The life, and the life, of Little Richard is told in the amazing documentary ‘Little Richard – I am Everything.”
Little Richard was the true king, the originator, and the emancipator of Rock & Roll, a true legend who also never hid his homosexuality. He was way ahead of his time – and this documentary is told with an excellent combination of Little Richard interviews he did throughout the years, with concert footage displaying his amazing talent. Him, and us, agree that he was worthy of many accolades that were never bestowed on him. This is one definitely not to miss and catch it when it is released on April 28th, 2023.
A South Korean couple, together since 1986, enjoy their retired existence in the quiet documentary ‘Life Unrehearsed.’
Soohyun Lee and In-sun Kim met during a summer camp in Germany when they were young. They had an instant connection and then moved to Berlin (leaving family and friends behind in South Korea) to live an open and free life. Thirty three years later Jieun Banpark shoots a documentary about their life and beautifully displays the love these two have for each other after al these years.
Now in their seventies, and while still heavily involved in activism, the youthful couple engage in playful banter and have squabbles over the mundane activities of life. But life throws a wrench into their existence when one of the two is diagnosed with cancer. ‘Life Unhnearsed’ shows us that life is not a rehearsal, it’s the real thing.
A highlight of the festival, and for audiences, is the coming of age take film “Big Boys’ – the story of a young man who is at that awkward stage in life.
Isaac Krasner is perfectly cast as Jamie, who with his older brother Will (Taj Cross), fav cousin Nicole (Emily Deschanel), and her sexy new boyfriend Dan (David Johnson III), take a camping trip together to the California mountains where truths come out with a little bit of drama and a lot of subtle comedy. Director and writer Corin Sherman has everything in place which makes this a charming and wonderful little film.
‘XX+XY’ is a cute but silly film that follows a young intersex teen (born with both male and female genitalia) who tries to fit it to at school after deciding to go in person and not hide anymore. Jay (Hyun-Ho Ahn), parented at home by two gay dads and whose mother is a doctor, has led a sheltered life and has kept their secret to themselves, only sharing bit and pieces of it anonymously online. Jay’s best friend – Sara (Woo-Sung Choi – charming) knows. Jay, easily accepted by all their classmates, including the rugged and handsome Bang (Choi Woo-Sung) who takes a shine to Jay. But Jays secret will soon enough be revealed. Originally a television special aired in South Korea, XX+XY is educational but really appears to be aimed at a young audience (high schoolers).
Made on a mere $20,000 budget, ‘Chrissy Judy’ looks worth a lot lot more telling a tale as old as time about a NYC drag queen trying to find his way after his co-hort up and leaves him.
Writer and director Todd Flaherty is perfect and a natural as Judy, who along with Chrissy (Wyatt Fenner) perform together as a drag act. But when Chrissy meets a man, falls in love and moves to Philadelphia (gasp!) Judy has to make it as a solo act, but it’s not easy trying to make a dime to unappreciative crowds in order to pay the rent Circumstances lead Judy to re-evaluate his life and move to Provincetown (the gay mecca on the U.S. east coast) in this fabulous film that is beautifully shot (black and white).
The fast paced world of Berlin nightlife is told through the eyes of one young man in the mesmerising and very fast-paced ‘Drifter.’
After breaking up with his boyfriend, Moritz (Lorenz Hochhuth) falls into a crowd of young good looking and very sexy locals. They all go from one party to the next experimenting with drugs, sex, and each other, in Director Hannes Hirsch’s film that will make you want to catch the next plane to Berlin. The clubbing scenes are ultra sexy, and Hochhuth is the next Harris Dickinson.
Two transgender women try to look for a place to live in a city in India in the beautifully told ‘A Room of their Own.’
Manisha Soni and Muskan are naturals as Laila and Roshni. Wanting to move from their home as they are experiencing harassment, they keep on having doors closed to them due to their gender identity. They still feel outcast and marginalised in society at every turn even though they have jobs and pay their bills on time. Directed and produced alongside the Ektara Collective, this film expertly and sensitively portrays how transgendered people struggle with day to day life in India.
Trace Lysette gives a devastating performance in the film ‘Monica.’
Lysette is Eugenia who left her family home when she was younger in order to transition and now has to make the painful trek to head back home to see her dying mother (Patricia Clarkson) who has dementia and is close to death. Unrecognizable to her mother, Eugenia’s brother knows her secret (and doesn’t appear to accept) but it was never disclosed to their mother – and it’s the touching moments where Eugenia spends time with her mother that provides this film it’s highly emotional scenes. Clarkson, as expected, is magnificent – and Lysette’s performance is understated yet very powerful. Director and write Andrea Pailoaro brings out great performances in a story that tells us you can never really go back home again.
‘100 Ways to Cross the Border’ is billed as a fantastic odyssey through the world of radical artist Guillermo Gómez-Peña, reflecting on 40 years of performance art and border activism. It is that and then some. Exploring, cinema verite style, the work and life of the Mexican performance artist and his ‘followers’ who all love to perform in radical style, many with their clothes off. It would’ve been more useful to have done a documentary on the life of Gomez-Peña himself and not include unnecessary shots of the filmmakers talking back to their subject.