By Adam Goetz
A dirty little girl seeks out a “magical cleaning liquid” to rid herself of her unsightly soiled clothing and hopeless transient life. Sounds interesting, doesn’t it? When in fact this short plays out like a Javex endorsement by mother goose. All that came to my mind after watching this was “what the fuck,” closely followed… Continue reading How Beatrice Came Clean
By Adam Goetz
A family reunion at a lakeside cottage is the backdrop for Kevin’s (Drew Roby) thoughtful contemplation over telling his parents that he is gay. Director Andrew Hull uses tranquil music and picturesque shots to personify his process of introspection while keeping a hint of apprehension. Although this was the longest short that I viewed, clocking… Continue reading That Thing We Do
Artistic and gay communities in our fair city may have new reason for optimism. According to Richard Florida’s influential book, “The Rise of the Creative Class,” there are legitimate economic arguments for increased investment in the arts and gay communities of major centres. Florida, the Heinz professor of economic development at Carnegie Mellon University, describes… Continue reading Investing in Calgary’s Pride
By Jeff Kubik
There’s something to be said for romantic comedies–it’s just not meant to be said in civil conversation. However, it is comforting to know that even the Danes make them, and that whether the subjects are gay or straight, the stories are still familiar. Jorgen (Mads Mikkelsen) and Jakob (Troels Lyby) have it all: a collection… Continue reading Put your left arm in
By James Keller
It’s a familiar narrative. The social issues, with people around judging and defining. The family issues, with the denial, rejection and disappointment. The intimacy issues, trying to find and maintain a romantic relationship. The personal issues, the inner struggles and conflicts. Solo, the documentary directed by and following the life of Atif Siddiqi, a gay… Continue reading Going it alone
This film documents the struggle for acceptance and self-worth between the gay community and the outside world. Gabriel shows his lover Tracy “all the possibilities,” weaving ominous flashes from past birthdays up to his current birthday party. From wearing his mother’s lipstick to his first sexual encounter, this stimulating film ends with a graphic shot… Continue reading The Moment After
Set in a smoky bar complete with neon lights, Bar Talk is a miniature version of Blind Date. Panning around the room capturing gestures, eye contact and body language the camera encounters an attractive brunette. Without using words, she strolls to the bar and picks up another girl. The scene is played again, this time… Continue reading Bar Talk
By Вen Li
A young woman reconsiders her ambiguous relationship with her best friend and neighbor when an old flame threatens to move back into town. Jennifer Markowitz’s A Bit of You could have done well with a bit more content and insight into relationship management or the human experience. The straightforward story includes some subtle (or distracting)… Continue reading A Bit of You
By Russ Dyck
When you hear the words “teen” and “lesbian” in one sentence, you most likely think of girls having pillow fights on the Internet. Unfortunately, it’s just not real life. Take Emily, the lead character in Lipstick, for example. She is a lesbian still in high school and has a girlfriend, but hasn’t taken those first… Continue reading Mavra Min
By Вen Li
Beso Nocturno packs a lot into a 14-minute short, presenting itself as a story about karma and compassion. Unfortunately, those themes are so obvious and cliched that this film fails to distinguish itself by needlessly repeating them to no real benefit. Though it’s not a visual masterpiece, creative cinematography and technical proficiency are evident throughout… Continue reading Beso Nocturno (Night Kiss)