MQFF diary Part the Fifth

Work deadlines and other things have slowed down my festival viewing this week, which is why I haven't posted since Monday. I have managed to squeeze in a couple of sessions, though...

Jerusalem is Proud to Present details the turbulence leading up to Jerusalem's 2006 World Pride festival; a celebration of queer human rights which was marred by violence and death threats by religious extremists. How ironic that expressions of same-sex love should be the only thing capable of uniting feuding Jewish, Muslim and Christian religious leaders. The film's talking heads included various homo-haters, a gay Palestinian who had to flee Jerusalem after threats to his life from Hamas, staff from Jerusalem's Open House (an LGBT community centre) and a gay Jew who was almost killed in a knife attack by a Jewish extremist in an earlier pride march. Director Nitzan Gilady's fascinating feature wasn't as gripping a documentary as I'd hoped for, but his skill in encouraging those who both supported and opposed Jerusalem's pride march to open up on camera, and the skillful editing which nicely juxtaposed their comments, are certainly to be applauded.

Ask Not was another documentary that failed to achieve greatness, but which still provided a detailed view of another unjust situation: in this case the US military's ban on gays and lesbians serving opening in the armed forces known as 'don't ask, don't tell'. Directed by Johnny Symons, the film provided the historical background behind the ban (a failed attempt by then President Clinton to lift the ban on gays and lesbians in the military entirely) and interviewed a number of military personnel - although women's experiences were largely absent - including a retired Coast Guard rear-admiral, and a soldier on active duty in Iraq, about their experiences.

The film also follows a group of gay ex-army men as they visit and speak about 'don't ask don't tell' at US colleges and universities as part of the 'Call to Duty' tour;, and documents demonstrations by members of Soulforce's 'Right to Serve' campaign as they attempt to sign up and are refused on the basis of their sexuality. Frankly I could have done with less of the latter, and more interviews with actual military personnel, but knowing how difficult it can be to get people speaking on the record I imagine the filmmaker had to go with what he had.

The film makes many valid points, including comparing the ban on gays and lesbians in the armed forces to the way that African Americans used to be segregated in the military; and points out the futility of banning willing would-be soldiers on the basis of their sexuality at a time when violent criminals are being allowed to enlist in order to boost dwindling recruitment targets; but ultimately, I concur with another review of Ask Not which describes the film as 'well-intentioned but unfocused'. There's no emotional resonance to really hook you in, and too many story elements jostling for your attention for this documentary to really work. Its unjust subject is an important one, but this film lacks the polish and the punch that would really make viewers care.

The Spanish feature Boystown (Chuecatown) is a light and lively story of love, murder and gentrification set in Chueca, a trendy district of Madrid. Here, the lives of the comic-book loving Rey(Carlos Fuentes) and his driving instructor husband Leo (Pepon Nieto), two scruffy, slobbish bears, are thrown into chaos when psychotic real estate agent Victor (Pablo Puyol) starts killing Chueca's elderly women in order to get his manicured hands on their apartments. When their neighbour becomes one of Victor's victims and leaves her flat to Rey in her will, he moves his gorgon of a mother, Antonia (Concha Velasco), into the now-vacant apartment - much to Leo's horror. With their relationship faltering because of Antonia's dislike for Leo, the situation is complicated further when a neurotic police detective, Mila (Rosa Maria Sarda) and her son and partner, Luis (Eduard Soto) begins to suspect Leo of being the killer.

The central relationship between Rey and Leo, and the on-screen chemistry between Fuentes and Nieto, are the best things about this at times awkward film. The coarse, plump pair are a far cry from the slim, sophisticated gay couples usually seen on screen, and provide director Juan Flahn with an opportunity to mock gay body fascism as well as urban gentrification. While briskly paced and colourful, I found most of the comedy elements overplayed, with the saving grace being the barbed banter between the wonderfully vile Antonia and the beleagured bear, Leo. Overall, Boystown is solid enough, but the balance between comedy and drama is uneven, and the fact that Victor is shown early on to be the killer denies the film the opportunity to enter thriller territory, which could have provided the film with a sharper edge.

Find Part the First of my MQFF journal here, Part the Second here, Part the Third here and Part the Fourth here. Additional MQFF reviews can be read here, and also on Twittter by following rperdio and walypala. Alternatively just go to Twitter and search for 'MQFF'.