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Has Gay Cinema Finally Gone Too Far? (We Hope So!)

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rek
12/01/08

In reply to Has Gay Cinema Finally Gone Too Far? (We Hope So!)
Why is it so many (all?) gay movies and shows default, in one way or another, to everybody either being gay or a bigot? Do real gay people not make friends with straight people anymore, or is this wish fulfilment?
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Alexis
12/01/08

@rek:

I don't know about everyone being gay in gay cinema, but generally gay cinema prides itself on having, well, gay people. It's about gay culture and gay lifestyle so, consequently, its gonna have a lot of teh gay. In a "black movie" there happens to be a lot of black people, not because they believe white people don't exist or don't want them to exist, but because it's about their experience as black people. It's not that straight people and the gay community don't interact, it just happens that if you're gay in SF, for example, you probably know a lot more gay people than your straight counterpart.

You could say the same thing about "straight, white movies" with no minorities or homosexuals. Is that wish fulfillment? If its Gone with the Wind...then yes.
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LoringBabdis
12/01/08

In reply to Has Gay Cinema Finally Gone Too Far? (We Hope So!)
This movie looks horrible - all that bad musical singing only makes me wish the trailer was the only thing out for this "film".

Evlsushi - Hedwig is the story of a boy who leaves E. Germany to start another life but has to have a sex change to do it but the sex change is botched and he's left with an inch for his troubles. In her new persona, she goes out and discovers the world but loses pieces of herself along the way. It's only by embracing all of her personae does she begin to heal and become someone complete again. It plays a lot on Plato's ideas of people finding their other "half".
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Alexis
12/01/08

@LoringBabdis:

Um, that's the textbook summary, but I was actually alluding to some of the less literal portions of the film. Like the last 20 minutes, wtf? I was pretty much reduced to "tree pretty, fire bad" status.
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Alexis
12/01/08

In reply to Has Gay Cinema Finally Gone Too Far? (We Hope So!)
Singing and magical potions that change orientation?

I'm am so there.

P.S. Could someone explain Hedwig to me? I was a confused mess the whole time. Music was great though.
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Charlie Jane Anders
12/01/08

@Evlsushi: I don't think the problem was with you. I think the problem was with Hedwig, honestly. I've read the book, and I still think it's mushy nonsense.
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rjupiter
12/01/08

In reply to Has Gay Cinema Finally Gone Too Far? (We Hope So!)
what? Shakespeare was gay!?
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bitsytimelord
12/01/08

@rjupiter: YES, he was. You didn't watch that trailer did you? You DID?!?! O noes. Now you're gay too! *gasp*
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Alexis
12/01/08

@bitsytimelord:

I don't think he meant it offensively...
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spoogy
12/01/08

@rjupiter: A good portion of Shakespeare's sonnets were written for a boy. It's possible that it could have just been a sponsor, (was Shakespeare the first gay for pay poet?) but I dunno they seemed pretty gay to me. Though that would make him bi, not gay.
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Mav
12/01/08

@spoogy: Yeah. Half the sonnets were written for a man.

The others were for Martha Jones.
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I'm Waitin' for Dolemite
12/01/08

In reply to Has Gay Cinema Finally Gone Too Far? (We Hope So!)
to give the movie its due (and not sound like a bitter queen who hates gay teenagers)

the film has won the following awards:

Awards at Film Festivals

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding U.S. Dramatic Feature (Heineken Red Star Award): Outfest 2008

James Lyon Editing Award for Narrative Feature: 2008 Woodstock Film Festival

Scion Award for First-Time Director: 2008 Philadelphia Int'l Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

Best Music in a Narrative Feature Film and Best LGBT Feature Film: 2008 Nashville Film Festival

Directors Award: 2008 Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

Jury Award for Best Overall Film: 2008 Fort Worth Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

Adam Baran Rainbow Award for Best Narrative Feature: 2008 Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival

Jury Award for Best Feature Film: 2008 Outflix Film Festival

Audience Awards:

Best Narrative Feature: 2008 Florida Film Festival

Best Narrative Feature: 2008 Turin International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

Best Feature: 2008 Inside Out Toronto

Best Feature: 2008 Kansas City Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

Best Feature: Cinema Diverse 2008: Palm Springs GLFF

Grand Prize Best Feature: Rhode Island International Film Festival 2008

Best Feature: 2008 Vancouver Queer Film Festival
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Charlie Jane Anders
12/01/08

@I'm Waitin' for Dolemite: I was already pretty excited for it, to be honest. Although the singing is *very* over the top.
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BullfightsOnAcid
12/01/08

In reply to Has Gay Cinema Finally Gone Too Far? (We Hope So!)
Hedwig would chop this movie up with a razor blade and snort it up his/her nose. Don't mess with Hedwig.

"My first day as a woman and already it's that time of the month."
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nazarkat
12/01/08

@BullfightsOnAcid: Damn straight! Or, er...damn gay?
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