Knight at the Movies Archives
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A cornucopia of GLBT-themed films are among this year's fest offerings
Fall approaches, which means in addition to the unpacking of sweaters and corduroys, that it’s film festival time in Chicago. First up
is the 42nd Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF) which kicks off October 5th and runs through October 19th. Reeling,
the gay and lesbian fest follows in November. Highlights of the CIFF line-up include the star vehicles Stranger Than Fiction (Will Ferrell-
Emma Thompson-Dustin Hoffman—the opening night film), Babel (Brad Pitt-Cate Blanchett), The Queen (Helen Mirren), The Fountain
(Hugh Jackman-Rachel Weisz), and Venus (Peter O’Toole). The usual assortment of movies (about ten) with specific GLBT themed
content will screen out of the almost 100 being showcased. Ferrell, Hoffman, Spike Lee, Ruby Dee, André Benjamin, and other
movie stars are expected to attend. And did I mention Liza Minnelli’s going to be on hand for a film retrospective?
Legendary Tony, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar winner and longtime friend of Our People, Minnelli makes a rare appearance in an intimate
one-on-one conversation with journalist John Russell Taylor for “Liza Minnelli: Her Films, Her Life.” Cabaret, Arthur and New York, New
York will obviously be discussed but hopefully other lesser known Minnelli vehicles will be on the program as well – The Sterile Cuckoo,
A Matter of Time and Stepping Out. In another special event, Ruby Dee will be the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award and
Andre Benjamin that of Emerging Artist as part of Black Perspectives, the fest’s continuing program of African-American films and
seminars. Spike Lee will host the gala presentation ceremony. Both events are being held at the Thorne Auditorium (375 E.
Chicago Avenue, Evanston). Dee/Benjamin on October 13, Minnelli on October 17.
In addition, the fest, in what is becoming a nice tradition, is premiering another movie hotly anticipated by the gay community. Two
years ago it was Kinsey (which had the additional honor of being the opening night selection), last year it was Duncan Tucker's
Transamerica. Now it’s Shortbus, John Cameron-Mitchell’s follow-up to Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The movie (which wasn’t available for
screening before WCT deadlines), follows Sonia, a sex therapist unable to achieve orgasm and her gay client, James, who wants his
boyfriend to okay an open relationship. Both head for the salon/nightclub of the title where gay, bi and straights alike meet for in-
depth conversations, witty banter, and lots of graphic orgy action. From all reports, it’s an Altmanesque look at the sex lives of a
disparate group of characters (played by actors all new to the screen) that pushes the envelope into hardcore – and has musical
numbers to boot.
All the films will screen in three locations – at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema (2828 N. Clark Street), AMC River East 21 (322
E. Illinois), and Thorne Auditorium (375 E. Chicago Avenue). The opening night gala takes place at the historic Chicago Theatre on
State Street. In addition to Shortbus, which WCT is sponsoring, other GLBT-related titles include:
1. Broken Sky (Mexico) Jonas and Gerardo are united by a “shared ravenous lust” until Jonas meets a handsome stranger at a
disco prompting Gerardo to do the same. But will their love conquer all in this “cinematic dance of sensuality?” A WCT sponsored
film.
2. DarkBlueAlmostBlack (Spain) A complex character study of two brothers coping with responsibility for the long term care of
their father, the woman they both love and the coming out process of one brother’s gay best friend. A sort of male version of
Marvin's Room enhanced by a sweet yet melancholy, piano based score.
3. King and the Clown (South Korea) South Korea’s most successful domestic film of all time, this nimble period piece follows a
pair of wandering minstrels in 1506, the macho Jang-sang and his beloved transvestite counterpart, the demure but bewitching Gong-
gil, who endeavor to make their fortune by amusing the king.
4. Love Sick (Romania) Young innocent Alex is in love with the lovely, worldly Kiki and vice versa. But the love of the two
women is threatened – especially by the insane jealously of Kiki’s brother in what becomes a really complicated love triangle. A WCT
sponsored film.
5. Nina’s Heavenly Delights (UK) A delightful, crowd pleasing romance comedy – of the lesbian variety. Lushly photographed and
set in Scotland, the movie features Nina (at the urging of her gay best friend) falling hard for Lisa as the two join forces to save Nina’
s family restaurant in a reality show cook-off. A delightful mix of Bollywood and Chocolat. Formulaic but tasty.
6. A Soap (Denmark/Sweden) The emotionally detached Charlotte becomes attracted to her downstairs neighbor, a pre-op
transsexual and dominatrix named Charlotte. This melodrama, which intentionally borrows from soap opera plotlines, won the Best
Debut Film at this year’s Berlin Film Festival.
7. True Blue (Greece) After exploring his bisexuality in Paris, Yargo returns to his native Greece to confront a deep-seated
Oedipal crisis. He turns to prostitution and work as a drag performer before deciding to have a sex change when tragedy intervenes.
8. Twilight Dancers (Philippines) Set in the gay bars of Manila, this is the story of “macho dancers” Dwight, the rising, still
innocent star of exotic dancing, Alfred who at 28 is past his prime, and the flesh lusting Madam Loca. All told amid the spectacle of
“throbbing music, pulsating lights, and barely clad bodies.”
Three other offbeat films I suggest checking out: Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing, a documentary on the popular but outspoken
singing group by Oscar winning documentarian Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck, Steel City a working class family tale with Tom Guiry,
John Heard, Laurie Metcalf and “Ugly Betty’s” America Ferrera filmed entirely in Illinois by native writer-editor-director Brian Jun and
The Bridge, the gorgeous yet unsettling documentary that tracks a year’s worth of suicide jumpers off the Golden Gate Bridge. The
film mixes incredibly beautiful scenic footage of the national landmark, mournful interviews with victim’s survivors (including the
friends of a middle aged gay male), and, most disturbingly, actual footage of many of the suicide victims caught on camera as they
are leaping to their deaths. Not surprisingly, the film has been the subject of some controversy because of the latter.
Complete information on tickets, show times, special events are available by calling 312-332-FILM (3456) or online at www.
chicagofilmfestival.org
is the 42nd Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF) which kicks off October 5th and runs through October 19th. Reeling,
the gay and lesbian fest follows in November. Highlights of the CIFF line-up include the star vehicles Stranger Than Fiction (Will Ferrell-
Emma Thompson-Dustin Hoffman—the opening night film), Babel (Brad Pitt-Cate Blanchett), The Queen (Helen Mirren), The Fountain
(Hugh Jackman-Rachel Weisz), and Venus (Peter O’Toole). The usual assortment of movies (about ten) with specific GLBT themed
content will screen out of the almost 100 being showcased. Ferrell, Hoffman, Spike Lee, Ruby Dee, André Benjamin, and other
movie stars are expected to attend. And did I mention Liza Minnelli’s going to be on hand for a film retrospective?
Legendary Tony, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar winner and longtime friend of Our People, Minnelli makes a rare appearance in an intimate
one-on-one conversation with journalist John Russell Taylor for “Liza Minnelli: Her Films, Her Life.” Cabaret, Arthur and New York, New
York will obviously be discussed but hopefully other lesser known Minnelli vehicles will be on the program as well – The Sterile Cuckoo,
A Matter of Time and Stepping Out. In another special event, Ruby Dee will be the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award and
Andre Benjamin that of Emerging Artist as part of Black Perspectives, the fest’s continuing program of African-American films and
seminars. Spike Lee will host the gala presentation ceremony. Both events are being held at the Thorne Auditorium (375 E.
Chicago Avenue, Evanston). Dee/Benjamin on October 13, Minnelli on October 17.
In addition, the fest, in what is becoming a nice tradition, is premiering another movie hotly anticipated by the gay community. Two
years ago it was Kinsey (which had the additional honor of being the opening night selection), last year it was Duncan Tucker's
Transamerica. Now it’s Shortbus, John Cameron-Mitchell’s follow-up to Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The movie (which wasn’t available for
screening before WCT deadlines), follows Sonia, a sex therapist unable to achieve orgasm and her gay client, James, who wants his
boyfriend to okay an open relationship. Both head for the salon/nightclub of the title where gay, bi and straights alike meet for in-
depth conversations, witty banter, and lots of graphic orgy action. From all reports, it’s an Altmanesque look at the sex lives of a
disparate group of characters (played by actors all new to the screen) that pushes the envelope into hardcore – and has musical
numbers to boot.
All the films will screen in three locations – at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema (2828 N. Clark Street), AMC River East 21 (322
E. Illinois), and Thorne Auditorium (375 E. Chicago Avenue). The opening night gala takes place at the historic Chicago Theatre on
State Street. In addition to Shortbus, which WCT is sponsoring, other GLBT-related titles include:
1. Broken Sky (Mexico) Jonas and Gerardo are united by a “shared ravenous lust” until Jonas meets a handsome stranger at a
disco prompting Gerardo to do the same. But will their love conquer all in this “cinematic dance of sensuality?” A WCT sponsored
film.
2. DarkBlueAlmostBlack (Spain) A complex character study of two brothers coping with responsibility for the long term care of
their father, the woman they both love and the coming out process of one brother’s gay best friend. A sort of male version of
Marvin's Room enhanced by a sweet yet melancholy, piano based score.
3. King and the Clown (South Korea) South Korea’s most successful domestic film of all time, this nimble period piece follows a
pair of wandering minstrels in 1506, the macho Jang-sang and his beloved transvestite counterpart, the demure but bewitching Gong-
gil, who endeavor to make their fortune by amusing the king.
4. Love Sick (Romania) Young innocent Alex is in love with the lovely, worldly Kiki and vice versa. But the love of the two
women is threatened – especially by the insane jealously of Kiki’s brother in what becomes a really complicated love triangle. A WCT
sponsored film.
5. Nina’s Heavenly Delights (UK) A delightful, crowd pleasing romance comedy – of the lesbian variety. Lushly photographed and
set in Scotland, the movie features Nina (at the urging of her gay best friend) falling hard for Lisa as the two join forces to save Nina’
s family restaurant in a reality show cook-off. A delightful mix of Bollywood and Chocolat. Formulaic but tasty.
6. A Soap (Denmark/Sweden) The emotionally detached Charlotte becomes attracted to her downstairs neighbor, a pre-op
transsexual and dominatrix named Charlotte. This melodrama, which intentionally borrows from soap opera plotlines, won the Best
Debut Film at this year’s Berlin Film Festival.
7. True Blue (Greece) After exploring his bisexuality in Paris, Yargo returns to his native Greece to confront a deep-seated
Oedipal crisis. He turns to prostitution and work as a drag performer before deciding to have a sex change when tragedy intervenes.
8. Twilight Dancers (Philippines) Set in the gay bars of Manila, this is the story of “macho dancers” Dwight, the rising, still
innocent star of exotic dancing, Alfred who at 28 is past his prime, and the flesh lusting Madam Loca. All told amid the spectacle of
“throbbing music, pulsating lights, and barely clad bodies.”
Three other offbeat films I suggest checking out: Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing, a documentary on the popular but outspoken
singing group by Oscar winning documentarian Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck, Steel City a working class family tale with Tom Guiry,
John Heard, Laurie Metcalf and “Ugly Betty’s” America Ferrera filmed entirely in Illinois by native writer-editor-director Brian Jun and
The Bridge, the gorgeous yet unsettling documentary that tracks a year’s worth of suicide jumpers off the Golden Gate Bridge. The
film mixes incredibly beautiful scenic footage of the national landmark, mournful interviews with victim’s survivors (including the
friends of a middle aged gay male), and, most disturbingly, actual footage of many of the suicide victims caught on camera as they
are leaping to their deaths. Not surprisingly, the film has been the subject of some controversy because of the latter.
Complete information on tickets, show times, special events are available by calling 312-332-FILM (3456) or online at www.
chicagofilmfestival.org
Movies Movies Movies:
GLBT Highlights from the 42nd Chicago International Film Festival
10-4-06 Knight at the Movies Column
By Richard Knight, Jr.
GLBT Highlights from the 42nd Chicago International Film Festival
10-4-06 Knight at the Movies Column
By Richard Knight, Jr.
