By Herb Krohn

Angels In the Dust

Rating: Very Good

This South African documentary profiles a white couple who have given up a life of privilege to establish and run a school and orphanage for impoverished children and teenagers many of which have lost their parents to AIDS. The result is a fascinating look inside the lives of these families, and the dedication of these two individuals who demonstrate the deepest of personal commitment to helping those in need. The filmmakers follow as they try to arrange for medical care for dying parents, convince a mother to allow her teenaged daughter to go the school rather than work as prostitute to support the family as demanded by the father, or arrange for a funeral for another family. It really is a heartbreaking and heartwarming look at the impact of AIDS combined with extreme poverty upon the people of Africa. It is a demonstration of the ability of a few amazing people to make a significant difference in the lives of others as well as a profile about the deep dedication of this altruistic couple and their humanitarian efforts to help others.

The Bubble

Rating: Good

Israel - Subtitled

Egyptian  Saturday June 16^th, 12:45 pm

This interesting film is a fictional story of a young gay Israeli army reserve solider who while on his annual 30 day active duty is assigned to work a checkpoint near Nabrus is noticed by a Palestinian who is crossing the border. He returns to his civilian life as a record store clerk in the hip Sheinkin Street area of Tel Aviv, and the apartment he shares with two other close friends. The term Bubble comes from the term used by Israelis to refer to neighborhoods or communities that on the surface seem far away from the violent conflict. Soon the undocumented Palestinian shows up at his door with the ID card belonging to the reservist which he has inadvertently lost at the checkpoint.

A relationship blossoms between the two, the roommate hires the Arab to work as a waiter in the restaurant he manages, and all of the characters are working on a planned rave against the occupation event. Of course the situation is complicated by the upcoming marriage of the Palestinians sister to radical appropriately named Jihad. Conflicts arise between the sister, fiancé, and brother, as well as border crossing issues. The drama intensifies by the tit for tat violence between the Israeli and Palestinian factions and escalates to tragic and dramatic climax that is actually handled very tastefully by the filmmakers. Its a plot line that is a standard in many films yet its a worthwhile film to view even if you only want to see how the issue of gay relationships is addressed in Israeli films as well as catching a glimpse of the portrayal of gay life in the only democratic country in the Middle East.

Four Minutes

Rating: Outstanding

Germany

This masterpiece of cinematic art is one of the best international films presented in this years' SIFF. It is the tale of an elderly woman who has spent her life as a piano teacher inside a German prison since before the fall of Hitler. She comes across as bitter, set in her ways, and expresses disdain for modern music and jazz which she repeatedly berates as negro music. As the number of prisoners who sign up for piano lessons dwindles so does her status resulting in the movement of her grand piano from the prison library to the gym. Meanwhile an angry viciously violent female inmate who is also a musical genius signs up for lessons, but is rejected as a student by the grouchy old teacher. This rejection results in an extremely brutal attack on the middle aged overweight guard who is a music lover and the most supportive prison official of the piano program. Of course the story goes down a predictable path with the instructor recognizing the wayward girls musical ability, and ending up instructing the disruptive argumentative inmate. The prison officials learn of the inmates music proficiency so they want her to enter into a piano competition to provide positive media coverage of their facility. The struggle between the inmate and other inmates, the teacher, and the prison officials most notably the guard who has finally returned to work after the serious attack sets the scenario. More notably is the internal conflicts experienced by the inmate and the teacher. Near the end you find out the history and motivation of the two intertwined characters.

This movie benefits from a well developed deep plot, with outstanding performances by the performers and fine cinematic techniques. It slowly and methodically takes the audience back and forth in time through the memories of the teachers experience working at the prison under the Nazis as a method to convey the complexity and internal struggle of the character. Even more worthwhile is the excellent music upon which the plot centers. Although this fantastic film has yet to be scheduled for release in the US, it is one would certainly be well received by audiences who appreciate foreign cinema.

La León

Rating: Poor

Argentina

SIFF Cinema Theatre  Saturday June 16^th, 9:30 pm

A gay logger has an escalating conflict with the captain of the passenger ferry that transports people and supplies into the northern Argentinean delta. This black and white film makes creative use of the territory in a worthwhile effort to set up the atmosphere to enhance the story. Cinemagraphically it is beautiful, however, the plot is worthless and combined with the extremely slow pacing it had many in the audience dozing off. The plot just never comes together in an understandable or clear way, this results in complete confusion as to the characters roles and motivations. Its a waste of your film dollar as well as your time. Unless you are an insomniac who needs sleep or you just like to be completely confused you are better off finding something else more worthwhile to screen at SIFF.

Poltergay

Rating: Good

France

A straight couple moves into an old house in the countryside and almost immediately strange things start to happen that only the husband seems to notice. When he returns home from work only to find that burglars completed some of his moving in chores, his clothing neatly pressed and put away he call the police to complain. Soon he meets the group of gay poltergeists that reside in the home, but are only visible to him with hilarious results. This comedy romp works well with clever humor centered on the gay ghosts of the early 1970s who died in a fire and explosion in the gay disco that once occupied the homes basement. Its a farce with an excellent unique plot that moves at a fast and furious pace. It will have you doubling over with laughter with comic scenarios that continue and never let up throughout the entire film. This film is an excellent example of foreign gay comedy that other filmmakers should aspire.

Red Without Blue

Rating: Very Good

USA - Documentary

Its expensive to make movies, and documentaries usually cant produce the revenue generated by feature films. With the increasing affordability of digital technology there has been a significant increase in documentary filmmaking; many are marginal or awful flicks created by someone with a digital camera but no talent. So it is refreshing when debut filmmakers produce interesting and worthwhile documentaries that have acceptable production values while constrained by limited budgets. In their first film production Directors and Producers Brooke Sebold along with the husband and wife team of Todd and Benita Sills have created a documentary with good production values that presents a fascinating story.

The subject of identical twins (especially gay twins) always fascinates, not only within academia but also is a topic of general human interest. This film takes this curiosity to a new unexamined level. Mark and Alex were identical gay twin brothers who were born and raised in Missoula Montana in a seemingly typical nuclear American family. Things began to unravel for the entire family as the twins became adolescents and began to engage in troublesome activities. What makes these identical twins brothers unique and film worthy is that they have become twin brother and sister. Alex who is now Clair makes the transition from male to female; and we get the rare opportunity to actually share in the intimate and evolving details of their relationship over a three year time period in their lives.

That the filmmakers were able to gain such cooperation by the twins and their parents in making this film is nothing short of amazing. Yet what is even more worthwhile is opportunity for the audience to view a window into the their interpersonal lives over the three years. It is a very rare glimpse of two biologically identical siblings and their parents who have to come to terms with who they are as individuals and the alteration of their relationship to each other. Nothing like this film has ever before been produced with such intimacy and sensitivity on such a personal yet controversial subject. This documentary is truly an amazing real time portrait of the deep conflict that all four of the family members experience and how they are resolving their collective differences. Scheduled to be televised on The Sundance Channel on Monday, June 25^th, at 9:00 pm, Dont miss it!

Shelter Me

Rating: Above Average:

Italy

A lesbian couple returns to Italy from a car trip to North Africa only to discover a stowaway in the back of the vehicle. Conflict ensues between the couple as one of the women wants to take in the teenager into their home and help him, while the other does not. The film ends up being a drama about ego, money, control, and rejection as the plot twists, turns, getting hotter all the while leading to the obvious culmination. The production values are high, the plot solid with a steady pace of increasing tension. Its a worthwhile effort with a predictable conclusion; still the story keeps the attention of the audience throughout.

Yossi & Jagger

Rating: Average

Israel (2002)

Egyptian  Saturday June 16^th, 11:00 am

Played in 2 prior SIFFs!!

Gay Israeli soldiers fall in love on duty and of course one must die to make the film palatable to straight audiences. Do we really need to see it again??? The filmmaker Eytan Fox who also directed The Bubble is schedule to be in Seattle this weekend as part of the SIFF emerging masters program.

OTHER IDENTIFIED UPCOMING SIFF FILMS OF LGBT INTEREST

Black White + Gray

USA

Harvard Exit - Wednesday, June 13^th, 7:15 pm

Egyptian  Thursday June 14^th, 4:15 pm

Cthulhu

USA

Neptune Theatre - Sunday June 17^th, 4:00 pm

ALL SIFF FILMS REVIEWED BY SGN CRITIC:

(G) = denotes films of LGBT interest

12:08 East of Bucharest - Good

2 Days in Paris - Excellent

A Friend of Mine - Good

Aachi & Ssipak - Good

After This Our Exile - Very Good

American Shopper - Good

Angels in the Dust - Very Good (G)

Art of Crying, The - Excellent

Bajo Juarez - Above Average

Battle of Wits - Very Good

Beauty in Trouble - Good

Before We Fall - Poor

Bet Collector,The - Bomb

Big Rig - Very Good

Black Irish - Average

Black Sheep - Good

Born and Bred - Good

Boss Of It All, The - Good

Champagne Spy, The - Very Good

Children of War - Below Average

Cloud, The - Average

Congorama - Good

Crazy Love - Outstanding

Crossing the Line - Very Good

Dans Paris - Average

DarkBlueAlmostBlack - Average (G)

Dasepo Naughty Girls - Bomb - (G)

Death at a Funeral - Very Good (G)

Doghead - Very Good

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap - Excellent

Eagle vs Shark - Poor

Elephant and the Sea, The - Bomb

Emma's Bliss - Outstanding

Eternal Summer - Average (G)

Exiled - Very Good

Falkenberg Farwell - Above Average

Falling - Average

Ferryman, The - Below Average

Fever of '57 - Excellent

Fish Dreams - Poor

For the Bible Tells Me So - Excellent (G)

Four Minutes - Outstanding (G)

Freeholders - Outstanding (G)

Frozen City - Good

Glue - Bomb (G)

Golden Door - Excellent

Grave Decisions - Good

Grimm Love - Bomb (G)

Guardians Son - Average

Hounds - Below Average

I Don't Want to Sleep Alone - Below Average

I Really Hate My Job - Average

In the Shadow of the Moon- Outstanding

Island, The - Above Average

It's Winter - Above Average

Journey Home: Story.. Hungarian Revolution 1956-Very Good

King of Kong - Excellent

La Leon - Poor (G)

La Vida Homo - Average (G)

La Vie En Rose - Outstanding

La vie promise - Excellent

Lake of Fire - Above Average

Life and Times of Yva Las Vegass - Average (G)

Life in Loops - Bomb

Life of Reilly - Excellent (G)

Little Book of Revenge - Very Good

Love & Dance - Good

Love For Sale - Below Average

Made In China - Very Good

Manufactured Landscapes - Good

Max Havelar - Excellent

Moliere - Excellent

Murch - Very Good

Mushishi - Above Average

My Best Friend - Outstanding

Nanking - Very Good

Never on a Sunday - Excellent

Nina's Journey - Excellent

No Regret - Very Good (G)

Offscreen - Fair

One to Another - Very Good (G)

Orange Revolution - Good

Out At the Wedding - Excellent (G)

Out of Time - Good

Outing Riley - Good (G)

Outsourced - Excellent

Paprika - Good

Pervert's Guide to Cinema, The - Above Average

Pleasant Moments - Good

Poltergay - Good (G)

Price of Sugar, The - Average

Protagonist - Excellent (G)

Red Road - Excellent

Red Without Blue - Very Good (G)

Rescue Dawn - Very Good

Rocket Science - Very Good

Running on Empty - Above Average

Sakuran - Above Average

Sanctuary: Lisa Gerrard - Below Average

Severance - Above Average

Shelter Me - Above Average

Silence, The - ?? No Rating

Singer, The - Good

Soldiers of Conscience - Good

Son of Rambo - Good

Sweet Mud - Above Average

Takva - Very Good

Tell No One - Excellent

The Bubble - Good (G)

The Memory Thief - Very Good

Them - Very Good

This Is England - Below Average

Vitus - Outstanding

Waiter - Excellent

Waiting for Happiness - Poor

Walk into the Sea, A - Average (G)

Yacoubian, The - Excellent (G)

Yella - Below Average

Yossi & Jagger - Above Average (G)