Facing Mirrors at the LLGFF

Facing Mirrors 

آینه های روبرو 

2011

Directed by Negar Azarbayjani

Full production details on imdb

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Simple but moving tale carefully constructed to promote
understanding of what it means to be transgender in Iran 

Facing Mirrors is director Negar Azarbayjani's first feature film and the first film about transsexuality to receive a mainstream release in Iran. The film follows an episode in the lives of Eddie (Shayesteh Irani), a rich transgender man fleeing from his oppressive family and Rana (Qazal Shakeri), a cis woman who is struggling to support her family by driving a taxi. Their worlds collide when Rana accepts Eddie's money in exchange for driving him to Tehran from where he plans to fly to Germany for sex reassignment surgery.

Passion, Art and (1)Reason in Video Games

Game Developers Conference 2013

Video games and films have a lot in common as works of art communicating meaning and beauty and defining our times. Well, 'good' films and 'good' games have this in common. Video games still don't carry as much respect as movies, but I would argue that for every mindless FPS there is a cinematic equivalent. Usually featuring Jason Statham.

Submerge at the LLGFF

Submerge

Australia 2012

Directed by Sophie O'Connor

Full production details on imdb

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Amateurish but fairly enjoyable b-movie. praiseworthy for the understated treatment of bisexuality and fetishism.

Day two of the 27th BFI London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, and I'm off to see some pornography. Well, Submerge was originally conceived as a porn film by co-writer/producer Kat Holmes. In the 9 long years it has taken to reach the screens of the BFI it has come a long way.

Unraveling the Onion of Inception

Inception is an awesome film, combination tragi-thriller-scifi-heist. Having just watched it for the second time, I had an odd compulsion, not to write a review, but to explore the events of the film in a visual manner for all to see. Well not so much events as the layers of dreams within dreams of the onion of a film that is Inception. 

I'm not sure this will make any sense to anyone that hasn't seen Inception, but nevertheless would like to declare a *SPOILER ALERT,* don't read on if you haven't seen the film unless you have an irrational non fear of spoilers.

Oh The Shame!

Shame
2011
Directed by Steve McQueen
Full production details on imdb

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a subtle and understated tale of modern isolation and need. beautifully atmospheric tragedy with perfect, sorrowful score.

McQueen's second feature as writer director is an intense and atmospheric tale of isolation. An adult tale in more than one sense it is a window into a rare intersection of the lives of estranged brother and sister Brandon (Michael Fassbender) and Sissy (Carey Mulligan). Both lost and alone, their lives teeter on the edge of sanity, both with needs and cravings, struggling to maintain normal human relations.