Inside Out Film Festival: Shift One

One shift down, two more in the works -- the 2010 Inside Out Film Festival is in full swing and I am thrilled to be a part of it. Queers across the GTA are staking out downtown theatres featuring a rich, diverse collection of films dedicated to the many facets of queer life.

I have a favourites list unfurling before me and so little time to watch 'em all.

Regardless, I managed to sneak in two films while volunteering this afternoon, so one can never complain.

I was stationed over at Buddies in Bad Times for a start time of 2:15 PM. Two general observations about the start of the afternoon:

1) Buddies has played a central role for me when it comes to the Toronto queer scene. It was the first queer-centric space I had ever visited outside of campus grounds (2005); it was the first Toronto queer club I attended back in February 2010; and now, it is the first place I volunteered at for a LGBT event.

2) I am still such a child when faced with large groups of queer people. Serious, I get into that euphoric, giggle-filled head space when I realize I am in the sexual majority for once AND when I can look at all the pretty girls I want without self-conscious over-analyzing. KYAAA!

The experience was brilliant from start to finish. The Inside Out staff is relaxed and great to talk with; the other volunteers are tons of fun and filled with confidence; and the patrons are polite, enthusiastic, and encouraging. I actually had a gentleman patron thank ME for volunteering. I wonder if everyone else gets the same buzz I do with these gatherings which then expresses itself as increased levels of joviality and support.

That, and a stunning collection of films never hurts.

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Miz Moffatt's First Film Selection:

The Celluloid Closet (1995)

The Celluloid Closet is a classic documentary profiling the presence of gay and lesbian characters in Hollywood and their changing characters throughout the twentieth-century. Based on the original book and lecture series by Vito Russo, the film discusses the evolution of queer characters from the so-called "sissy" men of the 1920s and 1930s to the censorship of Hollywood films under the Hays Code and finally to the coded characters and cruel stereotypes developing up to the 1990s. The documentary is peppered with personal interviews from screenwriters and actors involved with prominent queer films, all discussions that sparkled in their wry dissection of subversive moments in classic films.

I've been eager to catch this documentary and was excited when I was waved in for the screening. Based on the interview sections, I have mad respect for the likes of Susan Saradon (who advocated for richer depictions of lesbian relationships in some of her most prominent roles) and for Gore Vidal (who is both sharp and subversive as well as being generally hilarious).

What could make this screening even more fantastic than it was? .... Oh, how about having Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, the directors/writers of the film version of The Celluloid Closet, there to discuss their careers and the history of LGBT cinema? I kept awesome company this afternoon, what can I say?

The Parents (Les Parents) (2009)

Les Parents is a documentary not meant for the weak of heart -- the film depicts the lives of Alain and Richard, a couple who take in ailing older women as an alternative to traditional seniors' homes in Dordogne, France. Despite the isolation and the homophobia experienced in the village, the men continue to provide for their residents and offer a kindness that no longer exists in the families of these women. Life takes a turn for the worse when Alain's AIDS-related complications forces the couple to make the difficult decision to close their home business in an effort to care for their own health.

I was sucked into the quiet heartbreak of this film. There were moments when the youthful energy of both men resurfaced, offering a brief glimpse into the spark that brought them together in the first place. It's hard to process the stressors weighing on Alain and Richard -- and knowing the film is true makes it that much more unbearable.

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At this moment, I wish I had more free time to dedicate to the Inside Out Film Festival. Three shifts is not enough at all. Alas, the work schedule and the commute from the suburbs does not permit volunteering during the week. I will have to draw out as much fun and energetic potential as I can in these last two shifts and I will have to re-dedicate efforts to snag more screen time with some other films.

More to follow this long weekend, folks.