Filmmakers in Bay Area showcased at SFFilm fest
The San Francisco International Film Festival prides itself on being a showcase for the Bay Area’s finest filmmakers, and one of them is Travis Mathews, who has directed intimate, gay independent movies such as “I Want Your Love” and “Interior. Leather Bar.”
Mathews’ latest project is “Discreet” (9 p.m. April 8, Castro), about a drifter named Alex who faces his demons — both sexual and familial — when he wanders home in his van to rural Texas, the land of conservative radio. Q: Your earlier films are refreshingly honest in their depiction of sex, and so is “Discreet.” Can you speak to that? A: Maybe it’s partly to do with my psychology background, but I’m always interested in pushing the superficial aside in favor of stories that feel authentic, raw and intimate, especially in regards to sex. Because so many films favor a cursory nod to sex or one that feels stylized with Hollywood bodies, it can rob viewers of the opportunity to see their own emotional experiences reflected. The actors simply become consumable sex objects. There’s certainly a place for that, but it’s not usually my first interest. Q: How did you come up with story of this drifter and his family issues, not to mention his sexual proclivities? A: The van I was driving for another project (in Texas) came with its own evocative energy of a drifter, a grifter, someone with problems. And it was in this van that I got hooked on listening to a.m. talk radio.
Compounding this — while also bringing some focus to an emerging narrative — was what I discovered on most of the gay hookup
“I’m also curious to see how the politics of our film will land with the progressive-leaning Bay Area audience. I’m hoping for some healthy discussions.” Travis Mathews, above, director of “Discreet”
apps. I was prepared to find a lot of guys (in Texas) on the DL, but I wasn’t prepared for the degree of internalized homophobia and overt racism. What fascinated me the most were these black boxes that only said “discreet.” It was like a black hole of possibility and danger that I couldn’t stop thinking about. I began to wonder how gay men in Texas navigated their public/ private lives. And it’s from here that the character of Alex emerged. Q: The depiction of Trump territory seems prescient and spot on. A: I may live in San Francisco, but I’m from rural Ohio, which is in the same ZIP code as rural Texas, this anxious atmosphere of impending doom that we’re all up to our eyeballs in today. But like many people, I thought 2017 would be the dawn of a new progressive era under a new madame president. We felt like we were creating a cautionary nightmare, a time stamp for a regressive moment that nearly pushed us into the abyss. None of us saw what was to come with a Trump win. Q: What do you want audiences to take away from this film? A: I hope audiences enjoy playing with the puzzle pieces of our film — which are at times surreal and nonlinear — while also questioning the politics baked into this man’s journey. Mostly, I hope people are inspired to be vocal about their own politics right now. Not everyone can be a filmmaker, but everyone can do something. It’s not the time to isolate or be silent. Q: How does it feel to have “Discreet” showing at the festival? A: This is my hometown, and the San Francisco Film Society has become family to me, so it’s a special moment. I’m also curious to see how the politics of our film will land with the progressiveleaning Bay Area audience. I’m hoping for some healthy discussions.
Here are some other films in this year’s festival that have local connections: Bill Nye: Science Guy: This documentary puts the spotlight on scientist and TV personality Bill Nye, who reflects on his life and career as one of America’s most important advocates of science education, in an age when reason seems in short supply. Local connection: Co-director Jason Sussberg lives in San Francisco. 6 p.m. April 10, Victoria; 9 p.m. April 18, Alamo. Citizen Kane: The Orson Welles classic gets the local treatment with a special screening that will include an onstage interview with William R. Hearst III. Welles’ 1941 film was inspired by the life of Hearst’s grandfather, publisher William Randolph Hearst. This event will mark the first time that a Hearst family member has ever talked about the film in public. Local connection: William R. Hearst III is the former editor and publisher of the San Francisco Examiner. 6:30 p.m. April 6, Yerba Buena.
To see a trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v =zyv19bg0scg The Force: Featuring excellent access to the Oakland Police Department, this documentary examines some troubled times at the department from 2014 to 2016. Local connection: Director Pete Nicks lives in Oakland. 6 p.m. April 11, Victoria; 4 p.m. April 15, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. Dolores: This documentary profiles community organizer Dolores Huerta, who joined with Cesar Chavez to establish the United Farm Workers in 1962. The film covers Huerta’s pivotal role in the boycott of Delano grapes and her numerous contributions to activist causes. Local connection: Director Peter Bratt lives in San Francisco. 7 p.m. April 9, Castro. Paris Can Wait: Diane Lane headlines this romantic road trip movie about a woman in France who takes a ride with a flirtatious bachelor. Local connection: Director Eleanor Coppola lives in Sonoma County. 7 p.m. April 10, SFMOMA.
To see a featurette: www.tinyurl.com/ gu5eeww Tania Libre: This documentary explores radical artist Tania Bruguera and the repression that she has suffered in Cuba. Local connection: Lynn Hershman Leeson is based in San Francisco. 7:30 p.m. April 11, Yerba Buena.
To see a featurette: www.vimeo.com/ 184992891