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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 2002)
iebruary 15*2002 * t Yay! Money! trials and heartache of a young, impossible gay Ihite Bird Productions has been relationship, although through an entirely new awarded a $ 150,000 grant from Meyer cultural perspective. Dakan is the first feature film on homosexuality out of sub-Saharan i Memorial Trust to build organization al infrastructure. Africa, and director Mohamed Camara now T h e nonprofit, founded in July 1997 by lives in Paris to protect his life. Throughout life partners W alter Jaffe and Paul King, is the making of the movie, he received death dedicated to bringing the best regional, threats, both individual and institutional. national and international dance companies W hen the film opened in Zimbabwe, President to Portland. T h e group’s mission also Robert Mugabe took to the airwaves to con includes commissioning new dance work, demn homosexuals and all of their supporters. developing education and outreach programs Camara is not gay but wrote in defense of and making dance accessible to everyone by his work, ‘‘I made this film to pay tribute to keeping ticket prices affordable. T he grant those who express their love in whatever way money will keep the organization viable and they feel it, despite society’s efforts to repress it." allow it to continue quality programming for The festival will screen the short Out m Africa the coming year. with another documentary, Woubi Chen. The first Most recently, W hite Bird was responsible film profiles a number of gay men in Zimbabwe for the sold-out Les Trockadero de Monte and South Africa. They talk about their personal, Carlo performance in January. It welcomes social and political struggles as well as their work Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, one of the as activists, hairdressers and prostitutes. The film most widely known and highly respected com serves as a record of racial dynamics and as an panies in the country, to Arlene Schnitzer exploration of the future of these men as individ Concert Hall on Feb. 26. uals and as members of a global gay community. Woubi C hen introduces rela tionships within the gay, lesbian, bi and trans commu nities of Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast. Alternately funny and poignant, the film is intelligent and perceptive in exposing the gen erally hidden lives of these subjects. Antonio D’Au- ria, one of the fes tival’s organizers, is happy and grateful to see these movies The boys of White Bird Productions have reason to smile in Portland. The Italian transplant, who moved here to live with his U.S. partner, worked all last year to bring queer-themed very time we turn around, there’s another African films to the annual event. “The movies queer on television. T he Real W orld has have encountered harsh opposition,” he says, not one but two this season. We know “and have caused so much controversy every they’re really, really cute, but there’s another where in the world, Portland community includ guy who’s cute too and not getting nearly ed.. .1 believe these movies are so important.” the same exposure. Dakan screens at noon Feb. 21 and 7:30 p.m. PBS is in the midst of showing its 13-part Feb. 22. Out m Africa and Woubi Cheri screen at series Senior Year, a new documentary captur 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21 and are followed by a discus ing the experience of a diverse group of kids at sion of the films and their subjects. Fairfax High School in Los Angeles. One of All shows takes place in Room 122 of Ter them is Jet, an openly gay Filipino who is also rell Hall at the Cascade Campus, 705 N. a member of RO TC . They might not-ask, but Killingsworth St. Screenings are free, and free Jet is definitely telling. “Hear 1 am, the biggest parking is available. For a complete list of all queer on campus,” he says in Episode 2, “and films, visit www.cfaf.net. you know what? I proved to myself that I can be gay and still do anything I want." T he confident ere’s the sad thing: whippersnapper is If you don’t go to supported by his par Crush, 1412 S.E. ents and has attend Morrison St., sometime ed a Models of Pride between 6 and 9 p.m. day of workshops for Feb. 18, you could very gay and lesbian stu well miss the chance to dents on the show. meet your soul mate. In upcoming You’d just kick yourself, ■episodes he’ll decide wouldn’t you? Ju st O ut is going to Jet jets to cheerleading tryouts on Senior Year to try modeling and try out fot the cheer help you avoid this near-disaster by playing host to a Presidents leading squad (ah, youth). Airing at 10:30 p.m. Fridays, Senior Year Day Singles Party at the suave wine bistro might not be as glamorous as The Real World, that very evening. Show up to enjoy free but it just seems, well, more real. J D food and prizes at this smoke-free venue. You’ll also get free personal ads and help Com piled by L isa B radshaw with writing them. Imagine! W : The Real High School E Just Out seeks singles H dud, bottom of the bag Russell Crowe gives another Oscar-worthy performance as a brilliant mathematician who overcomes schizophrenia to win the Nobel Prize. Ed Harris plays a government official who needs to borrow this tortured cranium to crack Commie codes, and Jennifer Connelly is stunning as the supportive wife. Director Ron Howard uses clever techniques to help us understand the couple’s suffering. — Jim Radosta B lack H awk D own Director Ridley Scott succeeds at convinc ing us war is hell but fails in providing any context for a botched 1993 mission in Soma lia— with the exception of a cigar-chomping warlord and a few explanatory titles. O f course, considering this is a military movie, the hunks are on parade, including Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor and Ron Eldard. Attention! -J R G osford P ark only if you’re really hungry good effort, pass the salt mmmm, tasty! get the big tub o’ com shouldn’t be missed. Director Ray Lawrence orchestrates a complex cast of couples in writer Andrew Bovell’s riveting examination of adul tery, trust and deception. When therapist Bar bara Hershey counsels a gay patient, she begins to get second thoughts about her distant hus band, Geoffrey Rush. Is he or isn’t he? -J R T he M an W ho W asn ’ t T here I’m not a big fan of the Coen brothers, so this is high praise. Billy Bob Thornton redeems himself after Bandits with a pensive perform ance as a quiet barber in this quirky film noir. Jon Polito adds comic relief as a “pansy” con artist who makes an inappropriate pass at Thornton. Subtle metaphor and dry wit carry Robert A ltm an’s 1930s period -J R piece. It’s Upstairs, D ow n- stairs at the S torytelling McCordle coun try estate when Indie provoca guests arrive with teur Todd Solondz servants in tow. ( H appiness, W el But when Sir com e to the D oll W illiam is mur house) puts a queer dered, whodunit? character front Stephen Fry is and center in his memorable if a The housemaid has said too much in Qosford Park sharp new film bit too bumbling but Storytelling mostly serves as a funny but as a police inspector, and Emily Watson is brutal illustration that;, compared to its more Oscar-worthy as a dexterous maid. T here’s under-the-carpet themes— race, class, failure, a rich feminist theme and a delightful moral responsibility in life and art— being peppering of homoeroticism, but the gay is more a simple fact of life than a cause whole thing ends a bit too quickly, allow for sensation. ing nice memories but a feeling of being — Christopher McQuain rushed out the door. — Lisa Bradshaw V anilla S ky I A m S am Ja c o b ’s Ladder meets The Matrix in Cam eron Crowe’s startling romantic thriller. Tom I really wanted to like this sappy tear- Cruise is a wealthy girl magnet (quite a jerker, but the entire experience is excruci stretch) who finds tote love with charming ating: Am I supposed to laugh when Sean artist Penèlope Cruz only to make a fatal error Penn (as a mentally challenged father) says with his “fuck buddy,” Cameron Diaz, which something unbelievably moronic? Am I changes his life in ways he, nor the audience, supposed to swoon when he and Michelle can quite figure out. Is he dreaming, fantasiz Pfeiffer (as his icy lawyer) start flirting with ing or just plain crazy? Amusingly, each other, even though he has the mental Cruise delivers the familiar “Look, I’m capacity o f a 7-year-old? No, I cringe. — JR straight, O K ?”— onscreen this time. Occasionally bogged down in senti mentality, but Cruise and Cmz L antana make the sparks fly. — LB This late arrival in the Oscar race o u t 45
