A fascinating documentary exploring the life of one of the twentieth century's most iconic figures, Truman Capote, received its world premiere at the 44th Toronto International Film Festival. The directorial debut of former Obama White House Deputy Social Secretary Ebs Burnough, The Capote Tapes incorporates compelling never before released audio recordings made by Capote biographer... Continue Reading →
BFI London Film Festival 2019: LGBTQ+ Preview
The 63rd BFI London Film Festival is coming (October 2nd - 13th 2019) and the programme has a wealth of queer and queer-friendly films from around the world (not to mention some blockbuster presentations). Here are The Queer Review’s LFF 2019 LGBTQ+ highlights. Matthias & Maxime Xavier Dolan returns to his roots by writing, directing... Continue Reading →
TIFF 2019: LGBTQ+ Preview
With the 44th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) opening on Thursday 5th September, The Queer Review takes a look at some of this year's LGBTQ+ related highlights taking in feature films, documentaries, shorts and animation. Recent years at TIFF have delivered award winning LGBTQ+ gems including BPM (Beats Per Minute), Disobedience, A Fantastic Woman, Call Me By... Continue Reading →
Film Review: The Most Dangerous Year ★★★★
Author of young adult novel The Art of Being Normal, Lisa Williamson, reviews transgender rights documentary The Most Dangerous Year exclusively for The Queer Review. The year in question is 2016. So-called 'Bathroom Bills', aiming to repeal the rights of transgender people to use the bathroom that fits their gender identity are sweeping the USA.... Continue Reading →
Film Review: Are You Proud? ★★★
Are you proud? It’s a simple question with a lot of long and complicated answers, as highlighted in Ashley Joiner’s fascinating but unfocused documentary on the state of the LGBTQ movement in the United Kingdom. The film begins with a personal look at the state of queer Britain in the mid 20th century. A former... Continue Reading →
Film Review: The Queen (4K Restored) ★★★★
Leave the dressing room antics of RuPaul's Drag Race behind and step back in time to 1967 and the lead up to the Miss All-America Camp Beauty Pageant in the largely forgotten documentary The Queen, restored and re-released in New York this week, with other US cities to follow. Originally released to rave reviews in New... Continue Reading →
Film Review: The Gospel of Eureka ★★★★
If The Gospel of Eureka wasn't a documentary it would probably be a high concept comedy or utopian fantasy film given the unlikely coexistence of evangelical Christians and an out and proud LGBTQ community in the Arkansas town of Eureka Springs, population: 2,074. The improbable nature of the scenario is embraced by the film's directors Michael... Continue Reading →
Are You Proud? Doc screening with Director Q&A ahead of London Pride
A special preview screening of new documentary Are You Proud? will be followed by a Q&A with director Ashley Joiner on Wednesday 3rd July at London's Picturehouse Central. Some of the participants from the documentary will also be present. Are You Proud? a new documentary by Ashley Joiner Are You Proud? brings together rare archive... Continue Reading →
Film Review: Before Stonewall The Making of a Gay and Lesbian Community ★★★★★
The path of the queer community has never been walked in a straight line. The seminal 1984 documentary Before Stonewall charts the history of the gay and lesbian movement in the United States from the Twenties to Stonewall in 1969, making for an invaluable primer into our own collective backstory. Restored and re-released in selected... Continue Reading →
Film Review: The Lavender Scare ★★★★
As I sit here, in 2019, wearing a Kylie Minogue t-shirt, staring at a bookshelf littered with queer literature, fashion biographies and tasteful portfolios of homo-erotic art, there is no doubt to the world around me that I am a homosexual. Trust me, my Netflix and Amazon algorithms are well aware. While watching filmmaker Josh... Continue Reading →
