review of the filmfestival 2004
2006 2005 2003 2002 2001

This year the "verzaubert" queer filmfestival took place as usual at the Residenz-Cinemas, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Ring 30-32, from 11/25/04 to 12/02/04

Matthias worked as a travel guide in Thailand during this period and could not join me, so this review lacks of a second evaluation. Being on my own I decided to follow my original advice of the past years more consequently by ignoring all short film nights and watching some of the low budget sophisticated films instead.

Th 11/25/04 20:30 Residenz 1 Opening - Three Dancing slaves - France 2004, 90', French original version with German subtitles

The rantipole Marc, his brother Christophe (who was just released from prison) and his 17 years old brother olivier (coming across as fragile) live in a french village together with their father. Their mom has died a year ago. Each episode of the film is dedicated to one of the brothers: Marc seeks his way by excessive drug abuse, sports and puberty-like sexual macho behaviour - and yet doesn't find it. Christophe, released from prison, is in search of a good honest ordinary working life and takes a job at a butchery, where he has to salt turkey hens. Olivier conceals his love for a gay Arab from his brothers and later gives up this relationship in order to support them.

   One might assume that the author and the director of this film come from the advertising business: The action is extremely thrilling, but the characters are poorly developed, and especially in the first episode of the film the gentle sound is missing. There are beautiful pics of georgious, wellbuilt, musculine marc, who most of the time is shown half-naked and exploding with emotionalism. The actor Nicolas Cazale is doing an excellent job - as well as the cameraman. They both "save" the first episode of the film.

   The second episode is dedicated to marc's brother Christophe who - compared with Mark - is a rather colourless character. Christophe wants to fix his life by doing hard work at a butchery. White gowns, white salt and again and again the same turkey hens at the production line! This monotony is interrupted by dialogues with older colleagues who worked here for decades until the salt eroded their hands. This scenes remind me of Kafka's fiction, likely not very realistic, but quite amusing.

   To my disappointment the film degrades in the last episode both in dramatization and quality: Olvier's gay relationship with an Arabian guy is only short lived and dealt with in a rather superficial way. The clash between the three brothers and their father is not very convincing either as it is too poorly developed.

   For credit postings: An outstanding Nicolas Cazale and a brilliant cameraman! Both make the film worth seeing in spite of it's deficiencies regarding contents.

Homepage: www.bruederliebe.de   trailer

order "three dancing slaves" DVD at amazon.com (ntsc, region 1)

Fr 11/27/04 17:15 Residenz 1 - Sugar - Canada 2004, 78', English original version

There is a lot of black humour in this film that tells the story of the innocent Cliff (brilliantly acted by Andre Noble), who on his 18th birthday falls in live with the extremely handsome, but sly hustler Butch. All the characters of the film are convincing - including Cliff's little sister, who uses to supply them with drugs. The homo-erotic relationship cools off when Butch fucks his lover Cliff under the very eyes of a peeping john. This scene, that is highly erotic and deadly sad as well conceives a lot about sexuality and loneliness. I don't want to reveal more about the plot of the film (as you should watch it), but in the end Cliff has learnt much about life and is able to stand on his own feet.

(The leading actor Andre Noble tragically died on 30th of july 2004 at the early age of 25 - probably by the juice of a poisonous plant called monkshood.)

order "sugar" DVD at amazon.com (ntsc, region 1)

Fr 11/27/04 19:30 Residenz 2 - Proteus - Canada, South Africa 2003, 97', English-African-Dutch original version with English subtitels

I don't know whether this film is also available as a 35mm copy, it was shown as a beta sp video. The beamer in the Residenz 2 cinema seemed to have difficulties with the colour green: Plants gleamed in a pale white-reddish colour, flames were purple instead of orange, and the actors' skin wasn't brown but reddish. These deficiencies took much away from the optical charme of the film.

   'A prison colony on the South African Robben Island in the year 1752. The coloured prisoner Claas comes to know the dutch sailor Jacobsz who is sentenced of "sodomy". They both work as gardeners for the English botanist Virgil Niven, who, although being married, has strong homosexual inclinations. He treats the prisoners in a relatively human and tolerant way. In the beginning Claas abuses the gay sailor merely to satisfy his sexual desires, otherwise making fun of his lover's homosexuality, but in the course of the years a genuine relationship develops between the two men. This idyll, however, exists only for a short time. When the "climate" for homosexual inclinations becomes rougher in Europe, in the colonies, too homosexual activities are no longer tolerated. Claas and Jakobsz are caught in flagranti and have to answer themselves for this "crime" to a tribunal.

   I always have my doubts when a film is packed with several different problems - here homophobia, racism and colonial politics - but in this case the film nevertheless is a success as it concentrates on the two leading actors, the wiry smart coloured Claas and the calm and virile Jacobsz.

   In the light of our modern cynical society based on lifestyle and fun the heroic end of the film seems somewhat unrealistic, but with regard to the plot it is coherent.

order "proteus" DVD at amazon.com (ntsc, region 1)

Sa 11/27/04 21:45 Residenz 1 - Carandiru - Brasil/Argentina 2003, 147', Portugese original version with English subtitles

I originally wanted to take part in the so-called "bear-night", but when my friend Hans called off at short notice, I changed my mind, choosing culture instead of tomfoolery. The film I watched is based on a true event, the revolt in the notorious prison Carandiru in Sao Paulo in the year 1992. With 7000 prisoners it was hopelessly overcrowded.

   The revolt is not shown until the end of the film, the main part being dedicated to the prehistory and the personal fates of the prisoners. They are not at all monsters, but men with warmth, humour and temperament, who have a strong feeling for justice and order. The prisoners - more or less - manage their own affairs and solve conflicts themselves. Homosexual relationships (even marriage) are allowed, rape is forbidden and punished with death penalty. Nevertheless the apparant harmony is deceptive. For trifling reasons suppressed conflicts and power struggles lead to the revolt of the prisoners and the well-known tragic ending.

   An excellent film, coherent direction and good camera work, brilliant actors - even the ones who play the minor parts, (147 minutes) time flies!

   At the end the policemen use their machine-guns shooting at unarmed prisoners who are running for their lives. More than 100 of them are killed: human beings, no monsters.

Homepages: www.sonyclassics.com/carandiru   trailer (quicktime)

order "carandiru" DVD at amazon.com (ntsc, region 1)

Su 11/28/04 15:15 residenz 1 - Wild Side - France / Belgium / England 2003, 94', French original version with German subtitles

The transsexual Sylvie - her real name is "Pierre" - who walks the streets, the North-African Djamel, who prefers to prostitute more secretly, and Sylvie's Russian lover Michael, who suffers from homesickness, struggle along in Paris in a kind of erotic "ménage a trois". When Sylvie's mother falls terminally ill the three friends travel to a remote part of North France to nurse the dying old woman. The isolation of the rural district and the closeness of the four persons intensify their feelings for one another, so that the sad cause of their stay leads to moments of harmony and happiness.

   The film shows people of a fringe group without any wrong pathos or sentimentality. Their love for one another is stronger than their personal problems. It is a gentle, honest and very intensive film.

Homepage: www.wildside-derfilm.de   trailer

order "wild side" DVD at amazon.com (ntsc, region 1)

Su 11/28/04 17:15 Residenz 2 - Jailbait - USA 2004, 89', English original version

The frail and attractive Randy (Michael Pitt) is thrown into prison because of a petty offence. There he meets up with Jake who is convicted of murder. In the beginning Jake feings friendliness, but soon shows himself as a brutal tyrant, who has only one aim: Randy's complete verbal, emotional, psychological and sexual submission.

   There is no prison cell romanticism à la Jean Genet, but a permanent striving for power and submission. As to the actor Michael Pitt (by whom I was deeply impressed in "the dreamers") I expected a better performance. Too passive is Randy's resistance, to willingly he submits to Jake's wishes. Stephen Adly Guirgis, who plays the part of Jake, is more convincing, but the screenplay could have been better. Especially the development of the tension is lacking. A dialogue between two persons can be extremely thrilling, as it is shown in the film "the 24th day". But in "Jailbait" the actors have no chance to show their true acting abilities. It's not a bad film, but you needn't know it.

Su 11/28/04 19:30 Residenz 1 - Grand Ecole - France 2004, 110', French original version with English subtitles

It's Paul's first year at an elite university. His roommate is the extremely attractive Louis-Arnault, who keeps his body fit with water-polo and sex. Paul, who up to now has led a normal straight life and is engaged to the pretty and smart Agnes, senses that Louis-Arnault means more to him than merely a fellow student. Whenever he casts a glance at the water-polo team in the shower-room (a pleasure to the watchers of the scene) Paul is completely upset, and as he comes to know the Arabian laborer Mecir he cannot deny his homosexual inclination any longer. Agnes reacts to this fact in an unusual way, suggesting a perfidious bet: Wo will end up first in Louis-Arnault's bed, she or Paul?

   This is the basis of the film that enticed more watchers into the Residenz cinema than any other film: People obviously prefer shallow comedies - spiced up with sex - to a good story that deals with real problems. It is doubtful, however, whether this film can fulfill the expectations. In the beginning there is a lot of light entertainment and a convincing performance of the attractive actors, but the end of the film is rather disappointing: The bomb - concerning unfaithfulness and homosexual - explodes, but there is no real bang. All the characters suddenly try to behave like mature people, coming to terms with the unusual situation. What I miss in this film is a clearly defined subject: For a social criticism (contrast between the upper class student Paul and the worker Mecir) the screenplay is way too soap-style, for a good comedy it lacks of a shrill finale.

Homepage: http://www.pyramidefilms.com/pyramideinternational/FilmFch.php?monFilm=207 (trailer auf der seite)

order "grand ecole" DVD at amazon.com (ntsc, region 1)

We 12/01/04 17:15 Residenz 2 - Anonymous - USA 2004, 84', English original version

The director and screenplay writer Todd Verow is also the leading actor of the film. He lives together with his steady John, but since a long time he doesn't feel anything for him. Todd is longing for dirty, anonymous sex and spends most time of his day with restroom adventures. One day John catches his friend in flagranti, beats him up, fetches a marker and writes on his naked ass "Fuck here!". Their relationship is finished. John throws his friend's clothes out of the window, and Todd (carrying his two bags) moves from lover to lover, from one public restroom to another public restroom, gradually loosing ground.

   Relationship without true emotions, a job without enthusiasm. Todd's life is defined by nothing but sex, and so is this film: The leading actor shows strong traits of exhibitionism. Ruined face, well-built body, randy sex. Since years the "Verzaubert" film catalogue tries to make cineastic flops look more attractive by promising stunning sex scenes (lately with "beyond vanilla" in 2003, who neither worked as a docu nor as a teaser). Well, this film might work for mere arousement, showing "everything" with some scenes being thoroughly pornographic. But nobody was informed in advance, thus the Residenz cimema was rather empty. :-) Todd's lack of emotion is credible and convincing but not very encouraging.

Homepage: www.bangorfilms.com/anonymous

We 12/01/04 19:30 Residenz 1 - Porn theatre (La chatte à deux têtes) - France 2002, 90', French original version with english subtitles

A porn cinema in Paris, none of these small grimy sex cinemas we know of Cologne, but one of the large grimy sex cinemas with many rows of seats, side-wings and toilets, showing a straight porn on the big screen while the horny straight and gay watchers indulge in all kinds of homosexual activities. There are the drag queens who move from one seat to another and argue in the film break which of them had sucked off more and better boys. There is an old frump - wearing suspenders - who slumps into a seat and is soon surrounded by lecherous Arabs and Blacks. A slightly plump bourgeois on the toilet makes up his face in order to look like a "femme fatale", being watched by an old wanker, then enters the projection room and - wearing a shrill blue costume - moves from one seat to another, always in search of virile young boys who need a blow job. The elderly writer Jaques shows little interest in him; he is looking for natural young men instead of drags and queens. Jacques is played by the director of this film, Jacques Nolot.

   These highly amusing and shrewd observations are superimposed by encounters at the cinema box office, where Jacques, the cashier Vittoria and the projectionist Sebastian (an innocent country boy) talk about youth, love, AIDS, life and loneliness. The cashier soon senses that Jacques is attracted by the young Sebastian.

   With gentle melancholy, brittle humour and a lightness one only finds in French films, the author of "Porn Theatre" has succeeded in writing a great essay about sex and loneliness.

Homepage: www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm.html?cfilm=28583   trailer

order "porn theatre" DVD at amazon.com (ntsc, region 1)

We 01/12/04 19:30 Residenz 1 - The 24th Day - USA 2004, 92', English original version

Imagine you are not particular about safe sex, and when someone asks you, of course you are 100% safe and HIV-negative, but you avoid to take a special test. When it comes to sex it may happen that you "forget" to use a condome. Imagine one evening you meet a handsome young man, follow him to his flat, where everythings seems familiar to you. Suddenly the young man overwhelms, handcuffs and gags you. After having tied you to a chair he explains that he had sex with you five years ago, being HIV positive since that time. He claims that only you could have infected him as you were his only homosexual contact in the last five years. He takes a blood sample from you and threatens to hold you captive until he knows the result of the HIV-test. If it's negative he'll let you go, otherwise he'll kill you.

   Barebacker's nightmare - in this breathtaking thriller - written and directed by Tony Piccirillo - it comes true.

James Marsden ("X-men") plays the role of the agile and successful Dan, who - in the truest sense of the word being "nailed down to his responsibility" - tries in vain to wriggle out of the dangerous situation. For him the whole word is complex and manifold, for Tom everything is much simpler: Either you are infected or nots, either you act in a responsible way or you don't. Tom (Scott Speedman, "Underworld") is a kind of loser. After the failure of all his dreams he chose the simple job of a cook. Now he sees himself als the victim being sure he has convicted the culprit. A claustrophobic thriller, brilliantly acted and written without a moralistic lecture. This film was one of the festival's highlights.

order "the 24th day" DVD at amazon.com (ntsc, region 1)

Th 12/02/04 21:45 Residenz 1 - You I love - Russia 2004, 83', Russian original version with english subtitles

A Russian film about gays? If you expected tough boys and an ice-cold shabby rural setting you are completely mistaken. The film deals with two successfull city dwellers, who live in Moscow, where they enjoy the economic miracle of the "new Russia": Vera is anchor-woman at a news broadcast, Tim executive employee at an advertising agency. Stylish clothes, elegant flat, cosmetics and fitness, a cellular phone that rings permanently, all this is overshadowed by doubts whether they are still able to cope with the continious stress and to live up to the status symbols. For the spectators of Germany, where the best years are already gone, the identity problems of the noveau riche Russians may be quite amusing. The life of the heterosexual couple gets in a muddle when Vera catches her fiancé in flagranti with the Mongol Uloomji, who collided with Tim's car a short time ago. He has neither a job nor a lodging. Whoever thinks that Vera will retreat after this shock, being utterly frustrated, underestimates her. But this is only the beginning of the complications, for Uloomji's family begins to interfere trying to "cure" the young man.

   "You I Love" is a rather crazy but at the same time romantic comedy with impressive and unforgettable characters. A great movie that exceeded my expectations with regard to Russian filmmakers. It was shown to a full house and got much applause. It was really a worthy festival closing.

Homepages: www.picturethisent.com/minisites/youilove
www.medialuna-entertainment.de/ICONS/FILMLISTS/you-i-love/002.html  trailer (quicktime)

order "you i love" DVD at amazon.com (ntsc, region 1)

In my opinion this festival's most attractive films were "Carandiru", "Porn Theatre", "The 24th Day" and "You I Love".

On behalf of gaykoeln.com: I've revised the reviews on former festivals 2003 2002 2001. The outcome is a yet small but quite interesting queer film archive. Most important novelty is the Amazon DVD-link which works both with amazon.de (on the German pages) and with amazon USA (on these pages). Bad news for English-speaking EU-citizens: We can't provide Amazon-UK DVD-links as the British Amazon branch rejected partnership with us, the Amazon-UK staff found our pics too "offending". The poor British! :-)

Anytime you order a DVD via an Amazon link on these pages, you'll help gaykoeln as well, so better order all titles at once :-) Strikingly the US amazon.com is excellently well assorted with "queer cinema" and often sells even European films months before amazon.de has them in stock. It's also remarkable that DVD sales of new films already start just a few months after release: Thus most of 2004's festival films are already available on DVD.

andreas