If you have never been to Boston in Massachusetts (shame on you), you may not be familiar with the term ‘WICKED’ which is one of our favorite Bostonian slang words. It was all started in the 1960s by a schoolteacher in nearby Somerville who intended it to be used by his pupils to express ‘how cool’ something is in their own terminology.
Some 40 years ago when Boston’s queer film festival was created they adopted it into their name, and we cannot think of a much ‘cooler’ group of people than those that run WICKED QUEER. It is now the 4th longest-running LGBTQ+ Film Festival in North America and one of Queerguru’s firm favorites, and we are honored to be a Media Sponsor of the Fest. (maybe that qualifies us to be wicked too!)
Their mission is to build community and to celebrate Queer storytelling and filmmaking through the uplifting of voices and stories not yet heard and to present and preserve the vibrancy of our histories. The tantalizing program covers the whole spectrum of the LGBTQ+ community and celebrates the divesrsity our Country so desperate needs right now. Its jam-packed with goodies and after scouring the whole schedule Queerguru has come up with their TOP PICKS OF MUST SEE FILMS
BABY . This is a Brazilian film that stars João Pedro Mariano as Wellington (nicknamed “Baby”) a young man forced to fend for himself on the streets of São Paulo. Newly released from a two-year stint in juvenile detention, during which his parents moved away without indicating their whereabouts, he meets the older Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), an escort who becomes first a substitute father figure and then a love interest for Baby. Every Daddy will be catching the first flight to Brazil after seeing this one
HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY Since the hate-spewing Trump was returned to the White House to begin his vicious campaign of revenge and retribution, the silence from the Democrats and the opposition has been deafening. It’s as if they all gave up collectively and rolled over to play dead. Thus, watching Sam Feder‘s excellent doc HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY at its is perfect timing. It’s the story of the battle to preserve trans rights in this extremely paranoid political climate that seems hell-bent on destroying that community.
Even though the odds are stacked against them the fight to preserve trans rights is very much alive and in the good hands of Chase Strangio. He’s a trans lawyer and activist, and the deputy director for transgender justice and staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union. His passion for his work is exhilarating and infectious, and it is impossible not to feel so completely involved as Feder follows him preparing to be the first ever trans person to argue a case in the US Supreme Court.
I’M YOUR VENUS In setting out to document the re-opening the investigation of the unsolved brutal murder of Venus Xtravaganza, filmmaker Kimberly Reed uncovers a side of this story that we would never have expected. Venus was one of the stars of the legendary 1990 documentary PARIS IS BURNING about drag queens in the ballroom scene of New York City. She was killed during the film’s shooting and so never got to see the finished movie that would change so many lives then and now. Its 35 years on and although the likelihood of now actually solving the murder is slim (No spoilers here) its how her biological family link up with her ballroom family that is credit to how Venus left her mark on them in her very short life.
PS You may like to check out QUEERGURU’s interview with the filmmaker HERE)
Memorabilia : Avant garde filmmaker Todd Verow‘s new movie is a lifetime of sexual encounters is celebrated in this art-porn odyssey, inspired by the late Charles Lum’s cruising diaries. He is sharing a great piece of queer history that so needs to be seen.
SANDBAG DAM a superb coming-of-age drama that was nominated for the prestigious Teddy Award at the Berlinale and is a modest film that packs a big punch. The affair between the two leading young men is treated delicately and after the gay floodgates burst open we get to see the true nature of their relationship and the true nature of their families and friends. The screenplay and acting are superb and writer, Tomislav Zajec with director Cejen Cernic accurately present the pressures and prejudices of contemporary village life plus the touching performances of Lav Novosel as Marko and Andrija Zunac as Slaven are pitch perfect.
Some Nights I Feel Like Walking, a queer indie road movie by Filipino director Petersen Vargas, which has its UK premiere at London’s BFI Flare Film Festival. Vargas has taken themes of queer chosen family, the Duterte crimes, police/authority oppression, the ending of life, rich versus poor and marginalised living and fashioned an intense, fast-paced film that gives an interesting insight into Filipino life. Shot entirely at night, the cast (chosen from hundreds of applicants) have a strong bond and chemistry. There’s a rawness to the film, with many shots filmed on handheld cameras and involving the public, that gives it an authenticity. The scenes of intimacy also feel real, ranging from the emotionless, transactional ‘no kissing’ escort hook ups, to the tenderness of real love.
The Visitor is legendary queer filmmakers Bruce LaBruce‘s re-imagination of Pier Paolo Pasoli´s Teorema. This updated version set in London tints the screen in color segments and leaves nothing to the imagination, abundant explicit sex scenes are permeated by a honey-like body fluid that exudes from the black is beautiful man´s body while his eyes turn upside down in ecstasies. (Anyone who holds traditional values is going to be offended and dislike the film completely.)
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To see the whole program and book tickets check out www.wickedqueer.com
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 for full reviews on over 1800 queer films check out www.queerguru.com and whilst you are there be sure to subscribe to get all the latest raves and rants on queer cinema …best of all its FREE |
