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I have talked about The "BIG" films, and I have talked about
the Women’s Films and Documentaries, so the only thing left is guilty
pleasures. Guilty pleasures are those films that are not going to change
the world, there are no big messages, and often we feel
"guilty" about enjoying them. They may star beautiful men,
drag queens or someone with "Diva" status, many of whom can’t
act. I think you get my point! This is usually the biggest category at
most GLBT festivals. This year, while not a banner crop, offers enough
films to satisfy us all.
Bulgarian Lovers takes us on a thrilling ride from the gay quarter of
Madrid to the impoverished land of Bulgaria. Daniel is a 40 year old,
well-to-do gay man who develops a fondness for men of Eastern European
descent. Hunky Kyril fills the bill. The relationship puts Daniel’s
social status at risk, but he doesn’t care. Enter Kalina, Kyril’s
girlfriend. When trouble follows Kalina and Kyril, they, aided by
Daniel, flee to Bulgaria where Daniel sees to it that all is well….or
maybe not. Back in Madrid the situation becomes even more precarious and
Daniel finds himself paying off his lover’s debts and even risking his
life dealing with the Bulgarian mafia. Latter Days is the story of one
hunky LA gym bunny who places a bet that he can seduce one of the four
new Mormon boys that have recently moved in to the building.
When he sets his sights on Aaron, fresh off the plane from Pocatello,
he finds his life, and everything else, changing rapidly. With a sexy
cast and a great story (directed and written by the screenwriter of
Sweet Home Alabama), Latter Days is a guilty pleasure without many
rivals. Both Bulgarian Lovers and Latter Days are distributed by TLA
Releasing, a Philadelphia based company specializing in film, video and
ancillary products aimed at the GLBT market.
This year brings a sequel to one of the most popular movies ever to
grace GLBT festival screens: the Thai transvestite volleyball team
returns in Iron Ladies II. The sequel to the highly successful
blockbuster is actually a prequel. The film depicts the lives of our
favorite gender-bending volleyball team before they shot to stardom. Go
back and visit their unification as a team and the individual
personalities that make up the underdog team of the century. You will
once again cheer for Iron Ladies as they bump, set and spike there way
back into your hearts.
Yes Nurse, No Nurse, is a Dutch musical based on a TV show that aired
in the Netherlands in 1968. The residents of Nurse Klivia’s Rest Home
are a cheerful—albeit eccentric— bunch of elderly people, much to
the chagrin of a bad-tempered, permanently-miserable neighbor,
who has been trying to shut down the home for years. When he thinks
he may have found the perfect reason, all goes awry. High camp value and
a gay story line make this one of the sure-fire sing-a-long hits of the
festival circuit. Awash with great color and spirited music, this is a
film you will walk away from with a grin.
In what has been described as My Big Fat Gay Italian Wedding, with
the obviously play toward My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Mambo Italiano is a
wonderful coming out story set in Montreal’s Little Italy. After
closet-case Angelo makes the unheard of decision to move out of his
parent’s house, he reacquaints and begins a relationship with Nino, an
old friend. When Angelo decides to come out to his parents, the hilarity
ensues over one dinner party straight from Dantes Inferno. Angelo’s
parents, Nino’s parents and Angelo’s sex-obsessed psychotherapist
sister, are thrown together...who will come out alive? Sophia Loren,
Paul Sorvino and Montreal popstar Ginette Reno star in the filmed
version of this popular Montreal stage play. The lavish production
features bright mambo rhythms, effervescent pop songs and an
appropriately campy/tacky 70s look. A warm-hearted, laugh-out-loud
comedy, Mambo Italiano is sure to warm your heart.
Since a guilty pleasure section would not be complete without a drag
performance, we have Die Mommy Die. New York stage impresario Charles
Busch stars as Angela Arden—ex pop singer, mother, lover and a piece
of every screen diva ever on film. Trapped in a horrible marriage, she
begins an affair with Tony Parker (Jason Priestly), an out of work
actor. Tony strays from the affair with Angela to include affairs with
Angela’s daughter (Natasha Lyonne) and twisted son (Stark Sands). The
family’s secret is uncovered as is Tony’s "BIG" secret…which
is the key to his success as a hustler. While the cast is
across-the-board superb, it is Busch who steals the show with his turned
eyebrows and cynical turn of a phrase.
Joe Bilancio is Programming Director
for the Rehoboth Beach Film Society. He may be reached at Joe@rehobothfilm.com.
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