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Program 2000
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【 OPENING MUSICAL 】
FRANCHESCA PAGE + ROSSY DE PALMA SPECIAL
Franchesca Page
dir: Kelly Sane
(1996/USA/35mm/105 min)
Mejor no hables (Better Shut Up)
dir: Pedro Paz
(1994/Spain/35mm/13min)
in Spanish with English subtitles
This year's festival opens with long-awaited Drag Queen musical
"Franchesca Page". Former Vegas revue star Rita Page (Varla Jean
Merman of Wigstock fame) is about to give up on her daughter
Franchesca-- unlike her diva mother, the poor girl can't sing or dance
worth a dime. Then, after Franchesca bombs in the audition for a
Broadway review, the producer accepts her as an understudy for the
production. Surprised as she is delighted, Spartan mom Rita wastes no
time in starting to train her girl. But wait, there's something fishy
brewing in the wings...
Led by Varla's standout singing, dancing and bitching to original
tunes in the key of everything from cabaret to country, ballad and
disco, this mixture of The Producers and Priscilla also features
Spain's Rossy de Palma as the twisted producer, and sets just the
right bodacious, flirtatious and all-out over-the-top mood for the
opening of Tokyo's week of queer cinema. Add a bevy of drag queens
from all over Japan gathered for the occasion (not to mention the Diva
Japan Tokyo party the following night), and "Franchesca Page" is one
red-letter event to mark on the calendar now!
"Franchesca Page" will be preceded by "Better Shut Up", a Spanish
short about the thirsty vampire starring Spain's mistress of the dark,
Rossy de Palma herself. Wanna get sucked? Send in your applications
now!
* "Franchesca Page" will be released by Paris Eiga next year at Theater
Image Forum in Shibuya, Tokyo.
* The Rossy de Palma Special has been made possible by the generous
assistance of the Embassy of Spain and the Spanish Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.
TOKYO: 7/19, 8:00pm
OSAKA: 8/4, 8:45pm
CANADA
With its superpower neighbour to the south, its French-speaking minority and a wealth of cultural heritages, Canada has long been aware of the status of minorities. Add in generous federal arts funding, and it's no surprise that queer films have flourished in Canada. This year's two Canadian features show yet another face of Canada's vibrant, imaginative and surprisingly distinct breed of queer cinema.
* Supported by the Embassy of Canada.
【 CANADIAN FEATURE 1 】
Better Than Chocolate
dir: Anne Wheeler
(1999/Canada/35 mm/98 min)
Below the Belt
dirs. Dominique Cardona & Laurie Colbert
(1998/Canada/35mm/13min)
Maggie has dropped out of school to work at a lesbian bookstore. When
she meets beautiful drifter artist Kim, the sparks fly, and soon
Maggie's gorgeous sublet has turned into lovenest central. Then
Maggie's mother and brother knock on the front door, all ready to move
in. Maggie is petrified that her mother will learn the truth about her
relationship with Kim. Mom, on the tails of a nasty divorce and faced
with a surly daughter, takes to lying in bed to eating chocolate all
day before a stray chocolate leads to a life-changing discovery under
the bed... And Maggie's co-worker is teaching little brother a few
things about modern love... With a strong supporting cast that
includes MTF Judy and Maggie's nervous boss Frances, this cute, sexy
love comedy from Canada packs a wallop of a sugar shock, and promises
to melt in your mouth. Preceded by "Below the Belt", a love match of
a story in which love, relationships and parents are played out in the
boxing ring.
TOKYO: 7/20, 11:40am; 7/22, 4:30pm
OSAKA: 8/2, 8:45pm
KYOTO: 8/6, 2:50pm
【 CANADIAN FEATURE 2 】
The Hanging Garden
dir: Thom Fitzgerald (1997/Canada/35 mm/90 min)
When Sweet William (Chris Leavins), visits his Nova Scotia family for
the first time in 10 years, the formerly obese teenager is so svelte
that he is hardly recognizable. But no matter how drastically he has
been able to overhaul his physical image, a wounded, frightened child
still lurks beneath his bright and shiny new shell. And a trip back
home is all it takes to find that child again... With its use of
flashbacks to portray its grown-up characters as they observe their
younger selves, "The Hanging Garden" suggests that as we grow up we
become like redwood trees: all the layers of our lives down to our
very cores exist at the same time. (Adapted from Stephen Holden's
review in The New York Times)
TOKYO: 7/22, 12:00 noon
OSAKA: 8/3, 8:45pm
HONG KONG EXPRESS
After selling out all screenings last year, TLGFF's Hong Kong Express
programme is back and ready to roll with Stanley Kwan's documentary
"Yang + Yin", and the feature "Intimates". In particular, this year
saw the establishment of the Hong Kong Film Festival's lesbian and gay
film section, and section founder Raymond Yeung ("Yellow Fever" in the
Boys in Shorts program) will be with us in Tokyo to comment on recent
directions in HK queer film at the screening of "Yang + Yin".
Intimates
dir:Jacob Cheung
(1997/Hong Kong/35mm/117min)
in Cantonese with Mandarin and English subtitles
An unapologetic melodrama, "Intimates" paints a portrait of two women
in love during the Second World War, and testifies to women's
resilience in a world made by and for men... but then who needs them?
Certainly not Wan (Carina Lau), the eighth wife of a rich merchant,
who unloads her husband not only one but two times--the second time in
a spectacular scene worthy of Gone with the Wind. Wan also saves Foon
(Charlie Yeung) from an arranged marriage, after which Foon goes to
live in a jisor, a community for women only. Of course, the jisor
women pay well for the privilege of an unconsummated marriage. Then
the Japanese invade, and the two women are separated. Now, after 50
years, they finally have the chance to meet again... but will they?
TOKYO: 7/20, 2:00pm
Yang±Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema
dir. Stanley Kwan
(1996/UK・Hong Kong/Video/80 min)
in English and Chinese with English subtitles
Following on the success of last year's Hong Kong Express special
feature on Hong Kong film, this year's TLGFF is pleased to present a
look into the hidden history of lesbian and gay images in
Chinese-language film. Director Stanley Kwan (Rouge)made this
documentary for a British television channel to commemorate 100 years
of film history. "Yang±Yin", which does for Chinese-language film
history what The Celluloid Closet did for Hollywood, not only uncovers
gay scenes, but takes on clothing fetishism, the role of fathers and
much more as it presents its multiple perspectives on queer issues in
Chinese-language cinema. Directed by Kwan, who came out as gay with
this work, the film's cinematography is by Christopher Doyle, known
for his work with Wang Kar-Wai, and features interviews with directors
John Woo, Chen Kaige, Ho Hsiou-Chen and Ang Lee, as well as actors
like Leslie Chan. As such, the film gives a behind-the-scenes look
into the vibrant industry that is Chinese-language film, and is
continuing proof of the richness and liveliness of queer filmmaking in
the Chinese-language world today.
TOKYO: 7/21, 9:10pm
KYOTO: 8/5, 1:00pm
QUEER BASHING
Two of our queer documentary offerings (and one or two of our features) this year address gay bashing. A panel discussion on the state of hate crimes against the queer community in Japan will accompany these screenings.
【 DOCUMENTARY 1 】
Licensed To Kill
dir : Arthur Dong
(1997/USA/16mm/77 min)
"Licensed To Kill" provides a thought-provoking portrait of seven men
incarcerated for killing gay men. The restraint and non-judgemental
tone of the documentary underscores the intensity of the situations
narrated. Oscar-nominated director Arthur Dong deftly shows how a
number of factors conspire to make a gay man's life cheap and
disposable. The interviewees talk about self-hatred, unconcerned
homophobic policemen, gays as easy targets for robbery, homosexual
panic (a defense commonly used to refer to self-defense against
sexual advances), Clinton's policies concerning gays in the military.
* This film contains graphic images of actual gay bashings and murders.
* Following the screening of the film, a panel discussion in Japanese
will be led by members of the queer activist group Occur. The
discussion will cover bashing in Japan, the murders in Shinkiba-koen
(a park on the east side of Tokyo), cultural differences between Japan
and the United States in relation to discrimination.
TOKYO: 7/20, 4:30pm
KYOTO: 8/6,10:00am
【 DOCUMENTARY 2 】
The Brandon Teena Story
dir:Susan Muska and Greta Olafsdottir
(1998/USA/16 mm/90 min)
Raped and then murdered a week later by two friends, Brandon Teena
(FTM transgender) had time to report the rape to a homophobic sheriff
who made sure that all the words were clearly pronounced by the victim
and properly recorded on tape. To hear the actual tape with Brandon's
voice is a harrowing experience, and makes this documentary essential
viewing. But this film doesn't end there--interviews with the
people involved and an account of the twisted prosecution process
clear up many of the shadows overhanging this newsmaking case, and
dispel many of the questions that the wonderful but sometimes
inaccurate dramatization "Boys Don't Cry", which garnered Hilary Swank
this year's Oscar for Best Actress at the Academy Awards, may have
left lingering. This film was awarded the Teddy Award for best
documentary at the 1998 Berlin Film Festival.
TOKYO: 7/23, 2:00pm
OSAKA: 8/1, 8:45pm
GAY IMAGES IN SPANISH CINEMA
With Spanish cinema burning up screens at home and abroad, stoked by Oscar-winning, Cannes darling Pedro Almodovar, this year's TLGFF brings a sampling of the hottest queer work from up-and-coming Spanish filmmakers. As a special treat, we're also proud to present videos from Almodovar's own up-and-coming days in the mid-1980s: "Tattoo", a music video for Almodovar's own band, and "Trailer for Lovers of the Prohibited".
* These programs have been made possible with a generous assistance from the Embassy of Spain and the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
YOUNG, SPANISH AND GAY! BAD BOY SHORTS
Tatuaje (Tatoo)
dir. Pedro Almodovar
(1984/Spain/Video/8min)
Trailer para amantes de lo prohibido(Trailer for Lovers of the Prohibited)
dir. Pedro Almodovar
(1985/Spain/Video/20min)
Family Pictures
dir. Jorge Torregrossa
(2000/Spain/35mm/5min)
Desire
dir. Jorge Torregrossa
(1999/Spain, US/35mm/14min)
Backroom
dir. Guillem Morales
(1999/Spain/35mm/13min)
Parentesis (Parenthesis)
dir. Indalecio Corugedo
(2000/Spain/35mm/16min)
En malas companias (Doors Cut Down)
dir. Antonio Hens
(2000/Spain/35mm/17 min)
When a young boy takes his parents for a walk
in a park, Dad takes "Family Pictures" as the boy's eyes drift to
other park cruisers. In a different park, a middle-aged married
couple meets a pair of young marines and stroll along separate but
similar courses in "Desire". Meanwhile, the dark "Backroom" of a
dance club is the scene for yet more cruising--but what are each of
the men thinking? Pablo's parents are away, leaving the way open for
an intimate weekend with male nurse Yago in "Parenthesis", but
Guillermo doesn't care if parents or policemen are away or not when
cruising the toilets of a neighborhood shopping mall in "Doors Cut
Down". Boy, aren't those Spanish boys bad?!
* All shorts are in Spanish with English subtitles, except Desire,
which is in English with Spanish subtitles.
TOKYO: 7/20, 9:10pm
KYOTO: 8/5, 2:40pm
Krampac
dir: Cesc Gay
(2000/Spain/35 mm/90min)
A portrait of adolescent experience played out against the hot sun and
blue expanses of Mediterranean Spain, "Krampack" brings the sun, salt,
and emotional intensity of a teenage summer at the beach to Spiral
Hall.
It's the summer of 1999 in a small village on the Mediterranean
coast, and high school boy Dani's parents are away for vacation,
leaving him total freedom to spend his holidays in a beach house with
classmate Nico. The two boys soon meet up with two local girls, Berta
and Elena, but this summer beach romance is far from the usual
boy-meets-girl scenario. Instead, Berta likes Dani, who is in love
with fun-seeking Nico, while Nico is swift to approach Elena, who
likes Dani, but falls into the arms of his classmate instead.
Entangled in this cobweb of relationships, Dani and Nico discover love
and sex, jealousy and failure, and as they come to understand each
other find themselves in a relationship that is much deeper, and much
more intimate, than anyone had imagined. Young Barcelona director
Cesc Gay's feature film debut, Krampack went straight from the editing
lab to a world premiere at the Cannes Critics' Week this May, where it
garnered Gay a Special Youth Award.
TOKYO: 7/23, 6:30pm
And more features...
trick
dir. Jim Fall
(1999/USA/35 mm/90 min)
World distribution by Cowboy Booking International
Cheerleaders in Space (Des majorettes dans lespace)
dir. David Fourier
(1996/France/35mm/6min)
in French with English subtitles
Young, gay aspiring musical writer/composer Gabriel should have
everything going for him, but somehow his life seems perpetually stuck
in the first act. Lacking in real-life inspiration, Gabe heads out to
a local bar to liven things up. When he spots resident go-go boy Mark
dancing high atop the bar the scene is set. Enraptured but shy, Gabe
heads for home, then realizes that his go-go boy is on the same train.
They flirt, they meet, all signals are go. However, having all but
secured the perfect one night stand, Gabe is left with one little
problem: where do modern boys go just to be alone? New York director
Jim Fall's feature-length debut, "trick"'s boy-meets-boy-in-Manhattan
story is as sexy as it is romantic, and will have you wishing a hunky
stranger was eyeing you across the train car.
The French short "Cheerleaders in Space" will screen before
"trick". Filmmaker David Fourier, currently residing in Kyoto , will
be with us for the evening.
TOKYO: 7/21, 2:30pm; 7/22, 9:00pm
OSAKA: 7/29, 8:45pm
KYOTO: 8/5, 7:00pm
Queer as Folk
dir. Charles McDougall & Sarah Harding
(1999/UK/Video/125min)
British Channel 4's "Queer As Folk" is soon to hit the Japanese airwaves on SKY PerfecTV's Lavender Hour (as "Modern Love"), and TLGFF is proud to bring you a sneak preview of the first four episodes. Handsome, wealthy Stuart is known to all in the gay community, where his utter perfection makes up for a personality lacking in a few of the better qualities. Best friend Vince, on the other hand, is loved by all, but needs a serious boost in self-confidence. Vince has been interested in Stuart for a while now, but has yet to get up the nerve to tell him so. Stuart and Vince spend their nights dancing till dawn in a club called Babylon. Then one night, Stuart puts the moves on teenager Nathan, and brings him home. When Nathan latches on to Stuart and what was supposed to be a one night stand turns into something more, Vince finds out, and it only fans the flames of his desire. This television series which caused a sensation in Britain when it was aired on Channel Four, has been screened to sell-out audiences at film festivals around the world. *Supported by Aspire Vision
TOKYO: 7/23, 4:00pm
Late Bloomers
dir. Julia Dyer
(1996/USA/35 mm/101 min)
World distribution by Cowboy Booking International
Candy Kisses
dir. Allyson Mitchell
(1999/Canada/16mm/3 min)
If all those films about queer kids infatuations have left you with the impression that anybody older than 20 is too jaded to fall in love, think again. In "Late Bloomers", it's not the kids but their teachers, women old enough to have teenage kids of their own, that have the school turned upside down. When math teacher/basketball coach Dina and school secretary Carly fall in love, the usual homophobic reactions follow; the perfect suburban happy ending ensues. But "Late Bloomers" manages to go beyond those common places exactly because it finds beauty, self (re-)discovery and comfort where most filmmakers don't care to look twice. Preceded by "Candy Kisses", an animation from Canada.
TOKYO: 7/21, 7:00pm
OSAKA: 7/31, 8:45pm
Head On
dir. Ana Kokkinos
(1998/Australia/35 mm/104 min)
Ari lives in Melbourne, where he passes aimless days and nights working at not working, hanging out with friends and pursuing drugs and anonymous sex. His Greek immigrant father may be fed up with his son, but Ari isn't planning to change his life anytime soon. To make matters worse, little sister Alex lives with her boyfriend and won't come home. With rare honesty and vividness, this powerhouse drama follows Ari as he confronts family conflict, battles with his own sexual identity and searches for outlets for his turbulent, dangerous anger. In doing so, it provides a riveting and compelling look into ethnicity, sexuality and family in Australia's immigrant culture. Following its strong premiere at Cannes, "Head On" has gone on to garner numerous awards, and stand-out performances by its cast garnered the film Association of Australian Film Award for best actor and best supporting actor.
* "Head On" will be released by Only Hearts, starting this fall at Haiyuza Talky Night in Roppongi, Tokyo.
* Supported by the Embassy of Australia.
TOKYO: 7/20, 7:00pm
Lola und Bilidikid (Lola and Billy the Kid)
dir. Kutlug Ataman
(1998/Germany/35 mm/90 min)
in German and Turkish with English subtitles
World distribution by Cowboy Booking International
Murat, a Turkish boy in Berlin, feels like life at home with his patriarchal father and powerless mother is suffocating him. Then one day, an unexpected visitor to the house turns out to be Murat's older brother, cut off from the family before Murat was born for being gay. Murat's brother now works as a drag queen called Lola, has a lover called Bili, and dreams of having a sex change and living as a woman. Lola's desire has a very practical side-- living as a woman would mean escape from very real violence at the hands of German youth gangs. Then Lola is murdered by one such gang, and Bili and Murat make a pact for her revenge. Set in the Turkish community in Berlin, "Lola and Billy the Kid" is a powerful work that takes on transexuality, racial discrimination and patriarchy in Turkish society, and premiered to high acclaim at the 1999 Berlin Film Festival, where it was recognized as heralding a new wave of German queer cinema.
TOKYO: 7/23, 12:00noon
OSAKA: 7/30, 8:45pm
AND IN SHORT...
BOYS IN SHORTS: JUST ONE TIME, PLEASE!
Just One Time
dir. Lane Janger
(1998/USA/35mm/7min)
Anything Once
dir. Dan Aeberhard
(1998/USA/16mm/22min)
Below the Belt
dir. Nigel Barton
(1998/UK/16mm/15 min)
Fairy Tale
dir. David Kitteridge
(1998/USA/16mm/20min)
Rick & Steve the Happiest Gay Couple in All the World
dir. Q. Allan Brocka
(1999/USA/16mm/8min)
Yellow Fever
dir. Raymond Yeung
(1998/UK, Hong Kong/16mm/26min)
Dans la decapotable (A Weekend Drive)
dir. Merzak Allouache
(1996/France/35mm/5min)
in French with English subtitles
Mamma always said you've got to try everything once... In exchange for fulfilling his fantasy of watching her with another girl, our boy's girlfriend asks for her own fantasy to be fulfilled in "Just One Time". In a similar vein, an LA boy agrees to his straight roommate's dare to pick up a girl in "Anything Once". In "Below the Belt", a woman and a young gay man find revenge as they tag-team against a handsome boxer. He's no little red riding hood, but one young man with a red ball cap finds refuge in the woods after he introduces his boyfriend to his parents in "Fairy Tale". It's a once in a lifetime offer when (literally) animated "Rick And Steve" agree to their lesbian guests' request to donate their seed. And in "Yellow Fever", it takes time for potato-queen Monty to realize that rice can be just as nice. But whatever you do, don't forget to take a few for the ride in "A Weekend Drive"!
TOKYO: 7/21, 12:30pm; 7/22, 7:00pm
KYOTO: 8/6, 12:30pm
GIRLS IN SHORTS: SMALL STEPS, BIG STEPS
Blow Up A Go-Go
dir. James Clarke
(1973/UK/Video/3min)
One Small Step
dir. Catherine Crouch
(1998/USA/16mm/29 min)
Lenceria de ocasion (Bargain Lingerie)
dir. Teresa Marcos
(1999/Spain/35mm/15min)
in Spanish with English Subtitles
Le Petite Mort
dir. Sylke Rene Meyer
(1998/Germany/35mm/8min)
Maid of Honor
dir. Jennifer Arnold
(1999/USA/35mm/24 min)
La Glace
dir. Toshiko Takashi
(2000/Japan/25min/Video)
in Japanese without subtitles
Big steps or little steps, these girls have boots and they're made for walking! The Bond-girl-esque music video "Blow Up A Go-Go" kicks off this year's Girls Shorts program, in which girls of varying ages make sometimes small, sometimes big steps to reach the objects of their desire. Rebel to her parents' incomplete liberalism, Teen is certain she'll marry her girlfriend Peggy in "One Small Step", while in "Bargain Lingerie" a Spanish teenage girl fails to take the one tiny step it would take to achieve her dreamed-of cleavage. After "La Petite Mort" presents a humorous series of suicidal attempts of a skinhead girl desperate for love, Maid of Honor tells the story of a woman who attends the wedding of her high-school love-- with her current, promiscuous lover. Finally, Japanese lesbian filmmaker Toshiko Takashi's latest work, the very personal "La Glace", promises to melt in your mouth and leave the sweetness to linger.
TOKYO: 7/21, 4:30pm, 7/22, 2:00pm
KYOTO: 8/5, 5:00pm
LOBBY PROGRAM
JAPANESE QUEER VIDEOS
Being Here With You
dir. Hisaya Murabayashi
(1998/Japan/8mm/66min)
Bitter Juice
dir. Hirohiko Ueoka
(2000/Japan/8mm/21min)
Disposable Lez
dir. Desiree Lim
(1999/Japan/Video/6min)
OTOKO
dir. Kurt Kim
(1997/USA/Video/9min)
My Sexuality
dir. Lulu Ogawa
(1999/Japan/Video/40min)
chocolate
dir. iri
(2000/Japan/Video/28min)
No film from our own Japan at a festival in Japan? This program is
TLGFF 2000's answer to the perennial question. "My Sexuality", the
new work by Lulu Ogawa, whose "We Are Transgenders" ran off with the
Grand Prize at the 1998 TLGFF Japanese Film and Video Contest and has
been invited to screen at film festivals around the world, features
interviews with a wide range of people about their even more
widely-ranging sexuality. "Bitter Juice" shines a unique light on the
relationship between a young man, a star hairstylist and his
lover. Desiree Lim, whose Dyke Just Be It screened at TLGFF 99, is
back with her new comedy "Disposable Lez", followed by the documentary
"Being Here With You" that features a youth who is determined to live
his life without concealing his sexuality. American Kurt Kim's
"OTOKO", shot in Japan, takes a wry look at how appearances can make
for an unwittingly gay couple. So, keep your eyes peeled for future
Hashiguchi Ryosuke and Oki Hiroyuki!
* This program will be
screened on video monitors in the 3F foyer of Spiral Hall. Viewing is
free of charge. A brief Q&A with the directors will be held after
each screening.
* Supported by Joinac.
TOKYO (Spiral Hall Foyer)
7/22, 2:15pm: Being Here With You
4:50pm: 苦い汁 (Bitter Juice), 使い捨てレズ (Disposable
Lesbian), OTOKO
7/23, 2:20pm: chocolate
4:20pm: My Sexuality
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