Frameline 32 – San Francisco International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

The San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival—Frameline—is not only a film festival, it’s a huge party. It’s no coincident that the festival is held every year overlapping with the annual San Francisco Pride Parade & Celebration. It makes a big difference when a screening is companied by hundreds, if not thousands, gay and lesbians. The atmosphere in the crowd can turn a mediocre film into a cheering campy hit. Therefore, it’s natural for this year’s Frameline 32 to have a slogan: "I Like to Watch Movies with My Community." With 103 programs, including 88 feature films and 148 shorts from 36 countries, Frameline 32 runs June 19-29 at Castro Theater, Roxie Theater, Victoria Theater, and Rialto Cinemas Elmwood in Berkeley. I consider "Lilies" (Les feluettes, Canada 1996, 95 min.) to be one of the best gay and lesbian films ever made. This year’s "Michael Lumpkin Retrospective" provides a great opportunity to see this film one more time on the big screen. Every year at Frameline, festival goers always enjoy seeing "Fun in Boys’ Shorts" and "Fun In Girls’ Shorts" (no pun intended). However, this year, "From Singapore to Seoul and L.A. – Gay Asian Shorts" is a short program that will entertain the audiences even more than boys’ and girls’ shorts. After the charming "Police Box" (SFIAAFF25, Frameline31), director Josh Kim returns to the festival with his new short film "The Postcard" (USA 2008, 15 Min.). It tells a story about getting the postman’s attention by writing messages on a postcard. In fact, "The Postcard" is so delightful that it is programmed into two short programs: "From Singapore to Seoul and L.A. – Gay Asian Shorts" and "Worldly Affairs." Among Frameline32’s films, there are 27 films that "examine queer life through an Asian/Pacific Islander lens." They provide an excellent opportunity for film goers to experience the Asian gay and lesbian cinema. Solos "Solos" (Singapore 2007, 70 min.) is an exquisite visual poetry from Singapore that explores the relationships among a boy, boy’s mom, and a man, who is the boy’s lover. Without any dialogue, this refreshing, original, and gorgeous film vividly coveys the love and desire for each other in these characters, and their devastation due to unfulfilled love. The Blood of Yingzhou District (颖州的孩子) and Tongzhi in Love (彼岸浮生) Two short films from Oscar-winning director Ruby Yang (杨紫烨) will be shown together at this year’s festival. "The Blood of Yingzhou District" (颖州的孩子, USA/China 2006, 39 min.) tells a heartbreaking story about orphans in a small village in Yingzhou (颖州) due to the horrific HIV/AIDS epidemic. The film won the 2007 Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject. Yang’s new film "Tongzhi in Love" (彼岸浮生, China 2008, 30 min.) looks into how young gay men living in modern China dealing with the pressure from the tradition Chinese teaching: get married and provide offspring in order to carry on the family name. This film examines the issue of being gay in China from a unique angle and perspective. The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela Winning 2008 Teddy Award at the Berlin International Film Festival, "The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela" (Iceland/Philippines/France/Thailand 2007, 80 min.) tells a dramatic tale about a Filipino transsexual prostitute Raquela who dreams a life in Paris. Fairytale of Kathmandu "Fairytale of Kathmandu" (Northern Ireland/Nepal 2007, 60 min.) is a sad and disturbing documentary about a gay Irish poet Cathal Ó Searcaigh‘s annual charitable trip to Nepal. Is Cathal Ó Searcaigh a loving person with a big heart who keeps giving and helping out the young boys in Nepal? Or is he using his money to exploit the young boys who are not even 18 years old? Unspoken Passion (Sikil) Fillipino macho dancers have apparently found out where the party is—Frameline. If one missed these dancers’ performance in last year’s "Twilight Dancers," this year the festival brings another male (straight) dancer (for gay) themed drama "Unspoken Passion" (Sikil, Philippines 2007, 109 min.). Although the story and characters, even the performance, are not something new, if one enjoys films like "Midnight Dancers," "Twilight Dancers", and "Macho Dancer," why not "Unspoken Passion?" Love My Life (ラブマイライフ) If one is looking for a sweet, light hearted, and feel good love story, the choice of "Love My Life" (ラブマイライフ, Japan 2006, 96 min.) can never go wrong. The beautiful Ichiko in this film seems surrounded only by love—from her lover, her family, her classmates, her friends, and anyone else in the film. No wonder she always have the cutest smile on her face. Who wouldn’t it? Okay, it might not be a feel good film after all, because you will be so jealous of her. So come out, join the party, and have fun at Frameline 32. — Edit: Forgot to mention "The Edge of Heaven" and "Be Like Others" — Superbly written and directed by Turkish German director Fatih Akın, "The Edge of Heaven" (Auf der anderen Seite, Germany 2007, 122 min.) tells a compelling story about love, hope, loss, grief, and forgiveness. (See my review written last year.) It was the opening night film at the 13th annual Berlin and Beyond Film Festival earlier this year. Festival goers are fortunate to be able to see "The Edge of Heaven" before its theatrical releases. An engrossing documentary "Be Like Others" (Iran/Canada/UK/USA 2008, 74 min.) explores the emotional and physical turmoil of transsexuals in Iran. Homosexual is illegal in Iran. However, the Iranian government is totally supportive about sex-reassignment operations, because once a man is changed to a woman, there won’t have any homosexual. The problem is solved. This fascinating documentary won the 2008 Teddy Jury Award at the Berlin International Film Festival.