I have to admit to having a slight crush on Angelina. Ok, ok, more than a slight crush. What? I’m a lezzer! So, it was with great…ahem….anticipation that I went to see her new film, Salt. When the wife and I sat down, she looked around and chuckled at all of the sisters who were doing exactly what we were doing. It seems an Angie (she said I could call her that) film is a convention for the unconventional.

If there is one thing I love it is a good movie, if it’s a gay movie all the better. Last night I popped along to Dublin’s annual GAZE festival to see a documentary about the Stonewall riots of 1969. I expected it to be good, it was amazing

Miss G is a teacher in a really rather awfully spiffing English boarding school in the 1930’s. She is gorgeous, sophisticated and all of the girls adore her. Some more than others, as many have crushes (or cracks) on her. One such pupil is Di, who is also the captain of the school’s diving team and head prefect. Di expects everyone to heed her word and lavishes in the attention Miss G gives her.

Showing as part of the GAZE festival, And Then Came Lola is a blast of a film, some much-needed fresh air on a somewhat stifling (for women anyway) programme. This is what happens when, after years of some great lesbian films but mostly awful lesbian films, the viewers get involved. Ellen Seidler and Megan Siler were obviously watching films and thinking “Jesus, I could do better than that!”

Thankfully, The Runaways delivers. From start to finish, the movie brings to life the story of the girls that soon became the stuff of legend. It’ll have you whirling your head around screaming along to your favourite anthem and leave the cinema with the full intention of forming the best band in the world.

GAZE comes of age! Celebrating its 18th birthday this year, the Dublin Lesbian & Gay Film Festival has just launched a programme of Irish and international cinematic treats for your viewing pleasure, all taking place in this August Bank Holiday Weekend. So we decided to go have a chat with them about what’s happening this year. Read on to discover what happened When Gaelick Met GAZE!

Has it really been a year? Out On Film, as part of the Galway Film Fleadh, begins on Wednesday 7th July and continues until the 10th, with another great selection of queer cinema treats. This is their fifth year with the Fleadh, presenting what looks like the best bunch of films on offer yet – features, lots of documentaries, and a big ol’ world premiere!

Peccadillo Pictures in the UK, have separated the wheat from the chaff in a great collection of little films called Here Come The Girls 2. There are nine films on the disk, all but one of which are interesting and will have you chatting over your popcorn. We have two DVDs to give away. Just mail hal@gaelick.com to be in with a chance. Good luck!

There is something about French film-makers, Sophie Laloy included, they seem to have an innate understanding of the words between the lines, blending unexpressed emotions and mood into a seductive web.

Oh, lesbian films. How do you disappoint us, let us count the ways! Let’s think back: Go Fish, High Art, Bound, and of course the “classic” of the genre, Claire of the Moon. Thankfully with Hannah Free my fears were unfounded.

This is an utterly charming, gentle film about being yourself. Michelle Ehlen takes this cheesy cliche and turns it into a delicate souffle of a film. The whole film centres around her and she strolls through the piece, at once witty and self-depreciating, then sensitive and tender.

There is a Finnish saying that goes something like grown-ups produce children, then the children turn them into adults. Anyone who has ever cared for a child for more than a night will understand completely. Producing Adults is a contemporary tale of one woman trying to get pregnant and becoming an adult along the way.

On the silver screen lesbians tend to fit into one or all of the following categories: Insane, Lonely, Trying to have a baby. Trans women can add freak to the list and bisexual women can throw a pinch of conniving into this heady mix. Even films made by women who love women very often end up putting the hom in homicidal, the bi in bizarre and the t in touched.

When I saw the trailer for this film, I was intrigued, and instantly knew I had to see it. As it turns out, the trailer was edited in a way that was somewhat misleading. My friend and I were under the illusion that it was going to be a very creepy sort [...]

What do you get when you mix ‘hot’ lesbian sex (is there any other kind?), a cast to die for and a playwright for a director? In the case of Boogie Woogie, it seems you get a bit up yourself. Now I haven’t seen the film so I am open to correction, but judging from the trailer, this looks a bit arty-farty.

A couple weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to be in London during the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. Wandering down to London’s Southbank, I nursed a hangover in a dark room and watched a Danish film called Brotherhood (Broderskab) about two neo-nazi men who fall in love. Brilliant, tragic and well-paced, it really [...]

I do love a good thriller where you spend most of your time wondering if people are who they seem to be. Shutter Island is one such film. Another Martin Scorsese movie filled with great atmosphere and great acting by the master’s new favourite, Leonardo DiCaprio.
This one gets the thumbs up from me.