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‘IT'S ALMOST SURPRISING THAT A MOVIE LIKE THIS SHOULD BE SO GENTLY SWEET'
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Homo themes are a strong presence at this year’s GLASGOW FILM FESTIVAL, including one Oscar-nominated flick. Isla Leaver—Yap rounds up the programme.
il‘e—all‘irining and coming ol' age. The two
l'a\ouritc themes ol' l.(i|i'l‘ film that are in
stunning ahundance and )c‘t rai'el) produce works ol art. l.uck_\. then. that the (iIasgow I'lIlll liesli\al is touting an ()scar—nominated liliii that raises one heaulil'ully-plucked e_\ehrow and haulks at the lhotight that it could he either. 'li'uiisxlmt'i‘ii'ii (00. l is instead one of those pleasant sleeper comedies that doesn't l‘eel like a one-trick. one~schtick plot. and first- time writer—director Duncan 'l‘ucker draw s a reinarkahle performance out of Desperate Housewife lielicil) llul‘linan. She pla}s male-to-l'emale transseuial Bree a character who melds heautil‘ull} with llul‘linan's own angular Name and throat} \oice.
I5ollow ing the discoser) on the exe of her sc\ op that she‘s it I‘iIIIIL‘Ii. Bl‘c‘L‘ assumes the guise HI a charitable ('hristian stranger. hails out her junkie teenage son from a New York jail and mo es him hack to l.;\ so he might pursue his dream ol' hecoming a hlonde surl'er porn star. Bree's transgender status simpl) lades into
hackstor} when pitted against the challenges ol‘
parental responsihilit). 'l‘he suhtle parallels hetweeii adult thsl'tiiiction and teen angst make l'or eas_\ laughs. although 'I'iuiix.-liii¢'ri't‘u exploits the road-mm ie l'ormat with little originalit}. Yet IIul'l‘man carries the film with her stiperh gender-hender illusion. her awkward humanism and camp} sarcasm.
It's almost surprising that a mm ie like this should he so gently sweet. .\Ia_\'he this is a l‘ittiiigl) restrained response to the political backdrop ol‘ the (iw'eii .»\rau_io trial: the moxie hit the [‘S cinemas at the same time as three former friends of l7-)'e;ii‘-iiltl transgender teen
58 THE LIST it? “oh .7 Mat £000
.'\rau_io were com icted of her hrutal murder.
\Vilh lcatui'es like 'I'uckcr‘s it appears that ga) Ctllilc‘tI} is ingratiating itsell' hack into ItillllI} drama. (‘m/t/t's iiiii/ .llusi'lt'x (O. i also allclitpts to dissect laiiiil} d_\sl'unctioii. but with less success. 'lakiiig their kids to the (ole l)'.-\/ur. parents Marc and Beatri\ hope to hring the lalllll} closer together on holida}. But hoili Marc and lieatri\'s lo\ers decide to summer theinse|\es on the Ri\ict'a too. while son (’harl). who L‘\L‘l'}tlllL‘ assumes is ga}. is haxing trouhlc coming out as straight. The inc\p|icahle appearance of naked horn} men in hushes. characters wanking in the shower. and hi/arrc musical interludes do little to sa\c such a sc\ua|l_\ l'riistrated menageric perhaps some ol the l'rench cultural references are too difficult to di\ inc.
.r\nother l.(i|§'l' feature at this _\c‘;ii"s lilm l'csti\ai is petite l‘catui'c .Il/(llll (lilt/ .X'It'i't'. The New York-hascd coined} ma} smack of \aiiit}. with ('raig ('hestei‘ as writer. director and lead actor. hut it features interesting support from the seasoned I’ai‘ker I’ose}. If) ('t'iiliiin'lrrs guarantees .r\|modo\at‘ glil/ and dixas aplent}. while inulti-award-winning c‘tllllc‘tI} Dorian li/iit's promises to he simpl} l‘antastic. l'.l/Iilll .lliio steers awa) l'roni humour to narrate a hustler drama.
['8 l'ilms dominate. and it's a pit} that the [K has l‘ailed to come tip with an} new queer features l'or this _\ear's (ii-l: Shame. too. that those looking l'or d} ke drama \\lII Il;l\L‘ Ill ICI IL'IC\I\IUII.\ I. IIii/‘(l ilc‘lltlli stil‘licc. But men it the line-up has its flaws. hits like Doria/i Blues and 'I'i'uiisgliiit'rnu w ill steer the laughs.
Glasgow Film Festival, various venues, 16-26 Feb.
Dorian Blues Charming, cute coming of age film in which teenager Dorian (pictured) learns that the way of honesty is the hard way. and the only way. Railing against a conservative father, distant mother and a boorish brother. Dorian finds that the only way to feel at home is to leave. Cinewor/d. Glasgow. Fri 24 Feb.
=i= Original Pride: The Satyrs Motorcycle Club Documentary charting the history of the Satyrs. a gay bikers' group formed in 1954, and the longest-running gay organisation in the US. Club president Scott Bloom directs this combination of archive footage and memories. GFf, Glasgow, Sat 18 8. Mon 20 Feb. Snow Ball The Lothian Gay and Lesbian Switchboard organises two fundraising parties each year. and February's Snow Ball promises to shoo out what '5 left of winter with a ceilidh and disco. featuring the Black Rose Ceilidh Band and Trendy Wendy. Wear white to delight. Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh, Sat 78 Feb. ti: TransAmerlca Felicity Huffman earns an Oscar nomination for her ponrayal of Bree. a male-to-female transsexual who's confronted with a son in trouble — one she never knew she'd fathered. Combining wit and sarcasm with gentle sweetness. it's finer judged. Cinewor/d, Glasgow, Mon 20 8. Grosvenor. Glasgow, Tue 21 Feb.
=l< Trial By Jury & Pineapple Poll Gilbert and Sullivan double bill in aid of HIV charity Waverley Care. The duo's little-known ballet Pineapple Poll gets a work-over by the Edinburgh Dance Academy. and is preceded by Trial By Jury. a musical satire on the legal profession. Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Sun 26 Feb.