Today marks the start of the Dublin Chinese New Year Festival, and this year it’s the Year of the Dragon.

Good news for the morketing department of a certain Dublin bar, and the perfect excuse to gawp at compare and contrast the portrayals of a certain Scandinavian anti-hero.

So, here we have it: the girl with the dragon tattoo, Lisbeth Salander. The Hollywood re-make is out at the moment, and in today’s poll I’m asking you: who is your favourite Lisbeth Salander? Noomi Rapace or Rooney Mara?

Get looking and then get voting!

Noomi Rapace

Rooney Mara

Related posts:

1. Who will gain Oscar glory?
2. A Suppa Earl Gae
3. Globe time

Over the weekend I did one of my favourite things, I went to the cinema.

I love it: the big screen, the darkness, the pick ‘n’ mix! This time I settled in to see a woman who can only be described as the seminal actress of her time: Meryl Streep.

Her resumé needs no introduction: Sophie’s Choice, Kramer vs. Kramer, Silkwood -- the list goes on and on, and I challenge anyone to find a significant flaw in her work. This time around I was there to see The Iron Lady and I must admit to going with some trepidation in the pit of my stomach.

The film centres around the life of former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, and although she was a strong woman who rose to the top, I have nothing but contempt for her legacy. I was afraid the film-makers would try to make her a sympathetic character based on the fact that she was the first female to head a major political party in the UK and also Britain’s first female PM. It turned out my fears were warranted.

The film shows her life in the form of flashbacks, and Streep’s ability to take you with her is immense. We see an elderly woman finding it difficult to let go of her past, and we are brought right back to where it all began: the daughter of a grocer who was always politically engaged and never willing to settle for the traditional role of a woman.

That’s where my empathy with her ends, I’m afraid. Even though I admire a driven person not willing to give up on what they believe is right, I find it impossible to understand someone who is completely unable to hear anyone else’s opinion, and that side of Thatcher is illuminated brilliantly. The fact I disagree so fundamentally with her politics doesn’t help either, to be fair.

Thatcher went from Education Secretary to Leader of the Opposition to Prime Minister in less than a decade and in the process she had to deal with being the only woman in many a room. She also had to change her voice and leave her kids, not easy. However she was so conservative I remember my mother using a naughty word to describe her when I was a kid, to this day the only such word I have ever heard my mother utter.

The film deals with historical moments in Thatcher’s life, including the Falklands war and the miners’ strikes, as well as the IRA attempt on her life at the Grand Hotel in Brighton. The narrative falls short, however.

I found myself increasingly annoyed that they didn’t actually delve into these political issues. If you didn’t already know about the hunger strikers, for example, you’d be none the wiser. They also included the Poll Tax riots; but again if you had no prior knowledge, the whole thing would pass you by. Some important aspects are omitted altogether, like Section 28 for example.

I have every sympathy for any elderly woman trying to hold on to her past, but I found myself squirming in my seat and wanting to ask the writers why they decided to skimp on the details.

I went to see the film with my mate who, as soon as it was over, started asking me all about the history of it. You’d think having just seen the film she’d have more answers than questions but, alas, no. The movie didn’t delve into anything: it gave you a list of headlines, but nothing meaty.

Overall, I found the acting superb but the script lacking. This was a genuine opportunity to show the life of a woman who changed the face of politics in the west. Love her or hate her, you can’t deny her impact.

Unfortunately that chance was lost. Streep may well get an Oscar, and she certainly deserves to be on the nominations list. This film will not make the list of top 10 Streep classics, however, not by a long chalk.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf5qHuRJG1Q

Related posts:

1. Review: Albert Nobbs
2. Who will gain Oscar glory?
3. Review: She’s a Boy I Knew

The film follows a teenage girl, Atafeh who hales is from a wealthy family, her mother is a surgeon and her father a music professor.  Atafeh’s brother Mehran returns to the family home having overcome his drug addiction, however it becomes apparent that he is getting dangerously obsessed with the more extreme elements of his religion.

Thankfully Atafeh has a best friend, Shireen, who lives with her aunt and uncle and who is far less financially secure.  The relationship between the two becomes romantic, however, they find themselves in trouble with the law, and their families, as they rebel against the circumstances they find themselves in.

The film shows Atafeh’s fear of her brother’s growing fundamentalism, however, I found myself more scared for Shireen, the writers brilliantly illustrating her disempowerment due to her economic status.

For me this film was all about comparisons.  Whilst Mehran can be forgiven for his drug taking, his sister Atafeh can not be allowed similar social acceptance.  Whilst she has options based on her parents open mindedness and financial backing, Shireen is left with few options.

Towards the end my housemate signed dramatically and declared “this isn’t going to end well for anyone, is it?”.  I won’t ruin the ending on you, but her comment does illustrate how sucked in you get.  You just want to send them the money to come live in your spare room!

It’s a wonderful piece that pulls you in and leaves you emotionally drained, I heartily recommend it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH_KkmHDxO4

Related posts:

1. Review: Miss Representation
2. Review: The Wedding Song
3. Review: The Iron Lady

These are the top 10 articles on Gaelick that you just couldn’t keep your peepers off this year. Is your favourite here, or have we left out something very important? Read! Share! Comment!

10. A is for Autostraddle

Before our super fabulous give-away, we brought you a taste of the gorgeous women of the Autostraddle 2012 calender, which is produced, photographed, make-upped, hair-did and modelled by and for lady-lovin’ ladies.

We can fully understand why this one is popular with you, dear readers..

9. Bitches Be Hazy

Best club night of 2011? It’s certainly a contender: I predict queues out the door, around the corner and down the streets in 2012.

Keep an eye out for the next one in January!

8. Preview: X Factor final

Admit it! You were all hooked this year: At least there were plenty of you were eagerly anticipating who among Marcus, Amelia and Little Mix would be victorious in telly’s greatest hype mach- er, I mean, talent competition.

Are we pleased with the outcome?

7. Glee: Santana vs It Gets Better

Glee stirred up a lot of passions this year, especially when it came to Santana’s storyline, and the (lack of) on-screen lesbian action.

Here, CanuckJacq took a look at the brouhaha in the context of the It Gets Better campaign.

6. Hillary Clinton’s speech to the UN

Shortly before Human Rights Day, and Belong To’s amazing achievement at the UN in Brazil, Hillary Clinton delivered a historic speech to the UN in Geneva.

My advice was (and still is) to set aside 30 minutes to sit down and fully listen to the whole speech.

5. Filming Lip Service Season 2

Seems no-one can wait for the return of Lip Service to our screens, as our article published back in May is still one of our most read articles on the site. We last heard that the show was due to go on air “in early 2012″.

Ruta Gedmintas has been told it’ll air in the springtime – so thinks “Marchish?” Let’s hope they don’t delay!

4. Australian marriage ad is internet hit

A recent ad for Marriage Equality, this time from the land of Oz, became a hit online and on our blog.

It carries a simple but powerful message.

3. The lezolution is not being televised

Back to Glee, and of all the articles written about the programme’s treatment of its lesbian characters (we had at least three), this one was the most read of all.

One of our new writers, Sinéad, took a sideways look at lesbians on Glee, and on telly in general, and she was not a happy chappy!

2. To watch out for in 2011: Film

What hot girl on girl action came to the big screens in 2011? Here’s a list of queer-tastic films we predicted at the start of the year.

It seems we were a bit ahead of ourselves in naming some of these titles: a few are now no longer listed on IMDb (or anywhere in one case!), while some others are listed as “in production” with release dates in the new year or in 2013.

1. FAIL: RTÉ Sportsperson of the Year Awards

Just before Christmas, I had a big rant about the fact that, despite being shortlisted for the Irish Sports Council/RTÉ Sports Person of the Year Awards in 2011, 2010, 2008, 2007, Katie Taylor was once again overlooked.

The lovely folks at Broadsheet picked up on the tirade, and the next day I spoke to Phantom FM’s Feedback to explain myself on air. Rarrrgh!

Related posts:

1. LGBT milestones of 2011
2. GLAAD Awards 2011
3. The GALAs 2011

Okay, okay. It’s the 1st December now, so Christmas Is Allowed. I shall humbug no more.

The new Muppets film is super cute according to the Autostraddlers. So that’s the perfect excuse to reprise the Muppet Christmas Carol. Isn’t it?

(Yes it is.)

“Scrooge”

“It Feels Like Christmas”

(Skip to 2:00)

If you need more Muppet magic, take a look at A Muppet Family Christmas – and while we’re at it, fraggles. Why not?

“The Bells of Fraggle Rock”

Christmas kitteh approves

Related posts:

1. The 12 Toys of Christmas: Day 9
2. A very Gaelick Christmas
3. How are you coping with Christmas Eve? (Open thread)

Need space? Outhouse’s multi-purpose venue is now open for busyness!

Located in the heart of Dublin city, Outhouse can host a wide range of events including:

Workshops // Rehearsals // Visual Art exhibitions // Auditions // Conferences // Live performance // Launches // Meeting Rooms // Readings // Film Screenings // Showcases

“How so?” you ask! Outhouse has 4 spaces available:

Red Room & Library

The Red Room and the Library are located on the second floor of Outhouse both rooms are filled with light, have wooden floors and high Georgian ceilings. The Red Room has a 30 person capacity while the Library can hold a capacity of 20 comfortably. These rooms are popular for workshops, meetings, AGM’s rehearsals and readings. A wall mounted plasma screen is available for use if required.

Outhouse Theatre Venue

The Theatre space is available for multi purpose use, to date it has hosted a wide range of events such as theatre festivals, dance workshops, exhibitions and functions. It has a 70 person capacity, solid temporary stage 12ft x 12ft with a audio visual, sound and lighting rig. Technical specification available on request.

Café

Outhouse Cafe is open from 1pm Monday to Saturday, it serves a selection of teas and coffee pastries and desserts. There is internet access and computers available for use. Outhouse is open from 10 am to 10pm Monday to Friday and all are welcome to drop in and have a look at the space or have a coffee and use the wifi. Art exhibitions run throughout the year in the Outhouse cafe. Please contact us if you would like to exhibit here.

Workshop and Rehearsal Room

Rehearsal and workshop space in the building is popular with theatre practitioners and dancers. The floor is solid wood, semi – sprung and the room is well heated with air conditioning when required. It has wheel chair access and free wifi, sound system and lighting desk. This space is ideal for functions and launches.

DON’T BE SHY. C’MON OVER!

Drop into us Monday to Friday to visit the space and different rooms and a chat about the techniclal specification and availability.

Outhouse can offer highly competitive rates for rental and are happy to discuss alternative use of the space.

email venue@outhouse.ie / call (01) 873 4999

web / tumblr / fb / twitter

/ click for map /

Related posts:

1. Fundraiser for Outhouse
2. Bring down the Outhouse
3. World AIDS Day 2011: Open Heart House events

Snow Flowers, the first film from Nepal to depict a same-sex relationship, has completed filming and is due to be released in early 2012. AFP’s bureau chief in Kathmandu, Frankie Taggart, recently spoke with the film’s director and lead actors.

The below excerpt is reproduced with Frankie’s kind permission.

Kiran wanders aimlessly, oblivious to the traffic and wiping tears from her bloodshot eyes as struggles to take in the devastating news that the love of her life is about to marry someone else.

The poignant vignette is not real life but one of the final scenes to be filmed in a new love story due to hit cinema screens in Nepal next year. But this is no ordinary melodrama, for the object of Kiran’s desire is a woman.

The affair plays out in Snow Flowers, a breakthrough lesbian love story already being dubbed “Brokeback Everest” and set to be the first feature film to deal with the taboo subject of gay relationships in the 60-year history of Nepalese cinema.

With filming having wrapped on schedule in Kathmandu ahead of the international festivals circuit and a general release in spring, the only question is whether the public in the deeply-religious nation will be ready.

The movie, directed by Paris-based film-maker Subarna Thapa, stars two of Nepal’s leading actresses, Dia Maskey and Nisha Adhikari, in a story of two women tormented by their feelings for one another.

“It’s two individuals falling in love and facing all the controversy and restrictions, and mental, emotional and physical traumas of being a lesbian in Nepal,” Adhikari said.

“It’s a simple love story with a lot of complications.”

• Continue reading at Frankie Taggart’s blog, here.

• A version of this article was first published by AFP on November 16, 2011 and can be found here.

Related posts:

1. OutLook: LGBT films at the Cork Film Festival
2. Where’s the Service?
3. GAZE 2011: Dublin International LGBT Film Festival

Congratulations to Nicola Depuis and Toma McMullin, our OutLook competition winners! Nicola won a pair of tickets to Married in Spandex, and Toma won a pair of tickets to Jessie And Jamie Are Not Together. Well done!

• This competition is now closed. Keep an eye out for future Gaelick giveaways, folks!

 
About OutLook:

OutLook, part of the Corona Cork Film Festival, is Ireland’s longest-running LGBT film festival.

Running each winter, the festival provides the LGBT communities of Cork and further afield with the best of Irish and international LGBT filmmaking.

The Festival runs from 6th to 13th November.

• The above image “Cork Film Festival” (c) Donncha O Caoimh. Reproduced with kind permission.

Related posts:

1. Win tickets to OutLook!
2. OutLook competition coming tomorrow!
3. OutLook: LGBT films at the Cork Film Festival

Lesbians! Bifolk! Transpals!

As promised, here it is: our fabulous competition for tickets to OutLook, the strand of LGBT films at this year’s Cork Film Festival. We’re talking some hilarious, intelligent, hot lady-films.

So, without further ado, here are the details:

What’s the prize?

We have a pair of tickets to see Married In Spandex (Sat 12th 6.30pm Triskel Christchurch).

And we have a pair of tickets to Jamie And Jessie Are Not Together (Sun 13th 4.00pm Triskel Christchurch).

How to enter:

To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment below – be sure to include a valid email address so we can contact you if you’re a lucky winner! (Your email will be kept private, and will not be used for any other purpose.)

The competition runs from 7am today (9th November) and will end at 4pm on Friday (11th November).

After that, we’ll pull two names out of the hat – the first will win the two tickets to Married in Spandex; the second will win the two tickets to Jamie and Jessie.

Voilà!

(P.S. – If you comment more than once, we’ll just count one entry. So no messin’, yiz langers!)

About OutLook:

OutLook, part of the Corona Cork Film Festival, is Ireland’s longest-running LGBT film festival.

Running each winter, the festival provides the LGBT communities of Cork and further afield with the best of Irish and international LGBT filmmaking.

The Festival runs from 6th to 13th November.

• Our front page lead image “Cork Film Festival” (c) Donncha O Caoimh. Reproduced with kind permission.

Related posts:

1. OutLook competition winners!
2. OutLook competition coming tomorrow!
3. OutLook: LGBT films at the Cork Film Festival

People of Cork, I envy you.

The Corona Cork Film Festival begins on Sunday, 6th November, and as part of the schedule several LGBT films comprise the OutLook programme.

Here are a few that have caught my eye:

She Monkeys (Apflickorna) | Sun, 6th Nov at 2pm
Also screening: Flyers

Distributed by our friends at Peccadillo Pictures, and directed by Lisa Aschan:

Aschan lifts the lid on a group of girls for whom gender is both a weapon and a toy, pushing the boundaries of political correctness to breaking point. Emma is a girl who likes to be in control. When she tries out for the local voltige (equestrian vaulting) team, she meets Cassandra, a strong, attractive and vivacious girl. As they get to know each other, they share a sense of wicked fun and quickly become best friends. But feelings of jealousy, competitiveness and sexual attraction have them pushing each other to their limits.

In Flyers, for one woman, a street flyer leads to a surprising discovery.

Hold On Tight | Thu, 10th Nov at 2pm (screening with Our Lips Are Sealed)

Hold On Tight is a short documentary directed by Anna Rodgers, who you may remember from her production work with director Aoife Kelleher on the Growing Up Gay TV series, and from BeLonG To’s Stand Up! campaign video which was co-directed with Aoife Kelleher and produced by Zlata Filipović.

When it comes to same sex relationships, showing your love outside of the home is sometimes a complicated personal choice. Filipović and Rodgers have teamed up again with Hold On Tight, which moves between the public and private spaces in which lesbian and gay couples live, and explores small gestures of human connectedness.

The film was screened as part of this year’s GAZE film festival, and subsequently throughout Ireland and abroad. It was honoured at the annual Iris Prize, and has been viewed by Sarah Waters. The Sarah Waters.

Go see it.

Married in Spandex | Sat, 12 Nov at 6:30pm
Also screening: And I Am Me

Directed by Allison Kole and Devin Gallagher, Married in Spandex gets is European premiere at OutLook:

Amanda and Rachel are determined to make their wedding day a unique and memorable affair. But, at a time when every same-sex wedding is seen as a political act, will everyone be cheering Amanda and Rachel’s offbeat nuptials?

The film’s directors will be attending the screening.

The short film, And I Am Me from the USA, is an honest portrayal of the relationship between a lesbian mum and her adopted Ethiopian son.

Jamie and Jesse Are Not Together | Sun, 13th Nov at 4pm
Also screening: Lust Life

Note #1: Hawt chicks alert.

Note #2: Didn’t we tell you this would be one to watch this year? Yes, we did:

“A queer romantic comedy (with musical numbers!). Jamie is moving from Chicago to New York hoping to become a famous actress. Her best friend and roommate, Jessica, isn’t happy about it, because she is losing more than a friend. Jessica is not-so-secretly in love with Jamie. Although Jamie doesn’t feel the same way, she has gotten used to Jessica’s attention. As moving day gets closer, Jessica tries to make Jamie jealous (and get her to stay in Chicago) by sleeping around with other girls. But Jessica’s plan backfires, in a way she could never imagine.”

Plus, there is Lust Life, a short by American director Lynda Tarryk, where a woman discovers that letting go of a painful past relationship helps her move forward.

How’s that for getting value out of your euro? So high-tail it down there!

Honourable mention:

Not an especially lesbian/bi/trans* offering, but highly acclaimed with one rave review after another, is Andrew Haigh’s Weekend, which has its Irish premiere on Wednesday, 9th November at 6pm. The director will also be in attendance.

Check out the festival websites for up-to-date times and locations!

• OutLook (web)
• OutLook (fb)
• Cork Film Festival (web)

Related posts:

1. GAZE 2011: Dublin International LGBT Film Festival
2. OutLook competition coming tomorrow!
3. OutLook competition winners!

Yes, it’s Charlene McKenna, Irish actor of stage and screen. You may recognise her from such productions as Breakfast on Pluto, Pure Mule, Single Handed, Whistleblower and of course Raw. On stage, she has appeared in productions of Romeo and Juliet, A Slice of Saturday Night, The Little Shop of Horrors and Dancing at Lughnasa.

McKenna is currently starring in an Irish film, Jump!, based on a play of the same name by Lisa McGee.

She’s only wee, having been born in 1984, and hails from Glaslough. In 2009, she won the Best Actress IFTA for her role in Raw. In the same year she won the award for Outstanding Actress in a Mini-Series for her role in Whistleblower, a dramatisation of events relating to the butcher Michael Neary and horrific practices at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.

And speaking of Raw – McKenna and her fellow cast members from the show, made the following excellent video for BeLonG To in support of this year’s Stand Up! LGBT Awareness Week.

(Anyone else notice that Ms McKenna gets the longest bit of the video? And that Glaslough is near Castle Leslie? …Just sayin’.)

The BeLonG To Stand Up! LGBT Awarness Week takes place from 4th to 15th April 2011. Visit BeLonG To for more details:
- website
- facebook (also)
- twitter
- youtube

Related posts:

1. Álainn or Appallin’: Glenn Close
2. Álainn or Appallin’: Amber Heard
3. Álainn or Appallin’: Ellen Page

Having closed at the Abbey Street venue in 1996, the cinema’s founders re-established the cinema in its current location in Smithfield, Dublin, where lately the GAZE Film Festival has been held.

Laura Slattery reports in The Irish Times this morning that the Light House cinema is now under threat from its landlord: the cinema’s board is meeting today to discuss a High Court petition by John Flynn of Fusano Properties Ltd. seeking the winding up of the Light House Cinema Exhibition and Distribution Company Limited. Perhaps it’s just me, but I find this not only curious but possibly disturbing.

Fusano Properties is the developer of Smithfield Market, the complex of apartment, retail and other units along one side of Smithfield Square which houses the Light House. This action by Flynn against the Light House follows his doubling of the Light House’s rent in May 2010 from €100k to €200k – rent of almost a quarter of a million euro during a recession.

This is deeply worrying for a facility that is so culturally important and – according to the Times report – which has seen its takings increase in recent months despite the country’s economic downturn. No mean feat in neglected Dublin 7.

It’s also deeply puzzling: on the face of it, Flynn and/or Fusano lose out. If they win in the High Court, they will lose a successfully trading tenant. Flynn is not seeking payment of the arrears of the rent; or if he is, that’s not all he’s seeking. Flynn is not seeking to evict the tenant; or if he is, that’s not all he’s seeking. Flynn is seeking to ensure that the company trading as the Light House cinema will cease to legally exist.

What possible interest could Flynn have in pursuing this course of action?

It’s time for final analysis time: if successful in the High Court, what will be left? Flynn/Fusano – as owner or part-owner of the property – will inherit a vacant building housing a state-of-the-art and popular cinema venue, having eliminated one of the Irish cinema industry’s competition.

Quite a coup for a developer during recession time, no?

Update:

As mentioned by Shauna in the comments, this evening’s blog post by Laurence Mackin in the Irish Times is available here: “Save this cinema …” (March 22, 2011 @ 4:59 pm)

Related posts:

1. Bono Dances Up a Storm
2. Setback in fight for marriage equality in Ireland
3. Need space? Outhouse venue is OPEN!

Featuring the magnificent Fiona Shaw (the “Harry Potter” series, and countless stage and film productions) among the cast members, who include Brad Pitt and Sean Penn. The story centers around a family with three boys in the 1950s. The eldest son witnesses the loss of innocence. Due for release in the USA on 27th May 2011.

• Albert Nobbs

Starring Glenn Close as the eponymous, genderqueer Albert who struggles to survive in late 19th century Ireland. The film is an adaptation of an off-Broadway play originally written and performed by Close and co-creators. Filming recently began in Dublin, and the work is due for release in 2011.

• The Iron Lady

Directed by Phyllida Lloyd. Starring the incomparable Meryl Streep. (Both of “Mama Mia”.) The film examines the actions taken by UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the days leading up to the Falklands War in 1982. Due for release in 2011.

• Freeheld

The dramatised account of the 2007 documentary of the same name about Laurel Hester and Stacie Andree.  Starring Ellen Page (“Inception”) as Andree. Due for release in 2011.

• Jack and Diane

Starring Juno Temple (“Cracks”, “Atonement”, “Wild Child”), Riley Keough (“The Runaways”) and Kylie Minogue (only bloody fabulous!). Jack and Diane, two teenage girls, meet in New York City and spend the night together. Diane’s charming innocence quickly begins to open Jack’s tough skinned heart. But, when Jack discovers that Diane is leaving the country in a week she tries to push her away. As a bonus, Kylie stars as Tara, a be-tattooed lesbian. Due for release in 2011.

• Pariah

Selected for 2011’s Sundance Film Festival. A Brooklyn teenager juggles conflicting identities and risks friendship, heartbreak, and family in a desperate search for sexual expression. Due for release in 2011.

• Miss Representation

Additionally selected for 2011’s Sundance Film Festival. A documentary uncovering how American mainstream media’s limited and disparaging portrayals of women contribute to the under-representation of women in power positions – creating another generation of women defined by youth, beauty and sexuality, and not by their capacity as leaders. Due for release in 2011.

• A Few Days of Respite (Quelque Jours de Repit)

Also selected for 2011’s Sundance Film Festival. An Algerian-French production, the film depicts the experiences of two gay men who have escaped from Iran and seek safety in a small French village, where a lonely middle-aged woman offers aid.

• Circumstance

Yet another title selected for 2011’s Sundance Film Festival. A wealthy Iranian family struggles to contain a teenager’s growing sexual rebellion and her brother’s dangerous obsession. (More…)

• Slate and Kelly

Misfits Slate and Kelly are wannabe police officers who both get kicked out of the police academy – Slate for being over-zealous with her weapon; Kelly for being too scared to pick his up. When Slate and her girlfriend are held at gunpoint and her girlfriend is shot and killed, Slate is powerless to help her. That event is the driving force behind her desire to become a police officer, but her uncontrollable anger stops her from making it through, despite her mental and physcial agility. She now scans the police scanner and shows up at crime scenes in an effort to find a clue that might solve a crime, and force Captain Bishop to reconsider her expulsion from the Academy.  With Jill Bennett and Cathy DeBuono.  (More…)

• Carmilla

In 19th Century Styria, Laura Sheridan meets Carmilla as the result of a coach accident and falls in love with her, much to the annoyance of her suitor Kurt and her sister Faith. But is Carmilla all she seems? Laura finds herself drained after spending the night with Carmilla whilst in the village girls are turning up dead with mysterious bites. Is there some evil beast on the loose? Yes, but not in the hideous incarnation which the locals suspect. Lesbian vampire flick based on the Sheridan Le Fanu novella. We’ve been here before, I fear.  (More… And more…)

• Queens of the World

When Maggie Connor steps onto the soccer pitch, there’s only one thing that matters above all: perseverance, no matter what the obstacles…until she meets high school transplant, Niko Taylor, a brash, confident, wild child who shows up to play and gives Maggie a run for her money. Maggie and Niko go head to head, battling for control, until they find a commonality, until the mutual love and respect for the game and life has them falling in love with one another. Due for release in mid-2011.  (More…)

• Jamie and Jessie are not Together

A queer romantic comedy (with musical numbers!). Jamie is moving from Chicago to New York hoping to become a famous actress. Her best friend and roommate, Jessica, isn’t happy about it, because she is losing more than a friend. Jessica is not-so-secretly in love with Jamie. Although Jamie doesn’t feel the same way, she has gotten used to Jessica’s attention. As moving day gets closer, Jessica tries to make Jamie jealous (and get her to stay in Chicago) by sleeping around with other girls. But Jessica’s plan backfires, in a way she could never imagine. Due for release in 2011.  (More…)

• Shakedown

From a meta-perspective, queer cultural production remains at the fringes of society today. It is largely undocumented, and therefore communities and art forms continuously disappear as stories are forgotten. Shakedown is the story of a black lesbian strip club in Los Angeles. The film is anchored in the stories of three women: Ronnie Ron, the creator and emcee of Shakedown, a large butch/stud lesbian and former Jehovah’s Witness; Egypt, a single mother, beauty pageant fanatic, and dedicated self – (re)inventor; and Jazmyne, the complicated and sometimes conflicted “Queen” of Shakedown. The film goes through the process of their labor with them and records what they do, and how they feel about what they are doing. Due for release in 2011.  (More…)

• Margaret

A young woman witnesses a bus accident, and is caught up in the aftermath, where the question of whether or not it was intentional affects many people’s lives. Starring our favourite Canuck-Kiwi-Hollywood bisexual, Anna Paquin.  Due for release in 2011.

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2

Oh come on… It’s Harry Potter! Featuring our favourite gay wizard. …And hasn’t Hermione grown? The final release in the Harry Potter series is due for release in the USA on 15th July 2011.

Related posts:

1. OutLook: LGBT films at the Cork Film Festival
2. OutLook competition coming tomorrow!
3. Win tickets to OutLook!

Cork Institute of Technology’s LGBT Society brings us news of this week’s LGBT programme, Outlook, as part of the Cork Film Festival.

There are a number of feature films and documentaries, as well as women’s and men’s shorts on Sunday evening. Included in the Outlook programme is Stonewall Uprising, reviewed on this here blog a little while back.

Tickets can be purchased online or at the Festival box office, and the Festival has special offers with Cork’s Luigi Malone’s restaurant.

UPDATE

From a commenter, Toma, on our Facebook page: “SNAP” the first feature from out and proud writer and director Carmel Winters and producer Martina Niland is showing at the Opera House on Saturday 13th at 6 30. Snap stars Ashling O’Sullivan and Eileen Walsh.  For more info go to the Snap Facebook page.

• 55th Cork Film Festival, 7th-14th November 2010. Box Office: The Foyer, Cork Opera House, Emmet Place – Tel. 021-427 1160

Related posts:

1. OutLook: LGBT films at the Cork Film Festival
2. GAZE 2011: Dublin International LGBT Film Festival
3. Limerick Pride Festival: 3rd – 11th September 2011

This week, we are been mostly:

• Listening to The Twilight Saga’s Eclipse Soundtrack.

• Tasting Spicy Latinas.

• Getting rather too excited over the passage of the Civil Partnership Bill 2009 through the houses of parliament. (Next, the Bill goes to the President, where she can sign it into law or else refer it to the Supreme Court who will examine it for constitutionality. Ciarán Cuffe of the Green Party expects the first registrations to take place from January 2011. Of course, next on my list, is to join the LGBT Noise march on 22nd August 2010, to say that half-measures are not enough. Marriage equality now!)

• Enjoying a suppa Earl Gae and some link love.

• Not medicating away the gay.

• Spreading the word about Thursday’s OpenFM BIG Extravaganza.

• Enduring Real L Word (so you don’t have to) with the next installment of our recaps.

• Getting some bainne with our cáCa. (For our non-Irish readers, bainne = milk; cáca = cake. Hooray!)

• Pondering monogamy.

• Surveying and hoping you’ll Win!

• Asking are lesbians our own worst enemy?

• GAZING into the feature-filled future.

Have you had any highlights of your own?  Let us know in the comments.

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So it was with some trepidation that I sat down to watch Hannah Free.  Yet, my fears proved to be unfounded.

Adapted from Claudia Allen’s play and directed by Wendy Jo Carlton, Hannah Free is the charming, and moving, story of the eponymous Hannah, played by none other than Sharon Gless (Cagney and Lacey, Queer As Folk).  The story is set in a nursing home and tells of her life with Rachel, played by Maureen Gallagher, and her struggle to defy the condescending hetero-centric staff and be re-united with her beloved. There are echoes If These Walls Could Talk 2’s 1961 couple, but less harrowing.

Always a friend of the gays, Gless is wonderful as Hannah.  She provides us with a portrayal of Hannah’s character which is at once sympathetic and strong.  Gless allows the character’s free spirit and flaws to simultaneously shine through.  The story of Hannah and Rachel’s love affair – surviving through Rachel’s marriage, a world war, infidelity – is told with sincerity and with humour.  If I need to be critical, however, the film felt a little long, and the chemistry between the younger leads tested my suspension of disbelief.

Hannah Free has played at over sixty film festivals in North America, and has won awards including Best Feature at Philadelphia’s Q-Fest and Montreal’s International LGBT Film Festival.  And I can understand why: Hannah Free is genuinely heart-warming and moving, and hilarious when it wants to be.

Hannah Free is released on DVD on 5th July 2010.

Hannah Free at Peccadillo Pictures

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1. Insane
2. Lonely
3. 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.

As someone who loves film and loves to review film, I very often sit down with a sigh and think, “Ok, HAL, you know this is going to be depressing, look for the positives”. There very often are so many positives; good writing, good acting and just the basic will to make a film. Shooting a movie is an extremely difficult exercise, which is why there are so many names rolling up the screen at the end of your cinema experience. Imagine trying to get a fifth of that amount of talent together in the same place at the same time and literally on the same page. It’s a logistical nightmare. This is why I get depressed when the film is just another cliched lonely lesbian, psycho bi or lonely trans feature.

As far as mainstream Hollywood is concerned, you can all the way back to Rebecca‘s evil, sadistic Mrs Danvers or further back again to schlock horror films to see how they love to use us as stock-psychos. I just don’t think that you can over-state how important it is to have positive representations of ourselves on the big screen. Can you name the last lesbian, bi or trans female character you saw on screen? I’m not talking about same-sex kisses as per Jennifer’s Body. Chloe, maybe? Nutter. Vicky Cristina Barcelona? Titillating  nutter.

I remember talking to my Dad about this when Basic Instinct came out. He couldn’t understand why people protested about its depiction of a bi character as a murderer. By his logic, some murderers are bisexual. True. My argument was “where’s the balance?”, most bisexuals are very happy, well-adjusted people who live normal lives but we don’t see them. Happy queers are invisible onscreen, so therefore feel invisible off it.

It’s when we make the films ourselves that I get my hackles up. Now I know it’s not up to every queer artist out there to express only this aspect of themselves through their art. I do, however, think that they have the responsibility to ensure that their work doesn’t perpetuate negative stereotypes.

The sense of a missed opportunity is over-whelming after watching a film like High Art (left), for example. I know many people love it, but this is a high-profile film about a lonely nutjob who needs drugs to be happy. Oh and she’s gay so that explains it. Feel free to reef me over the coals if you are a fan. I stand by the point that, no matter what writer/director Lisa Cholodenko was trying to get across, all people were left with was the idea that lesbians sit around in darkened rooms and take drugs as a break from being mad and having sex.

We all pile in to LGBT film festivals to watch films like Gasoline about lovers are on the run after murdering one of the pair’s mother; New Best Friend about a promiscuous bisexual college student who dies of a drug overdose; on the depressing end there’s Aimee and Jaguar a true story but where is the positive one to give balance? Even talking about it gets me down.

About ten years ago, we were lucky enough to have a couple of films come out that were made by men who – joy! – weren’t interested in exploiting us. Mulholland Drive had the wonderful Naomi Watts rocket to stardom after a truly awesome performance in what has to be one of the best films of the first decade. Being John Malkovich proved that Cameron Diaz could act. However, as wonderful as they are, these films were all about oddness, adding a queer woman to the mix just ratcheted up the weird.

There are many female (and male) LGBT directors out there who are working their arses off getting us up on the big screen or there on the small one. Angela Robinson, Jamie Babit and Rose Troche stand up and have a HAL hug. The rest of you, do better please.

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At its most basic, the film is based on the anxieties of woman (Julianne Moore) over her seemingly womanizing husband (Liam Neeson), and a son who has alienated her from his life. When she becomes convinced that her husband is having an affair, she enlists the help of a call girl, Chloe (Amanda Seyfried), to “test” his fidelity. This starts off a chain of events which eventually culminate in tragedy affecting her whole family.

*possible spoilers ahead*

I was pleasantly surprised to discover the lesbian element of this movie, as I hadn’t heard about it beforehand, and it wasn’t in the trailer I saw. It was also great to see a lesbian sex scene in mainstream cinema, and not confined to the DVD release as is so often the case.

My only criticism of the film is that it showcased the concept of the “psycho-dyke” so common on the silver screen; that a woman always becomes emotionally unstable at the end of a lesbian relationship. However, the audience really sees why this demise occurs and remains sympathetic to Chloe for this reason. Amanda Seyfried (of ‘Mama Mia!‘ and ‘Mean Girls’ fame) plays Chloe amazingly well, and keeps the audience wondering about her throughout.

This film is definitely a must see for fans of the sapphic screen!

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1. Review: Here Come the Girls 3

The film is based in 1954 and as it turns out Shutter Island is a hospital for the criminally insane!  DiCaprio plays U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels, who, along with his partner, is sent to the Island to help locate a murderess who has escaped.  Ben Kingsley plays the islands head doctor, Dr. Cawley, a man who believes in treating patients with respect and not the horrid treatment of his piers.

As Daniels searches for the missing woman we soon learn that he is still trying to come to terms with the death of his wife (played by Michelle Williams) and that he has come to the island to not only find the missing woman but also because he has tracked his wife’s killer to the scary looking “ward c”.  Daniels has investigated the island from afar and wants to see for himself if the patients are treated correctly or if there is something sinister going on.  I won’t say any more on the plot as it is wonderfully woven around yet another amazing performance by DiCaprio and I don’t want to spoil it

I have to say that, although I’m not a fan of all his films, I am a fan of DiCaprio as an actor.  I think he is a great deal more than a good looking guy and performances such as this shows how he can carry an entire movie single-handed with consummate ease.  Scorsese can at times be a little moody for me, lots of mist and so on, but, although there was a bit of that in this film, the master was yet again at work, and, although this film is no Taxi Driver, it does stand up on his impressive resume.

There were a few moments in the film that had me hiding behind my hand and sinking in the chair but I am a total wuss so don’t go by me.  Later my mother told me she thought it might be a horror but was afraid to tell me before we went in in case I wouldn’t be on for it and she’s right, I wouldn’t.  However, no such worries, this film is no horror, just a well-made thriller with a wonderful atmosphere that sucks you right in.

Shutter Island is one of those film that you are constantly trying to figure out.  Are people who they seem to be, is what is happening actually happening?  You see it all through Daniels’ eyes and are with him every step of the way.  I have to say I love a good story and this is a great one.

So if you like to be a bit scared, but not too scared, and you like a plot that twist and turns, this one is for you.

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Now that I am all grown up, I look forward to the nominations just as much.  During the year, as I see films, I think, “that should be up for…” and it adds to the experience of watching a film.  This year, however, I think the pickings are slim.  You can see the full list of nominations here.

The SAG-awards (Screen Actors Guild) can give you a good idea of who may win the acting awards at the Oscars as the same pool of people vote for both.  On the night the main winners were:

Film: Inglorious Bastards
Actor:  Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart
Actress:  Sandra Bollock – The Blind Side
Actor in a Supporting Role: Christoph Waltz – Inglorious Bastards
Actress in a Supporting Role:  Mo’Nique – Precious: based on the novel “Push” by Sapphire

So is this the list that will prevail at the Oscars?  Well, for me, two categories stand out.  Firstly, I feel that the Actress in a Leading Role category is very weak this year. On the face of it you have the likes of Helen Mirren and Meryl Streep but look a little deeper.  Films like Julie and Julia and The Blind Side are hardly the Oscar-winning roles we look for.  These films are more like the easy-to-watch relaxing type, not the sort to challenge you in any way.  Am I being a movie snob?  Perhaps.  However, I think that Oscar nominations should come from wonderful, deep performances.  I’m not saying you can’t have a good performance in a poor film, but these roles are weak at best.

I remember the nominations in previous years being far superior.  Take 1996 for example, the nominations for Actress in a Leading Role were five truly great performances.  I wanted them all to win.  The likes of Brenda Blethyn and Emily Watson not to mention Frances McDormand in Fargo.  This year, however, is a big disappointment for me.

Take Saoirse Ronan’s performance in The Lovely Bones, one of the best performances this year in my opinion.  She wasn’t nominated however, possibly because Oscar is as much about politics as talent and Hollywood just didn’t take to this film at all.  Stanley Tucci’s nomination was well deserved but I think Saoirse could have made the cut above some of the aforementioned stars.  It looks like Saoirse will have to wait a while for another nomination, she was previously nominated for Atonement.

Secondly, the folks at the Academy decided to increase the nominees for Best Motion Picture from 5 to 10.  A great idea I thought.  However, this year it is slim pickings and I think they found it hard to find 10.  The nominees are:  Avatar, The Blind Side, District 9, An Education ,The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Bastards, Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire, A Serious Man, Up and Up in the Air. Not exactly Citizen Kane are they? Precious is the one that, perhaps, stands out. In recent years we had duels between the likes of Crash and Brokeback Mountain, this year we have 10 films that I probably won’t remember in 20 years.  I loved Avatar, but Best Picture?  Precious and The Hurt Locker are great films too but none of these nominations scream Best Picture to me!  (A list of previous winners can be seen here)

Bottom line:  when I think of the Oscars I think of the award that says this film is one that will stand the test of time and, when I watch it in 10 or 20 years, I will still like it.  I think of classics like Grand Hotel, Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz and more recently One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Taxi Driver and Silence of the Lambs.  Are any of this years movies in that bracket?  I’m not so sure.

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