It’s amazing to think that the film, The Celluloid Closet, is 13 years old. A film which documented the lack of queer characters in cinema, it was a revelation in that some seriously famous actors spoke about playing gay and how important revolutionary it was. Thirteen years later, it still is. We’ve hardly budged since. As we still cry out for representations of ourselves (and to be entertained), I’ve had a rummage through the next few months to see what gay films are coming up. Just one of the films will be coming to a cinema near you, the rest will be part of film festivals, so keep an eye out. Or you could…ahem…procure them from the internet..legally of course!

MILK

The screenplay for this film has been knocking around Hollywood for nearly 10 years, with Robin Williams heavily involved back when it was called The Mayor of Castro Street, and tipped to play the heroic Milk. He’s too old now so Sean Penn stepped in. Milk, the first first openly gay person to be elected to office in America. He was an amazing man, some say he was ‘our’ Martin Luther King, he fought for equality, understanding and an end to the closet. There was nothing safely asexual about Milk so it’ll be interesting to see how straight audiences react to him, and Penn’s, physical ‘relations’ with men in the film.

Release date: Jan 16, 2009

Trailer

More about Harvey Milk

I CAN’T THINK STRAIGHT

After being engaged several times, and much to the delight of her Jordanian parents, Tala is finally getting married. When she meets Leyla, a young British Indian woman, the women fall in love. Feeling bad about letting her parents down, Tala runs back to Jordan where the preparations for an ostentatious wedding are well under way. As family members descend and the wedding day approaches, the pressure mounts until Tala has a decision to make: follow her traditions and marry a man she doesn’t love, or follow her heart go back to London to the woman she loves.

Release date: It’s only being screened as part of festivals, so look out for The Dublin International Film Festival in February.

Trailer

THE WORLD UNSEEN

Another film from director Shamim Sarif, who also directed I Can’t Think Straight, this is Fried Green Tomatoes in South Africa. Set in apartheid-ruled South Africa, this tells the story of Miriam, a traditional Indian mother and Amina, local cafe owner who lives in the face of outraged disapproval. They fall in love but can their love to survive? I recently read the book, and will be reviewing it here soon, and, if it’s filmed as expansively as it’s written, this will be a visual delight.

Release date: Apr 16, 2009 at the Belfast Film Festival.

Trailer

BITCH SLAP

Since Quentin Trantino and Robert Rodrigez tried to reinvent the B-movie, their bandwagon has been noticeably empty. Until now. Old B-Movies used to be completely misogynist and exploit lesbians in particular, so it’s interesting to see what people will think of this. Is it post-modern lesbianism, no holes barred? Written and directed by men, is it must more of the same old ‘phwaaar’ stuff. Or is it just a bit of fluffy fun? When you’ve put your tongue back in your mouth, let me know   Also, Xena fans will be delighted to see that this the first time Lucy Lawless and Renee O’Connor (right) have appeared together since the demise of The Warrior Princess.

Release date: Another one for festivals

Trailer

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