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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2002)
46 1 .2002 pp I pn I t 8 Wm I f I It's a gay, gay, gay, gay world The Portland International Film Festival returns for its 25th year 7/S 7 ^ smattering of programs offered by the 25th Portland International Film Festival p have queer themes. Here’s a quick run down so you don’t have to search through their entire guide desperately seeking the word “gay.” (W e did it for you.) M uch A do A bout S omething Australia T Celebrates its 7 th With a benefit for Our House of Portland, a residential care facility for people with AIDS. February 5— 7 will be business as usual but Wild Abandon will donate 4 0 % of all proceeds to Our House. 2411 SE Belmont 503.232.4458 6KTB0Y LOVES MARC hese documentaries by two o f New Zealand’s leading gay filmmakers portray two atypical gay men. Both films are auto biographical in style and use images to illus trate or to counterpoint the musings o f their idiosyncratic protagonists. In Peeptoe, a man talks about his obsession with women’s shoes, in the process revealing a warmhearted indi vidual who finds beauty in the most unlikely o f professions. T h e celebration o f male beauty as a form o f gay religion is called into ques tion in G o d as the filmmaker and his young Indian assistant traverse the subcontinent to interview people who have relocated in search o f spiritual fulfillment. (6 pm Feb. 14, 9 pm Feb. 19 at Bnxidw ay M etroplex.) P ossible L oves Brazil Anniversary Reservations Recommended here has been much speculation about whether Shakespeare really wrote Shake speare, and if he did not, who did? Filmmaker Michael Ruhbo plays devil’s advix:ate, pasing the query to scholars less than thrilled with the sug gestion. His prime candidate to have penned some of the Bard’s work is the witty, iconoclastic (and rather flamboyant) ptxn Christopher Mar lowe. The film mingles interviews, readings and performance clips in its playful investigation of this literary mystery, and Marlowe’s eye for the hoys is not overlooked. (2 pm Feb. 16, 9 pm Feb. 21 at Whitsell Auditorium.) N aughty L ittle P eeptof V G od , S reenu and M e N ew Zealand omething happened to Carlos 15 years ago that changed the course of his life. Now, three possible outcomes are offered in this romantic fantasy from Sandra Wemeck. In the first version, he is a bored husband desiring an affair hut fearful of losing his comfortable security. In the second, Carlos is divorced and embarks on a passionate relationship with Pedro, a handsome soccer player. The third possibility puts him into a series of disas trous relatioaships. The question is: Which story is real? This winner of the Latin American Cinema prize at the Sundance Film Festival explores chance, destiny and desire. (9:45 pm Feb. 15, 8:45 pm Feb. 18 at Broadway Metroplex.) T he B usiness of F ancy D ancing United States ased on his Ixxik of the same name, Sherman Alexie makes his directorial debut with this study of a rich, famous, gay Native American in the Northwest. Seymour Polatkin left the Spokane “rez" after high school and found a bright future of academia and literary recognition in Seattle. At the news of the death of a childfuxxJ friend, he must return home to a world that no longer recognizes him, departing from his white partner, who contests, “They’re not your tribe any more; I’m your tribe.” A study of the clashing of multiple identities and the place of the nruxlem Native American in a postcolonial land. (6:45 pm Feb. 9 at Broadway Metroplex, 7:30 pm Feb. I Oat Whitsell Auditorium.) MARC ACITO Quite simply the world's finest Queer columnist and Portland's premier gay icon 9fpzv appearing in eacH a n d every issue o f Ju s t Out Jessica Stein might have found a date worth having K issing J essica S tein United States he winner of the C ritic’s Special Jury and Audience Awards at the Los Angeles Film Festival, this romantic comedy trails neurot ic, single Jessica in her quest for the love of a gtxxl man (or even a decent date). Her quirky friend Joan, smug ex-boyfriend/boss and Jewish matchmaking mother don’t help, hut an intrigu ing personal ad might— except it’s in the “Women Seeking W om en" category. Has Jessica been kxiking for love in all the wrong places? Thus begins a journey toward self-discovery and the courage to engage the future. (8 pm Feb. 23 at Whitsell Auditorium.) R ick & S tev e : T he H appiest G ay C ouple in A ll the W orld (E pisode 3) United States his animated short depicts the further adven tures of the beloved gay sweethearts. It’s part of S/iort Cuts II, which also includes “Bean Cake,” winner of the Palm d’Or at Cannes, about a 1933 Tokyo schcxilhoy who learns some things are more important than his favorite snack. “Cheek to Cheek” is a celebratory story of a woman who, with the help of her best friend, dis covers laughter, tap dancing and the joys of living. “Mtxlem Daydreams” is a suite of three Chaplin- esque pieces exploring the theme of movement engendered by day-to-day life. (1:15 pm Feb. 17, 8:30 pm Feb. 18 at Guild Theatre.) JH The P ortland I nternational F ilm F estival runs Feb. 8 to 23. For a complete listing o f all programs, prices and locations call 503-221-1156 or visit www.nwfilm.org. Caught between two worlds in T h e Business of Fancy Dancing Compiled by LlSA BRADSHAW
