 Scene from Ma vie |
The 17th London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival hits London on 2 April at the National Film Theatre. This year's delights include the themes of matriarchal murder, boxing, rent boys, an all-gay high school, a female Indian truck driver, and P J Harvey on tour...Three films feature HIV and Laurence Gibson gets a sneak preview
Shown earlier in the year at the Berlin Film Festival, this controversial American documentary investigates the oh-so-chilling facts about gay men who actively pursue unprotected sex for the purpose of seroconversion.
The film examines 'bugchasers' and 'giftgivers' - who seek to catch or pass on HIV, by playing Russian roulette at sero-conversion sex parties - and raises many interesting issues.
The documentary-makers aspire to do this in a very 'right-on' kind of way, talking about 'personal choice' and 'public morality', but, in reality, they may have made one fundamental error: time after time, they show how 'bad' and 'naughty' gay men are. We see gay men portrayed who know the risks, and know the consequences of bareback sex. Then we get a screwed-up HIV positive man saying: "I don't want someone to get close to me anymore... I don't want them to have to bury me. This is just going to have to do for me till it's over." What are the film-makers hoping to achieve? Surely, by doing this, they are simply alienating the very group they hope to target.
The Gift, plus discussion, is screened on Tues 8 April, 18.20 hrs, NFT2. Dr: Louise Hogarth. USA 2002, 67 mins. NB: Gus Cairns, editor of Positive Nation, Matthew Hodson, from GMFA, and Dr Mike Youle, of the Royal Free Hospital, will address the issues raised by the film in a post-screening discussion and explore its UK relevance.
 Scene from Walkinng on water |
Tony Ayres' debut feature is a powerfully intense, emotional drama about the aftermath of the Aids-related death of a gay man. I found myself powerfully drawn into this film within minutes. The story culminates in a scene, just ten minutes into the film, where the dying man is injected with a (supposedly) lethal dose of morphine and you are forced into experiencing the emotions of every one of the friends and family around his bed.
However, their pact to give him a dignified death goes horribly wrong when the overdose seems unable to kill him. Family and friends behave badly; grief becomes mixed with guilt, casual betrayal and heartbreak.
Having won many awards, including the Teddy for Best Gay Feature at the Berlin Film Festival and awards at the Australian Films Institute, Walking on Water is well worth a viewing.
Walking on Water is screened on Mon 14 April, 18.30hrs, NFT1; Tues 15 Apr 20.40hrs, NFT2. Dr: Tony Ayres with Vince Colosimo, Maria Theodorakis, Nathaniel Dean. Australia 2002, 90 mins.
 Scene from Days (Giorni) |
In this decidedly, erm, 'Italian' film a successful, handsome, muscle-bound gay man, in a relationship with an equally beautiful boyfriend, seems to have it all. Aaah! But his life is, you guessed it, in turmoil. A one-night stand, however, comes along and somewhat disturbs hunky Claudio's equilibrium.
Well it seems a refreshing option after having been HIV positive for a number of years, and not to mention the effects of HIV drugs, drugs, drugs, blah, blah, blah, etc, etc, on his sex life with his long-term boyfriend.
So off they go, the one-night stander and our hunk on an affair which I guess, in a really dry, slow, naff Italian kind of way ("Shall we get the bill from the waiter?" - "Yes"), does raise some dark and interesting questions about how we should live. Just try and stay awake long enough to find out what they are.
Days is screened on Tues 8 April 20.45hrs, NFT1; Wed 9 April 18.10hrs, NFT3. Dir: Laura Muscardin with Thomas Trabacchi, Davide Bechini, Riccardo De Filippis. Italy 2001, 80 mins.
The LLGF festival opens at the Odeon West End on 2 April with stylish Italian lesbian love story, Gasoline - already a massive hit on 'the circuit'. Touted as a slice of surreal, hip, road movie chic from Monica Stambrini. Closing night on 16 April is a welcome return to French director's Ma Vie which follows the heartfelt tale of an adolescent boy's video obsessions. Visit: www.llgff.org.uk
We have 4 pairs of tickets to give away for the LLGFF to the first 4 readers
to write in. One pair for Gasoline, 3 pairs for the HIV films reviewed here.
Write to: PN FILM OFFER, Positive Nation 250 Kennington
Lane, London SE11 5RD or email: jclarkson@positivenation.co.uk
