YNOT at the Movies

Rainbow flags are already flying high along the Market Street, the San Francisco Pride is fast approaching. So does Frameline34. Even there is still about a week to go before Frameline34 begins, some films are already sold out and on rush-only status.

Based on the limited films I have seen, besides films I mentioned in "Gaysian Features at Frameline34" and "Gaysian Shorts at Frameline34," here are few more that are worth seeing.

• Undertow (Contracorriente | Peru/Colombia/France/Germany 2009 | in Spanish | 100 min.)

  One of the Centerpiece films is Peruvian director Javier Fuentes-León's immensely emotional feature debut "Undertow." In a religious and homophobic fishing village on the gorgeous beach in Peru, Miguel (Cristian Mercado) and his wife Mariela(Tatiana Astengo) are expecting a baby while Miguel is carrying on an affair with an openly gay out-of-town painter Santiago (Manolo Cardona). Miguel is devastated when he is confronted by the reality that he cannot have both lovers like in the good old time. His emotional journey to reach his destination is remarkably genuine and profoundly moving.

  

  With superb performances and an engrossing story, the film wins the Audience Award in the Dramatic World Cinema category at this year's Sundance Film Festival. I am sure this film will touch more hearts and bring out more tears at Frameline34.

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• I Killed My Mother (J'ai tué ma mère | Canada 2009 | in French | 96 min.)

  Winning numerous awards around the globe and selected as Canada's entry for the Academy Awards last year, now 21-year-old writer/director Xavier Dolan's remarkable feature debut "I Killed My Mother" is one of the Showcase films at Frameline34.

  The protagonist of this semi-autobiographical film is a 16-year-old Hubert (Xavier Dolan), who is tormented by the alienated relationship with his divorced mother (Anne Dorval). After his mom finds out that he is gay, he is sent to boarding school. The tension between him and his mother gets intensified.

  

  With plenty humor and deep affection, this charming film beautifully depicts the love/hate relationship between a teenager and his mom, who both lack necessary skills to effectively communicate with each other. While we watch their quarrels with a smirk, we also feel their unshakable love to each other that is deeply rooted inside these characters.

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• All Boys (Poikien bisnes | Finland/Denmark 2009 | in Finnish/English/Czech/German | 72 min.)

  Young Eastern Europeans boys have been immensely popular in the gay porn market in the recent years. They are only considered to be young if they are under 20. What are the stories about these boys and those producers and directors? While the documentary "All Boys" is not quite hit the mark to explore the truth behind those glamorous pornographic shots, it tells a chilling and poignant story about a once hot Czech porn star Ruda, who is now homeless and wasting away at garbage dumps, and an American porn producer Dan Komar, who exploits these young boys.

  

  It becomes a harsh reality that only the poorest and most vulnerable young boys become porn stars, and they get paid really cheap when these movies are made overseas. When I look through Ruba's "most beautiful blue eyes," as Komar claims in the film, I see a big sign saying: "Thank you for shopping at Wal-mart."

As I mentioned in Gaysian Features at Frameline34, there are a few excellent short films to satisfy your rice craving. Here is my overview of the gay Asian shorts at Frameline34.

As usual, film images or film tiles are linked to the Frameline34 that contains the showtime, venue and ticket information.

• Just Friends? (친구 사이? | South Korean 2009 | in Korean | 30 min.)

  The only Korean film at this year's festival is the tender, sweet, and delightful "Just Friends?" about two young men who are deeply in love. When one serves in the military, the other one packs home baked goodies and pays a visit. Even the director claims to be portraying the true gay life in Korea, it looks more a fantasy. Otherwise, Frameline might just be moving to Korea soon because people will flock to Korea to experience the gay utopia.

  

  "Just Friends?" is part of the shorts program "Worldly Affairs" and its sweetness makes you forgive other shorts in case they are not in your cup of tea.

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• The Golden Pin (Canada 2009 | 15 min.)

  The handsome Long feels the family pressure to marry because he is the only boy left in his family line after his parents escaped from Vietnam to Canada decades ago. That means he has to cut off the love fair with his swimming teammate Ryan. Torn between the family obligation and love, he has to make a decision that echoes his mom's golden pin story.

  

  "The Golden Pin" is the title short film in the wonderful shorts program "The Golden Pin."

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• Peking Turkey (Canada 2006 | 12 min.)

  It is Christmas. Chris brings his white husband Pierre to home to meet with his Chinese parents and his brother Simon. They will announce their marriage over this Chinese household's dining table with a Peking duck and plenty hilarious conversation. "Peking Turkey" is a perfectly crafted comedy. Both Henry Mah (playing Chris's dad) and Anthony Shim (playing Chris's brother Simon) will stay with your memory long after the dinner is over, and Anthony Shim steals the scene every time he gives a punchy one-liner.

  

  "Peking Turkey" is also part of the shorts program "The Golden Pin."

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• Ajumma! Are You Krazy??? (USA 2009 | 26 min.)

  In case you missed this Hawaii flavored comedy "Ajumma! Are You Krazy???" at SFIAAFF a few months ago, Frameline34 offers you another chance to experience the frenzy over a Korean heartthrob's visit to Hawaii.

  Three middle-aged women are superfans of a Korean pop star Michael Park (Michael Hsia). After they learn that Michael is coming to Hawaii for a music video production, they try everything to access their idol, despite the fierce competition from some young girls who also fancy him. After this old-school comic short, which could have been made shorter, you might also compete with these ladies. Who knows?

  

  "Ajumma! Are You Krazy???" is the title short film in the shorts program "Are You Krazy?" that contains the funniest short film I have seen so far at Frameline34—"Chico's Angels: 24ish."

In comparison, Frameline has not been given strong emphasis on Asian films in its programming. This year, "Spring Fever" (春风沉醉的夜晚) is the only Asian narrative feature. Fortunately, there are a few excellent short films to satisfy your rice craving.

Here is my overview of the Asian feature films at Frameline34.

As usual, film images or film tiles are linked to the Frameline34 that contains the showtime, venue and ticket information.

• Spring Fever (春风沉醉的夜晚 | Hong Kong/France 2009 | in Chinese | 100 min.)

  Even Chinese director Lou Ye (娄烨) is banned from making film in China because of his previous film "Summer Palace" (颐和园), with hand-held cameras, he makes a new film "Spring Fever" (春风沉醉的夜晚) in Nanjing, China anyway. The film tells a depressing and poignant story about intertwined love affairs among its protagonists.

  

  Although the logic of the plot might collapse under scrutiny and the lighting is frustratingly dark sometimes, the terrific performance, the poetic direction, the beautiful music, and the touchy subject matter makes this film worth seeing.

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• FIT (UK 2009 | 108 min.)

  Based on a play, this electrifying and captivating British drama "FIT" is not necessarily a gay Asian film per se, but the brilliantly engaging performance by Stephen Hoo as Ryan changes that.

  A group of high school students (never mind none of them look like one, except Ryan) attend a gay drama teacher's (played by writer/director Rikki Beadle-Blair) dance class. While dancing to Shakespeare (no less), they struggle with sexuality, homophobia, and friendship.

  

  The terrific ensemble performance and catchy hip-hop dance moves might get you up on your feet and "hand out your phone number" to your neighbors in the theater.

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• Other Nature (तृतीया प्रकृति | Nepal 2009 | 57 min.)

  It could not have been a better opportunity to fight for equal right when Nepal is writing a new constitution. Nepal created a third gender in 2007 for transgender people. However, people belong to the third gender do not have the same rights as other citizens, according to a new documentary "Other Nature." The film follows the pilgrimage journey of two third gender human right activists to Muktinath, a temple in the Himalayas.

  

  Regardless if you have faith in believing their praying will actually change the course of equality in Nepal, you will gain a closer look at the struggle of LGBT community in this never rest land.

It goes without saying that San Francisco is the mother-ship of gay culture in the world. That would make Frameline, the annual San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Film Festival, a VIP lounge on this fabulous ship. And, you do not have to be on a special guest list in order to enter—the festival welcomes all with impressive films and parties.

Arguably the world's largest showcase of LGBT cinema, Frameline presents its 34th festival (Frameline34) with 219 films (including 83 features) in 101 programs from 31 counties this year.

As usual, Frameline34 overlaps with the San Francisco Pride celebration—the festival takes place June 17-27, 2010 at Castro Theater, Roxie Theater, Victoria Theater in San Francisco, and Rialto Cinemas Elmwood in Berkeley.

The opening night film is a well-acted British film "The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister" (UK 2010 | 90 min.) about an upper class lesbian's passionate love in early nineteenth century. If this dramatic account of Miss Anne Lister's life is not enough for your appetite, a documentary "The Real Anne Lister" tells more stories about this pioneer lesbian figure.

The closing night film is "Howl" (USA 2010 | 90 min.), a drama about the 1957 obscenity trial on the poem "Howl" by the famous poet Allen Ginsberg.

This year's program shines a spotlight on Latin and South American queer films, including six features and six shorts from Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. I also get the impression that this year's festival favorites films on transgender films, drag culture, and bears (two films bares the name bear).

Frameline's shorts programs never fail to entertain filmgoers. This year, besides the classic "Fun in Boys' Shorts" and "Fun in Gilrs' Shorts," the shorts programs "The Golden Pin" and "Worldly Affairs" offer a few delightful short films.

Boys and girls, and everyone else in between, get ready for a fabulous Frameline34.

• Gaysian Features at Frameline34
• Gaysian Shorts at Frameline34
• Not to Be Missed at Frameline34