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Notes from
aGliff 2000 - The Austin Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
Thursday night, I was at the Austin Film Festival office
checking out some short films with the rest of the folks who
work to select films. I had to miss the aGliff outdoor screening
which, it turns out, was John
Waters' "Hairspray." That would have been fun. aGliff
doesn't seem to have a guest speaker/lecturer this year. Hearing
Waters again would have been just fine with me.
Friday night, I finally had a chance to get to the aGliff
office and get my tickets for the film festival. I'm going
to see a boatload of films. I spent quite a bit on tickets.
My friends Mary and Jan are going to see a couple of films
with me, including the closing night feature of "The Eyes
of Tammy Faye."
The girl at the aGliff office who helped me out was really
sweet. They are pretty well organized for using so many volunteers.
The first show I went to at aGliff was "Psycho
Beach Party" on Tuesday night. Because of the way it was
listed in he program, I totally overlooked "The Sissy Duckling."
It had a pretty horrible time slot. Maybe they'll pick this
to fill one of the TBA spots later in the week. This was one
thing I sure wanted to see!
My friend, Miss Xanna
Don't went to the opening night party of "Sordid Lives"
and sent me this note about the event, "Opening night was
kind of a bummer. Be glad you didn't dish out $25. Delta Burke
canceled, and the party after lasted only about an hour and
forty-five minutes. We arrived at 10:10 and at midnight everyone
was suddenly kicked out! People left hungry and pissed off
after waiting in line 20 minutes to get a drink. And there
was a brutish cop harassing the more dyke-looking women, including
Sandra Martinez of aGliff! He even threatened to "put his
hands on" me. We were disappointed, but the movie itself,
'Sordid Lives,' was very funny."
The Arbor is a very comfortable place to hold the screenings
for aGliff, but you have to wait outside in line which is
horrid in Texas in August. It's just too damn hot. The only
thing worse than an impatient group of queens is a hot, sweaty,
impatient group of queens. I try not to bitch, but it is really
annoying. The first night I was there, I got pissed off at
a guy in line... Oh, I didn't say anything to him, but he
was one of those obnoxious guys who talked real loud and said,
referring to "101
Rent Boys," "it will be a long line, all the queeeennnnsss
will be coming to see these tricks." How dare he make a blanket
statement about the audience like that. I did not come to
see "101 Rent Boys" because I have a thing for trade, rather,
it was on after "Psycho Beach Party" and , mainly, selected
my films by showtimes/dates and titles. He also started asking
the volunteer, who was simply trying to help patrons get in
correct lines, some stupid, double entendre question about
"members." Leave the guy alone and let him do his job! Argghh...
Some lesbians came to "Psycho Beach Party" with a newborn
baby in tow. Jesus Christ. When you have to put up with crying
babies at a gay film festival, you really know the times are
changing. Please notice how people hate babies at movies,
girls. This is a no-brainer!
Wednesday night I went to see two more films and met some
folks in line who loved "101 Rent Boys." People were raving
about it. I was the only one who saw it who did not care for
it, I guess. Of course, I'm an opinionated bastard, so...
One of the guys I talked to, who was really nice, said that
"Sordid Lives" was really funny and he felt it could be a
big hit. I think it's getting released in early 2001.
I also saw my friend John who I hadn't seen in several months.
We met at last years aGliff festival. He too enjoyed "101
Rent Boys." But I've found that John's taste is vastly different
from mine. He also seems to be a little more accepting of
films than myself. I sat next to John during the "Wolves
of Kromer" and it was nice to catch up with him
. Someone was also handing out flyers for an "Austin based
film company" called "inkubator." The flyer was promoting
the presentation of "Conception," written and directed by
Susan L. Turley, in the aGliff shorts showing on Sunday (9/3)
at noon at the Arbor. There are apparently several shorts
about lesbian couples trying to have babies. The flipside
of the flyer promotes Turley's "gay feature" "The M.O. of
M.I." which is due Spring 2001.
Notes
from aGliff 2000 Part Two: Nope. This was dyke stuff.
In big screen living color! I haven't closed my eyes in a
movie theater this much since I saw "Texas Chain Saw Massacre"
when I was 12! This was some intense, wild stuff. Not for
the timid or the, well, gay male.
Notes
from QT Quatro - The Quentin Tarantino Film Festival at
the Alamo Drafthouse
The
Calendar
The Austin
Gay and Lesbian Film Festival Films
The
Eyes of Tammy Faye - She was a true Christian. She seems
to only have love in her heart for people - all people. And
it is easy to love Tammy Faye in return.
Swallows
- This film doesn't swallow. It just licks at the head until
we get bored and fall asleep.
Aimee
and Jaguar - The story and exposition in this film is
so convoluted and impossible to decipher that I can't even
tell you why it's called "Aimee and Jaguar."
Water
Drops on Burning Rocks - Hey, I'll admit it, I'm a sucker
for this film. I love Fassbinder.
Lost
at the Pershing Point Hotel - The film suddenly becomes
meaningful, deep, romantic, strange and troubling.
Urbania
- It is a ripe and delicious fruit with a zest full of bitter
sting and tangy surprise.
Paragraph
175 - It does open a door to a deep and troubling history
that we, as gay men and lesbians, must explore and remember.
Punks
- Is without a doubt the most fun gay movie to come along
since "Priscilla, Queen of the Dessert."
The
Brian Epstein Story - Not quite as enlightening and detailed
as one might hope.
The
Journey of Jared Price - I don't think I've seen a gay
film that was this romantic and sweet natured since "Maurice."
The
Wolves of Kromer - Quite possibly the most inventive,
interesting and unique gay film I have seen in years.
Eban
and Charley - It's about an older man who has a romance
with a teenage boy. It speaks in defense of such relationships.
There. You know right now whether you want to see it or not.
Burlesque
King - This film is, at times, so compelling because it's
mores and ideals are far from what is considered typically
American.
Psycho
Beach Party - While one, at first glance, might think
the film isn't "gay" enough, further reflection makes this
thought seem an unfair initial response.
101
Rent Boys - This film meanders all over the place with
not a coherent thought in sight.
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