Last
issue, we previewed this year’s London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.
Here we review the opening night gala and mention other highlights. The LLGFF
in now on nationwide tour till September. Visit www.llgff.co.uk or call 020
7815 1362.
LLGFF’s opening night gala was the UK premier of The Event. It’s the story of Matt (Don McKeller) who is failing on his last-chance HIV drug regime and who takes the decision to end his life “while I can still wipe my own ass”.
If you think this sounds a little grisly and depressing, then don’t let it put you off seeing the film; the subject matter is handled sensitively and, though obviously political in nature, is dealt with in a very personal way.
The story charts the events leading from Matt’s diagnosis to his decision to die. It explores his relationship with his mother (Olympia Dukakis), with his sisters and his extended network of friends, and how they are all affected by the decision. Through a series of flashbacks, the Discrict Attorney, Nick (Parker Posey) gradually unravels what really happened at ‘the Event’, the party Matt throws just prior to his suicide.
As she digs deeper, friends are arrested and questioned, and in an amusing “I am Spartacus” moment they all confess to being the one who finished him off. But Nick, who has issues around her inability to help her own dying father, is not satisfied and continues to pry till the truth comes out...
The Event suffers slightly from trying to encompass too many stories and themes all at once: mother-son relationships, HIV, and assisted suicide all compete for your attention. This can make the movie slightly muddled at times.
The film’s strength is writer/director Thom Fitzgerald’s (The Hanging Garden, Beefcake) intelligent, often funny, script and the all-round excellent performances. Olympia Dukakis has cornered the market in playing unconventional, strong women dealing with tragedy and that is because she has the ability to make you relate to her characters even though you might not be able to understand what they are going through.
With Aids and suicide hardly being two of Hollywood’s favourite topics, The Event is a brave film that tackles difficult subjects in a sensitive way.
Don’t forget your hankies.
Other festival highlights include ‘Phooey Rosa’, an autobiographical documentary from German film-maker and Aids activist Rosa von Praunheim; ‘Peter Tatchell - Just Who Does He Think He Is?’ is a portrait of the gay and human rights campaigner; ‘Carry on Calling, a history of 30 years of the London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard’ (featuring our very own Gus Cairns); and ‘Twisted’, a peek into the drug-fuelled weekend world of DJ Wayne G and QX journo Stewart Who as they promoted their club hit of the same name in 1997. John Clarkson
 Father with Aids and daughter |
It is ten years since the genocide in Rwanda. Over 1,000,000 people died in 100 days, brutally murdered by their fellow countrymen as the rest of the world failed to respond. Thousands were left alive to deal with the emotional and physical wounds and try to rebuild a shattered country.
The intervening years have seen many improvements in the lives of the Rwandans, but have also seen the rise of a new killer - Aids - which now affects 11 per cent of the population and is devastating more homes and families.
 Grandmother headed household |
Sam Taylor-Wood is supporting the Hope and Homes for Children charity to launch its remarkable website focusing on the effects of genocide, and now HIV, on Rwanda. The site features an online exhibition of stunning photographs by Chris Leslie taken on a recent visit to Rwanda and has images of how donations to the charity are helping to keep families together by providing housing, education and food.
Visit www.rwanda2004.co.uk and donate at www.hopeandhomes.org
