Plenty of must-sees at Frameline LGBTQ fest
S.F.’s international film celebration rolls out another impressive lineup
In its 42nd year, Frameline, the San Francisco International LGBTQ Festival, hits a programming high note with more than 150 films representing 30 countries that tell stories that are relevant and eyeopening.
More than half of the films highlight women filmmakers — a goal reflected in Frameline’s tribute to the late Debra Chasnoff, an influential Bay Area documentarian and activist. There are world premieres (including “The Drag Roast of Heklina”) along with titles that have Bay Area ties (including the episodic “Paper Boys,” which is set in San Francisco and is a viral hit).
The fest opens today and runs through June 24.
The opening and closing night selections offer two powerhouse documentaries reflective of this year’s motto, “Lights. Camera. Take Action.”
The opener, “TransMilitary,” a South by Southwest Film Festival award winner, couldn’t be more topical, peering into the lives of four transgender troops facing uncertain futures in the military. “Studio 54,” Matt Tyrnauer’s detailed and entertaining account of the iconic New York disco and its mercurial rise and Icarus-like plummet, closes the festival. It shouldn’t be missed.
Frameline also ventures to the East Bay, with screenings at the Piedmont in Oakland and the Elmwood
in Berkeley.
Here are 10 must-sees in the lineup, plus one I just couldn’t resist. “WILD NIGHTS WITH EMILY” >> Madeleine Olnek’s romp
hoppity-skips through poet Emily Dickinson’s (played by the versatile Molly Shannon) life and amorous relationship with her sister-in-law. “Emily” shakes off the biopic’s traditional constraints, choosing to be a feisty feminist take that ignores the genre’s conventions. It all goes down as smoothly as a shot of Comedy Central’s “Drunk History.” Screenings: Wednesday, Castro.
“1985” >> During the holidays, a depressed, closeted New Yorker (Cory Michael Smith) revisits his Texas hometown where he wrestles with coming out to his conservative parents (Michael Chiklis and Virginia Madsen) and younger,
probably gay brother. Yen Tan’s somber depiction of this tragic, stifling era is artfully rendered in black and white, and will break your heart. Screenings: Sunday, Castro.
“ALONE IN THE GAME” >> In this timely doc, LGBTQ athletes — including Olympic medalist Gus Kenworthy — candidly discuss homophobia festering in professional, collegiate and high school sports, both on the sidelines and on the frontlines. Slickly produced (in a good way), it covers a lot of terrain, hitting not only on the casualties and consequences of staying closeted but the overwhelming fear of coming out and then being shunned. It also airs June 28 on DirectTV. Screenings: June 23, Castro.
“SKATE KITCHEN” >> Talented filmmaker Crystal Moselle (“The Wolfpack”) digs deep into the tightly knit sisterhood of Lower East Side skateboarders. “Skate Kitchen” is raw, real and puncuated with telling moments. The stellar cast includes Jaden Smith, but it’s Rachelle Vinberg you’ll remember at the end credits. Screenings: Monday at Roxie, Tuesday at Elmwood.
“IDEAL HOME” >> Everyone’s favorite crush — Paul Rudd — is oh-so-sexy in Andrew Fleming’s sparkling comedy about a self-absorbed Santa Fe gay couple getting saddled (or so they assume) with a 10-year-old kid. Steve Coogan is hilarious as Rudd’s partner. “Home” has much to say about what constitutes a caring, genuine family and achieves that without issuing strident talking points. This one’s a keeper. Screenings: June 23, Castro.
“WE THE ANIMALS” >> Fans of author Justin Torres and his poetic literary uppercut (count me as one) will want to give a standing ovation to director Jeremiah Zagar for this impeccable cinematic translation. “Looking’s” Raul Castillo is sensational as the volatile patriarch of a poor Puerto Rican family in upstate New York.
Viewed through the eyes of a young boy questioning his place in the world and his sexuality, this is an impressionistic vision that sticks with you long afterward. I want to see it again. Screenings: June 22, Victoria.
“BONDING” >> Kudos to Frameline for embracing episodic entertainment. In director Rightor Doyle’s kinky, cute and altogether addictive series, two friends join forces to make a profit in the BDSM world, but one has intimacy issues while the other has confidence ones. Matt Wilkas is dreamy in a supporting turn. Double-dog dare you to watch just one episode. Screenings: June 21, Castro.
“MAN MADE” >> In this passionate documentary, four transgender men compete in the Trans FitCon Bodybuilding Competition, a life-affirming event that celebrates not only resiliency but strength and determination. While some might get annoyed when director T Cooper turns the camera to himself, his commitment to telling these true stories might just be the reason why his four subjects trust him and reveal so much. Bring the hankies. Screenings: June 16, Roxie; June 21, Elmwood.
“NIGHT COMES ON” >> This Sundance winner from Jordana Spiro unerringly brings to light the tough choices a young woman (the exceptional Dominique Fishback) confronts once she is released from prison and doesn’t have a safety net. Angel wrangles with whether she’s going to avenge her mother’s murder as she reconnects with her younger sister. Indie films really don’t get much finer than this. Screenings:
June 22, Castro.
“ANCHOR AND HOPE” >> Two female lovers navigate the London canals on a houseboat and eventually start to drift apart once they decide to have a child. Carlos Marques-Marcet’s film is an observant three-person character drama, drawing into the mix a horny male friend and willing sperm donor. Geraldine Chaplin costars as the mom of one of the women. It all seems light and meaningless at first, but that’s part of its beauty, as it guides us to a different destination than we imagined.
Screenings: June 21 at Elmwood; June 23 at Victoria.
Bonus
“LIFE IN THE DOGHOUSE” >> I’m more of a cat person than dog person, but this heartwarmer about two South Carolina men who have dedicated their lives — and home — to rescue dogs won me over. Danny Robertshaw and Ron Danta, the film’s subjects, really make the world a more compassionate place to live and Ron Davis’ easygoing documentary makes you feel not just grateful for them, but hopeful. Screenings: Monday, at Elmwood; June 23 at Castro.