Showing posts with label LGBT. Show all posts

C.R.A.Z.Y (2005) is right now on SBS On Demand. Would just like to give my Aussie readers a heads-up (reckon SBS is only accessible to Australian ip addresses?). Saw this film first in my high school english class (I know, what) and it somehow just managed to stay in my mind for such a long time.

keywords: LGBT, family, Quebec, 60s, 70s, 80s, Christianity

It's only available for a limited time Here

For all of you who are unfamiliar with the service, SBS On Demand provides a huge collection of movies and TV programs for you to watch online for a limited amount of time for FREE. I'm thinking of putting up more recommendations here every now and then.

#IMAGINE by UNICEF featuring the original John Lennon and also heaps of other artists. A beautiful interpretation of a heart-moving classic.

Sogi's Story, here

This one is a graphic novel developed by UNSW's Australian Human Rights Centre (AHRCentre) aiming at promoting LGBTI rights in 16 African countries. Based on research and I can really see how it can get people thinking. More info and the full graphic novel is at the link above.

Show them some support and spread the word xo

Hittade detta filmklipp på Dramatens youtube kanal.

Found this clip on the Swedish Royal Dramatic Theatre's youtube channel. Sorry no English subs. 

Saw this wonderful documentary last night at George's Event, hosted by Queer Screen.

Synopsis from IMDb 'A behind-the-scenes look inside the case to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage. Shot over five years, the film follows the unlikely team that took the first federal marriage equality lawsuit to the U.S. Supreme Court.'

It is hands down one of the most emotional films I've seen this year. So powerful that I had to try so hard not to burst into tears during the entire film (and just FYI, I failed at the end). Last time I cried so bad at cinema was last year's Blackfish, which you should all watch, but unlike that time, I wasn't crying of anger, sadness or disgust, I was crying of joy. I was so happy for them, so proud of them and so grateful of them for what they did and what they went through.

The director said that the film is coming to cinema for public audience this early October (Dendy Newtown for Sydneysiders) and also they're planning for a special screening in a few weeks time at the Australian parliament with Ted Olson coming over, a pro-gay-marriage American conservative to a bunch of homophobic Aussie conservatives.

Highly recommend to everyone interested or affected or involved in LGBTQIA activism. Also highly recommend to everyone who thinks f*gg*ts should be burnt in hell. Although if that's the case you should really just get off my blog and f*ck off before that.

Rating: 8/10

Today is Wear It Purple day, for those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, Wear It Purple day is basically a day when people wear purple garments to show support to the LGBTQIA young people (and disgust to homophobia) in Australia (or maybe just Sydney? but well of course you can do it wherever you are :) More info here

wore my purple snake print jeans today, yiiips

So gutted I missed the flash mob today. Was planning to join the team but my horrid assignments were due today so I had to say no to fun.

Anyway, if you're dealing with bullying, discrimination etc for being who you are, don't lose hope. I know people keep saying this over and over again but life does get better. It probably won't be as fancy as the reality show celebs' but you'll find more and more things in your life that you can smile to and less and less craps that you have to fight against. xxoo


[Last note, went to UNSW Orchestra's Mid Semester Concert tonight. Quite enjoyed Brahms' Symphony No.1 movement I and IV. Very impressive performance given the fact that most of them are still uni students. Good job boys & girls.]

Have a nice weekend!

 

Beyond The Hills (Romania) 

official trailer   

Best Screenplay and Best Actress at 2012 Cannes, that tells you how good this was.

Religion and Homoromatic Love. sounds like a very old school theme but this film didn't emphasise much on the 'homo' part. if the protagonists were of different genders the story would definitely be different, but most likely only a tiny little bit. In this sense the plot was actually quite similar to a lot of Japanese yaoi/yuri manga/novels (which totally awoke my fanboy heart, i mean seriously if you like yuri you'd probably enjoy this film a lot, the first half at least)

The film is based on an actual event in 2005.

The title basically summarises the whole theme. 'The Hills' act as a barrier separating two worlds with different values and beliefs. The film itself focused mainly on the one beyond the barrier, an orthodox convent. While it clearly points out the giant hole in such communities it remained relatively neutral (trust me in the case of this film it could've easily gone way too criticising) and at the same time from a few snapshots of the 'outside' world we can see that it ain't too much fancier. Therefore even though the major cause is still within the convent there's a part of it that mutually exists in the whole society.

-spoiler-
To be very honest with you I've never ever liked a priest or reading bible and I really do enjoy films that criticise (some) Christianity but this film i really don't think it went that far. Even though they did terrible things in this film you can still see that the starting point was good. However that cannot justify anything and I guess that's the other theme and conflict brought up in the film. A good cause leads to a tragic ending. Does your bible tell you that it's ok? I don't know but in a society that's built on a legal system this is still guilty. The law says no but what do we say?
-spoiler ends-

Child's Pose (Romania)

Golden Bear at 2013 Berlinale. Another amazing film and coincidently another Romanian film. Now i'm just fracking in love with this land and its language.

Same language same country but very different perspective. The protagonists come from a wealthy family, a spoiled son and a spoiling mum, against a family of much lower 'social status'. While it intentionally did a whole bunch of sarcasm of the governmental system the main focus was still on the relationship between the mother and son, or more specifically the mother. How she tried to please her son, help her son and worry about her son. Is she a good mother? Probably not the best. (frankly speaking she's not a good citizen either) But she does share some of the most fundamental emotions that (most) mum carries.

-spoiler-
The unexpected blackout leaves the film a kinda open ending. I guess you can go with a more negative explanation of the end but I personally prefer to think that the son could finally relate a bit to the mum, from seeing what his mum did for him or seeing the victim's parent mourning his boy, probably not so much but enough to give him the courage to go out and apologise himself. Did they actually realise what kind of damage they've made to the poor victim's family? Maybe, more or less. They may be snobby and mean and selfish but from some details in the film they're not that stone-hearted.  
-spoiler ends-

Both films are just so beautifully made and constructed and deserve every prize that they've won. I was surprised the cinemas weren't full. Highly recommend to everybody, especially if you are looking for a different taste from hollywood productions.

Extra note: if i have to pick, Child's Pose would be my favourite drama this SFF.