In the grand tradition of “Perfect Strangers”, the dramedy “Blue Lights” takes place almost entirely during a dinner party with friends.
During a birthday celebration with seven close friends and family, secrets are exposed, emotions and conflicts awake after many years. This is a heartwarming comedic drama with a wonderful Argentinian cast that manages to shed light on the complexities and layers of being LGBTQ in a wide range of ages.
“Blue Lights” deals with subjects that are universal: love, loss, partnership, friendship and also the ability to forgive. This is a dramedy that is set to touch the viewers’ hearts, make them laugh and feel, and the film certainly delivers.
“Chuck Chuck Baby” & Stand-up by Talya Bartfeld
Before the screening: short Stand-up show by Talya Bartfeld
Northern Wales, a chicken packing factory, in the background are the inspiring tunes of Neil Diamond, Janis Ian, Minnie Riperton and others. Helen is in her late 30’s and spends most of her time either at the factory or taking care of her ex’s dying mother.
A surprising twist comes in the shape of Joan, her former neighbor who returns to the godforsaken town. The two women renew their friendship, Helen regains her joie-de-vivre as well as some hidden desires. The two begin a playful courtship – but will they have the courage to let go of the painful past and let their love win?
Oh, and did we mention that the whole thing is an uplifting, full of life, lesbian kind-of musical?
Please note: part of the movie takes place in a meatpacking factory. No animals were hurt during the filming.
Additional screening: 8.11, 20:00, without a show.
.
All Shall Be Well
Angie and Pat have been together for over four decades, but after Pat’s unexpected death, Angie finds herself at the mercy of Pat’s family as she struggles to retain her dignity and the home that both had shared, due to the unfairness of the Hong Kong laws that discriminate against the LGBTQ community.
“All Shall be Well” is the 4th film by queer director Ray Yeung, who previously won a commendation here at the 2020 TLVFest for his amazing film “Suk Suk”. Now he returns with a delicate and moving drama that has already won the Teddy Award at 2024 Berlinale and is being screened at film festivals all over the world.
Lesbian International Mix 2
Duration: 95 min
I Trust You
Susana and Nélida met in their youth in a convent, fell in love and abandoned their calling. The two built a home together, adopted 3yo Erika, and lived a happy life on the family farm. But in 2006 the two were charged with murder and were sentenced to 20 years in prison, in what became a sensational media event, combining nuns, lesbians, jealousy, rivalry, prejudice, politics, corruption and parenthood. Many things happened since then – Nelida came out as a trans man, and is now Daniel, Erika is 24yo and visits her parents in prison, while they still plead innocence.
Director Agustin Toscano who has been following the couple since 2019, is bending the rules of documentary cinema and brings to the screen a humane drama of a family behind bars. He combines documentary filmmaking with professional acting and adds original musical pieces, and most importantly – he does not judge his subjects in any way.
This is an original and forceful piece of cinema.
Gondola
In the mountains of west Georgia, a rural community relies on a pair of cable cars that connect two sides of a steep valley. Iva returns to her home village following the death of a relative and takes up a job operating one of the cable car gondolas. She forms a long distance friendship with Nina, the operator of the other gondola. In time, those aerial meetings turn to naughty flirting between the two young women and then deepen into love.
This strange romance is wordless, but has a very unique and original cinematic vision from writer/director Veit Helmer. It is a delightful piece, very visually pleasing, full of fun and charming cinematic ideas. 82 minutes with no dialogue but with a lot of love for the art of cinema as well as its two wonderful heroines. In “Gondola” love truly floats between heaven and earth, and it is simply a film of pure fun.
In association with the Embassy of Germany
Battle of the Sexes
Emma Stone and Steve Carell star in this recreation of the legendary 1973 tennis match that pitted Billie Jean King against Bobby Riggs.
Scripted by Academy Award winner Simon Beaufoy (“Slumdog Millionaire”) and directed by Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton (“Little Miss Sunshine”), “Battle of the Sexes” is a rousing depiction of a historical moment.
King (Stone) is a champion athlete and an outspoken feminist in her professional life, but her personal life is a struggle. Her marriage is failing. Her closeted sexuality feels like a distraction. Outraged that the National Tennis League won’t allow equal pay for men and women, King founds her own tour with Gladys Heldman (Sarah Silverman) as manager. Riggs (Carell) is decades removed from his last championship. Facing dwindling finances and desperate to win back his ex-wife, he proposes a publicity-snaring challenge.
The film reminds us just how much blatant sexism pervaded the so-called sexual revolution. But it also shows the great strides made by trailblazers like King.
Bursting with colorful period production design and costumes, “Battle of the Sexes” is as fleet and fun as it is politically acute, and Stone and Carell make hugely enjoyable adversaries.
The movie is also available on Disney Plus
The Favourite
Early 18th century. England is at war with the French. A frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne and her close friend Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne’s ill health and mercurial temper. When a new servant Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing and Abigail sees a chance at a return to her aristocratic roots. As the politics of war become quite time consuming for Sarah, Abigail steps into the breach to fill in as the Queen’s companion.
The movie is also available on Disney Plus
“Ella” & “Coffee Grapefruit Cacao
The screening of “Ella” will be preceded by short movie “Coffee Grapefruit Cacao” and “Stuck”, an Israeli short.
In the classic manner of “Sliding Doors”, please welcome the contemporary lesbian version.
Ella wakes up to a frightening number of unanswered calls and a very urgent message from her agent. She’s on a crucial crossroad – an audition that will determine her future. She has to race against the clock to make it on time to the audition, when every decision she makes has its own unique pros and cons, each road provides a different path with different potential to touch hearts, mend family ties, find unexpected romance, succeed or fail in the audition. Which way will lead Ella to her true self?
.
Festivals:
Yellowstone International Film Festival 2024
Chéries-Chéris LGBTQI Film Festival 2024
Merlinka International Queer Film Festival 2024
Out On Film – Atlanta’s LGBTQ Film Festival 2024
In association with the Embassy of France
Emilia Pérez
The new and much talked about musical crime drama by director Jacques Audiard (“Rust and Bone”, “A Prophet” “The Beat That My Heart Skipped”) which premiered at the last Cannes Film Festival to standing ovations. This film earned its amazing cast a joint award and the Judges Choice main award. This is the film that introduced to the world one of the best cinematic newcomers of recent years – transgender actress Karla Sofía Gascón, who takes over the screen and the viewers hearts with an unforgettable performance.
Zoe Saldaña (“Avatar”, “Guardians of the Galaxy”) is Rita, a frustrated lawyer who works for a big and corrupt company. One day she gets a chance to change her life – a one-on-one meeting with the head of one of the cruelest cartels in Mexico. To her immense surprise the man asks her to help him realize his dream – to undergo a gender affirming procedure and start a new life as a woman under the name of Emilia Pérez.
Other cast members include one of todays’ biggest stars as the cartel head’s wife, Selena Gomez (“Only Murders in the Building”) and the Israeli actor Mark Ivanir.
This is a film that you will not forget.
In association with the Embassy of France