As the BFI's London Lesbian And Gay Film Festival draws to a close this weekend, we take a look at the films being shown today, Friday 22nd March 2013
By Newsdesk | 22nd March 2013
At 1.50PM BFI will be showing , in NFT1, Les Invisibles, an ‘enlightening documentary from Sébastien Lifshitz exploring the lives of eleven gay men and women over the age of 70.’
Director Sébastien Lifshitz Producer Bruno Nahon France 2012 115 min Sales Doc & Film International
With a title referring to the conspicuous absence of older gay and lesbian representations in popular culture, this enlightening documentary explores the lives of eleven gay men and women over the age of 70. United only by their homosexuality, every one of them has a very different tale to tell. From rousing ruminations on coming out and involvements with the gay rights and women’s movements, to the amusing anecdotes of a goatherd’s youthful bisexual exploits, each of the interviewees are hugely engaging and captivating in their sincerity. Complimented by the graceful photography and evocative visuals, director Sébastien Lifshitz responds to the dearth of mature gay portrayals with a measured and thoughtful approach which allows the viewer to build genuine relationships and affection for these pioneers as they paint vivid portraits of their lives.
At 6:00 PM A showing of The Servant in the Studio, a new restoration of Joseph Losey’s enduring masterpiece marks 50 years since the film’s original release.
Director Joseph Losey Producers Joseph Losey, Norman Priggen Screenwriter Harold Pinter With Dirk Bogarde, James Fox, Wendy Craig UK 1963 115 min UK distribution STUDIOCANAL
On the 50th anniversary of this remarkable film we are delighted to present a new restoration courtesy of StudioCanal. Dirk Bogarde gives one of his finest performances as Barrett, a gentleman’s gentleman. Adapted by Harold Pinter from a novella by gay author Robin Maughan, we get a real sense of queer things going on when Tony, a bright young man about town (James Fox) acquires a man servant for his townhouse. Barrett reveals unexpected skills from interior decorating and cooking to anticipating his gentleman’s every need. This classic tale of master and servant develops into a disturbing psychodrama and the homoerotic sub-text is plain to see. Douglas Slocombe’s brilliant cinematography captures the claustrophobic mood (especially wonderful in its use of mirrors in key scenes) and great performances by Wendy Craig and Sarah Miles. Unforgettable.
6:20PM in NFT1 Route Of Acceptance,
Director-Screenwriter Heather Tobin Producers Justin G. Dyck, Katie Sweeney, Heather Tobin With Emily Alatalo, Yvonne Gauthier, Kelly-Marie Murtha Canada 2012 112 min Production company To Each Her Own Films
Life is a series of daunting choices when you are 18. For out and proud graduate Ryan it’s which university that plays on her mind. In a clever narrative twist we see the different paths Ryan’s life takes as if she could make the decision over and over. There’s the Ryan that plays it safe and goes to the same school as her friends only to unknowingly fall in love with her brother’s fiancée. The Ryan that graduates film school and lives not so happily-ever-after with her much older lover, and the Ryan that ends up in a place she never thought she’d be. Tobin (To Each Her Own, LLGFF 2009) proves she’s a filmmaker of note with her assured second feature that belies its humble budget, and draws an outstanding performance from Alatalo in the lead role.
Emma Smart
At 6:30 in NFT2 ‘Man For A Day’
A fascinating documentary that follows a group of women through one of Diane Torr’s ‘Man for a Day’ workshops.
Director-Producer-Screenwriter Katarina Peters With Diane Torr, Susann Schönborn, Eva-Marie Torhorst Germany-UK 2012 96 min Sales First Hand Films
Diane Torr is an artist who has been working in performance, dance, film, video and installation for over 30 years but is best known for the ‘Man for a Day’ workshops that she has taught internationally since 1990. This film is both a profile of Torr and her career and a fascinating insight into the process of her workshops. Academics had written about the construction of gender but Diane Torr took that construction apart, broke it down to its components of gestures and mannerisms and then taught people how to use it for themselves. What had seemed natural is proved to be performative, something we can all learn. Man for a Day follows a group of women through one of Torr’s workshops from selecting outfits to binding, packing, applying facial hair, learning how to walk and talk before finally taking their men out on the street.
Jason Barker
To find out more about the LLGFF visit: http://www.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/27th-bfi-london-lesbian-and-gay-film-festival-calendar.pdf
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