
For comic book lovers, don’t miss No Straight Lines (The Rise of Queer Comics). A history of queer comics well done. See also, the documentary Yes I Am – The Ric Weiland Story, on the charity of the computer engineer Ric Weiland, one of the first associates of Bill Gates at Microsoft, who gave 165 million US to LGBTQ + organizations during his life, in particular for the fight against AIDS.
Among the films in Spanish, the documentary Sediments addresses the issue of trans in Spain. Five trans women of different ages accompany a friend in her decision to undergo the life-changing surgery. An interesting angle on the subject of sex change.
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Our five favorites
Wildhood, by Bretten Hannam (Canada), 2021
The opening film, presented this Thursday at 7 p.m., is Wildhood, by Two-Spirit Mi’kmaq director Bretten Hannam, about homosexuality among aboriginal people and about the relationship between two Mi’kmaq two-spirit teens from Nova Scotia. Link, beaten by his father, who runs away with his little brother in search of his mother, and Pasmay, who falls under his spell. A charming feature film with talented and very believable young actors. The two main actors will be present at the Cinema du Musée this Thursday evening.
Beyto, by Gitta Gsell (Switzerland), 2021
Beyto (played by Burak Ates) is Turkish. He lives with his parents in Switzerland. Gifted for studies and sports, he is cheerful and his parents are very traditional. When they learn that he kissed a Swiss boy during the local Pride parade, it is the tragedy. The film deals with skill with the difficulty of living modernity when cultural and religious roots are firmly established.
Mascarpone, by Alessandro Guida and Matteo Pilati (Italy), 2021
A real favorite of the festival, here is a film both funny and inspiring about Antonio, a young Roman who sees her husband, with whom he has lived for 12 years, leave him for another man. Depressed, he rents a room with a gay libertine thanks to which he will go in search of new encounters. An unbridled life that he must reconcile with his love for pastry. a feel-good movie with superb actors.
Wet sand, by Elene Naveriani (Georgia / Switzerland), 2021
A desolate, dilapidated corner of Georgia. Villagers with stubborn prejudices. A dying sailor whose past resurfaces. Romantic relationships killed. Traditions stripped by events. This film, slow as boredom, and powerful as the Black Sea, is touching and also illustrates how the world is changing, even in the most remote places. But it takes courage to confront habits and sacrifices.
Firebird, by Peeter Rebane (Estonia / United States), 2021
Inspired by a True Story, Firebird recounts the relationship between a handsome air force captain, Roman (Oleg Zagorodnii), and a young soldier, Sergei (Tom Prior), who is doing his military service at an army base in Estonia from the 1970s, then occupied by the Soviets. A torrid and clandestine affair, not in accordance with the practices imposed by the Russians, homosexuality being severely condemned by five years of forced labor until 1993 …