Cover story
Frameline, San Francisco’s LGBT film festival offers dozens of films from around the globe with something for everyone. Pictured: The documentary “Tab Hunter Confidential.”
Frameline is the granddaddy of the globe’s LGBTQ festivals, both in terms of its longevity (39 years) and its size (60,000 or so attendees, 180 films from 33 countries).
More than that, though, filmmakers will tell you that audiences for this event are the most appreciative — and interactive — in the world. Festivalgoers laugh and cry at all the right times, and have been known to hiss when onscreen characters are not behaving appropriately.
Yet for audience members, deciding on which films to experience can be challenging — there are only so many hours in a day. That’s why we’ve come up with this insider’s guide, to make your movie-loving life a tad easier.
The big picture
How to pick your films? That is the question. Here are a few suggestions: 1. The Latin America gold mine: Right now, the most interesting (and sexy) queer filmmaking on the planet is taking place in the Southern Hemisphere. If the film is in Spanish or Portuguese, get your tickets. Recommendations: “In the Grayscale” (Chile), “Seashore” (Brazil), “Liz in September” (Venezuela) and “Mariposa” (Argentina). 2. Trans films: They offer some of the most interesting, fresh perspectives on the screen, whether it’s a feature film or documentary. Cases in point: “Two 4 One” (a romantic comedy), “Finding Phong” (a documentary) and “Carmín Tropical” (a mystery-romantic thriller). 3. Distributors: Google a film to see whether it has a distributor. Strand Releasing, for example, has picked up “The Summer of Sangaile” and “Eisenstein in Guanajuato,” arguably the two most beautifully shot movies of the festival. Wolfe Video has rights to “Liz in September,” “Seashore,” “In the Grayscale,” “All About E” and “How to Win at Checkers (Every Time),” all fine films. 4. Docs and shorts: These programs offer a great way to spend an afternoon, when many of them are scheduled. Among the best documentaries are “Tab Hunter Confidential,” “A Woman Like Me,” “Out to Win” and “Mind/Game: The Unquiet Journey of Chamique Holdsclaw.” Among shorts programs, “Worldly Affairs” is out of this world this year, and, as usual, there are laughs to be had in “Fun in Boys Shorts” and “Fun in Girls Shorts.” 5. Marquee names: A little star power can go a long way. Some familiar faces include James Franco and Zachary Quinto in “I Am Michael”; Dianna Agron (“Glee”) and Paz de la Huerta (“Boardwalk Empire”) in “Bare”; Channing Tatum and Matt Bomer in “Magic Mike XXL”; Ryan Phillippe, Salma Hayek and Mike Myers in “54: The Director’s Cut”; Natasha Lyonne (“Orange Is the New Black”) and Judy Greer (“Marriage”) in “Fresno”; Tab Hunter, Clint Eastwood, Debbie Reynolds and many others in “Tab Hunter Confidential”; and numerous sports luminaries in “Out to Win.”
Hidden gems
Discovering a gem that isn’t a showcase or centerpiece is one of the most enjoyable parts of any festival. Here are some films that caught our eye: Finding Phong: This intimate documentary, charting the transition of a young transwoman in Vietnam, is never less than compelling. (4 p.m. June
27, Roxie) The Surface: When this delicate story, about an orphan finding himself, mixes home movies, water footage, hypnotic voice-over and a beautiful score, it’s transcendent. (6
p.m. June 27, Castro) All About E: This Australian delight centers on the closeted E, who discovers sketchy money and is forced into a madcap road trip that ultimately redeems her. Sexy, suspenseful, comic — the feel-good movie of the festival. (7 p.m. June 22, Castro; 7 p.m., June 24, Piedmont)
Beautiful Something: San Francisco director Joseph Graham (see Q&A on Page 25) proves that the Latin Americans don’t have a monopoly on sexiness with this tale of several men struggling to find a connection on a cold Philadelphia night. (9:30 p.m. June
22, Castro) Seashore: A poetic film about two Brazilian boys on the cusp of adulthood. Give this one time: The movie is slow to parse out narrative details, but the fragmented scenes eventually build into a satisfying climax. (9:15 p.m. June 21, Victoria; 1:30 p.m. June 25, Castro) Stuff: A realistic portrait of two women whose relationship is in a rut, and how things get worse when a sexy tattoo artist enters the picture. The domestic scenes are genuine — and so is this drama. (9:30 p.m.
June 19, Victoria)
Guidance: In this preposter-
ous but funny Canadian film, a fake high school counselor gives students horrible advice with a side of vodka. Pat Mills turns in a hysterical but appealing performance. (9:30 p.m.
June 23, Castro)
Xenia: This quirky, heartfelt Greek concoction follows the trail of gay twink Dani, straight brother Ody and pet bunny Dido, who get into one misadventure after another. Over the top, but fun to watch. (9:15 p.m. June 24, Victoria; 9 p.m. June 27, Victoria)
A Woman Like Me: This unique documentary-narrative hybrid chronicles the last months of director Alex Sichel’s battle with breast cancer, and also contains a film within a film about how her alter ego copes with impending death. It’s sometimes darkly humorous — and always compelling.
(4 p.m. June 20, Roxie)
Check ’em out
Here is a highly subjective list of some of our favorite films: Hidden Away: A splendid coming-of-age story about the budding friendship between a Spaniard and Moroccan immigrant. It’s gritty yet gentle — a subtle tale of adolescent yearning amid a world of racism and homophobia. (10 p.m. June 18, Castro; 7 p.m. June 26, Victoria) How to Win at Checkers (Every Time): This sublime tale, about an orphan Thai boy trying to spare his gay brother from the draft, deftly explores a fraternal bond and issues of class, corruption and sexuality in Bangkok. (7 p.m. June 20,
Castro) Portrait of a Serial Monogamist: An assured, breezy romantic comedy about a lesbian who can’t keep a commitment — or stay single. The comic timing of lead actress Diane Flacks is pitch perfect. (7 p.m. June 20, Victoria; 9 p.m. June 27, Roxie) Eisenstein in Guanajuato: This vintage Peter Greenway project, which follows famed Russian director Sergei Eisenstein as he loses his virginity in Mexico circa 1931, is audacious, dazzling, profane, sexy, ludicrous — and utterly unforgettable. The deflowering scene is off-the-charts good.
(6:30 p.m. June 25, Castro) Liz in September: An engaging Venezuelan movie about a group of lesbian friends and lovers who gather on the beach to get away from it all. An appealing mix of laughs, skin and poignancy. (7 p.m. June 19, Castro; 9 p.m. June 22, Piedmont)
In the Grayscale: Both sexy and well acted, this Chilean film explores the dilemma of Bruno, a family man in his 30s who must choose between his wife and his new love, Fernando. Nothing is black and white in this wonderfully complex character study. (7 p.m. June 23, Victoria; 4 p.m. June 28, Castro) Carmín Tropical: Not exactly the feel-good movie of the year, but you will be drawn in, and horrified, as transwoman Mabel investigates the slaying of a friend in Mexico. (9:30 p.m.
June 19, Roxie) Tab Hunter Confidential: A highly entertaining documentary about the topsy-turvy career of matinee idol Tab Hunter, whose leading women in movies ranged from Natalie Wood to Divine. (4 p.m. June
20, Castro) I Am Michael: James Franco is superb in this provocative yet evenhanded account of how San Francisco writer Michael Glatze morphed from a dedicated queer advocate to an outspoken anti-gay Christian. (7 p.m. June 18, Castro)
That’s Not Us: Three couples — one lesbian, one straight, one gay — journey to Fire Island for a weekend of romantic ups and downs. Much of the film is improvised, but the excellent ensemble cast is more than up to the task. (6:30
p.m. June 21, Castro) The Summer of Sangaile: This sexy, well-made Lithuanian film concerns Sangaile, whose dream of piloting stunt planes remains grounded until she meets the spirited Auste. The cinematography impresses, both in the air and on the ground. (7 p.m. June 23, Castro) Those People: Brimming with erotic tension, this formidable film places a microscope on upper-crust, young gay Manhattanites involved in a deliciously complicated love triangle. It’s riveting throughout. (9:30 p.m. June 19, Castro)
Suggested awards
The caliber of acting at the Frameline festival improves every year. If we could hand out thespian awards, we would start here:
Best actor
Germán Alcarazu, “Hidden Away”
Elmer Back, “Eisenstein in Guanajuato”
Crawford, “Two 4 One”
Francisco Celhay, “In the Grayscale”
James Franco, “I Am Michael”
Pat Mills, “Guidance”
Best actress
Dianna Agron, “Bare”
Aiste Dirziute, “The Summer of Sangaile”
Diane Flacks, “Portrait of a Serial Monogamist”
Grace Guei, “Baby Steps”
Mandahla Rose, “All About E”
Patricia Velasquez, “Liz in September”
Best supporting actor
Luis Alberti, “Carmín Tropical,” “Eisenstein in Guanajuato”
Mark Berger, “That’s Not Us”
Adil Koukouh, “Hidden Away”
Zachary Quinto, “I Am Michael”
Jason Ralph, “Those People”
David Rysdahl, “That’s Not Us”
Best supporting actress
Paz de la Huerta, “Bare”
Jurate Sodyte, “The Summer of Sangaile”
Phyllis Somerville, “Stuff”
Lili Taylor, “A Woman Like Me”
Sarah Wharton, “That’s Not Us”
Best ensemble acting
“Beautiful Something”
“How to Win at Checkers (Every Time)”
“In the Grayscale”
“Liz in September”
“That’s Not Us”
“Those People”