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The director admitted he didn’t know if the women have a physical relationship, but Christine is obviously using sex to manipulate Isabelle. Whether they — or you —are lesbian or not, it would be a crime to miss this one.
Shown recently at Out on Film, “We Were Here” is David Weissman’s documentary about the early years of the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco. Weissman and I were there in the ‘80s, as were the five eyewitnesses who relate the story of the plague years from their unique points of view.
Whether you view it as nostalgia or ancient history, you should see this personalized lesson in modern queer history, the story of an epidemic that brought us together as a community. Weissman lays it all out, calmly and professionally, and lets you take it as you will. You can hardly be unmoved.
“Dirty Girl” is about a straight girl (Juno Temple) and her gay best friend (Jeremy Dozier) on a road trip, similar to 2001‘s “Gypsy 83.”
“3,” the latest from German filmmaker Tom Tykwer (“Run Lola Run”), finds a 20-year relationship shaken up when the man and woman both get involved with the same man.
Writer-director Rashaad Ernesto Green makes a promising debut with “Gun Hill Road,” an uneven but affecting drama. An east coast variation on last year’s “La Mission,” it gives homophobes and homophiles alike someone to cheer for. Latinos disappointed by their children’s sexual orientation will relate to Enrique, Esai Morales’ character, to some extent, but God help their kids if they see him as a hero.
While Benjamin Bratt just had a gay son to deal with in “La Mission,” Enrique gets out of prison, discovers his son Michael is becoming his daughter Vanessa, and goes predictably ballistic. Transgender actress Harmony Santana hits the right emotional notes in addition to pulling off the more obvious aspects of the role.
Good moments alternate with those that are excessively melodramatic in “Gun Hill Road.” The question is how much harm Enrique can do before his temper, attitude and criminal tendencies put him back where he can’t hurt his family.
Top photo: In ‘Gun Hill Road,’ which opens Oct. 21 in Atlanta, Enrique (Esai Morales, right) gets out of prison and discovers his son Michael is becoming his daughter Vanessa (Harmony Santana, left). (Publicity photo)