Image+Nation
ArtsFestivalsFilmMusic
While our Shows This Week column, both for music and arts, is clearly on hiatus until we can, you know, go to shows again, we thought we'd highlight some of the Montreal and Montreal-friendly music, art, theatre, comedy, film etc. that you can partake in.
The image + nation Launches Canada's First-Ever Queer Short Film Festival
image + nation, Canada's first LGBTQ+ film festival just concluded its 33rd edition, albeit in a totally online form. While you can still see the films that won awards at the festival until December 12th, image+nation has something else to offer.
From December 9th until the 31st they are running the first-ever pan-Canadian Queer Short Film Festival. This new event is focusing on a few key areas including growing up and growing older as an LGBTQ person, films from countries and perspectives that see little representation in the queer cinema canon and outreach to Francophone communities outside of Quebec.
I+N Courts Queer Short Film Fest runs December 9-31. The full program is available in an online catalogue and you can watch the short films until the end of 2020
Wooden Drone's Never Ending Loops
Montrealer Emmanuel Lauzon, aka electronic music producer Wooden Drone released his debut album this past November 14th. Titled Never Ending Loops, it is a 14-tracks of electronic ambient music meticulously produced over a decade.
That's right, this is the product of ten years' worth of work. During that time, Lauzon was also developing the video game We Happy Few as a senior 3D artist. Both projects were released simultaneously.
Wooden Drone will be releasing a single in the new year, but for now (in addition to the full album) we have this teaser video:
Never Ending Loops by Wooden Drone is available for download on Bandcamp
Igloofest Will Return and Has An Online Shop for a Good Cause
Igloofest, the annual outdoor-in-winter music fest has the distinction of being literally the coolest festival in Montreal, but also, due to its timing, one of the few big annual events that actually got to hold an in-person 2020 edition.
This year, with a COVID vaccine's potential widespread distribution still months away, there won't be an in-person Igloofest this winter. Organizers are working on a digital version in its place and promise surprises and video capsules starting in January and leading up to the 15th edition scheduled for 2022.
Right now, though, you can buy festival merch. Their online shop, the Iglooboutique, launched this past Thursday, offers items like the classic toque sold at the event each year, hockey jerseys and socks.
If you buy a pair of socks, another pair will be donated to people suffering from homelessness. This is due to Igloofest's partnership with Montreal-based Robin des Bas.
You can find updates on the online festival at igloofest.ca and shop at boutique.igloofest.ca
Featured Image from Mother Bunker (2020) playing at the I+N Queer Short Film Festival
If you're involved in a project or know of one that you think should get coverage here, please let us know at arts@forgetthebox.net or music@forgetthebox.net We'll do our best, but no promises
By FTB Staff Dec 11, 2020 Dec 11, 2020
ArtsFeminismFestivalsFilmQueer
Vita and Virginia is an Uneven Movie About a Pair of Fascinating Women
Adapted from Eileen Atkin's 1994 play of the same name, Vita and Virginia is based on the real-life romance between aristocratic socialite and author Vita Sackville-West and literary icon Virginia Woolf. With a scandalous romance, the glamour of the 1920s, and famous works of literature, Vita and Virginia's story in the right hands could have been a very special film. Unfortunately, despite some strong acting and beautiful cinematography, this film is an uneven mess that never quite comes together.
When we first meet Vita (Gemma Arterton) it's hammered into us that she's a thoroughly modern woman; she drives her own car, wears pants, declares proudly that "Independence has no sex." When Vita goes to a party hosted by, as her mother (Isabella Rosselini) describes, "bohemian communist socialists" that she meets the elusive Virginia Woolf (Elizabeth Debicki).
It's made clear from their first meeting that their relationship will be a sexual one; Vita observes Virginia dancing from across the room with a decidedly male gaze. Virginia, as the object of desire, acknowledges that gaze and welcomes it.
Arterton and Debicki do what they can to save the film with their performances. Arterton is more than capable of showcasing the charm and insatiable lust of Vita, who while in an open marriage, had affairs with both men and women alike. And Debicki (who should have broken out after the criminally under-seen Widows) gives the strongest performance in the film. She is so good here she makes you forget all about a certain Australian actress who won an Oscar for portraying the same woman.
But despite these performances, the film falls apart under the direction of Chanya Button. While the melodic electro score (by Isobel Waller-Bridge) is beautiful and perhaps meant to show these women were not of their time, it takes you out of the story. The same goes for the decision to have the women read their letters to each other aloud while looking directly at the camera. It's overly stagey and completely unnecessary.
And then there's the magical realism that's thrown in to show Virginia's increasingly unstable mental state. If it had been used all throughout the film perhaps it would have made more sense, but only used a few times it doesn't work. Not to mention that Debicki is a more than capable performer who could have showcased Virginia's bipolar disorder without a scene where a flock of birds who aren't really there attack her.
The real-life Vita and Virginia continued a friendship long after their romance fizzled, until Virginia's death in 1941, which for some reason, Button decided not to mention in the final title card was a suicide, although Virginia talks about death throughout the film.
Their relationship inspired one of Virginia's most popular books, Orlando. If you're curious about these fascinating women and their influence on each other, I recommend you read that book (or see the 1992 Tilda Swinton film adaptation) instead.
By Stephanie Laughlin Dec 23, 2019 Dec 23, 2019
ArtsFestivalsFilmQueerWomen's Issues
Anne + is a Charming Web Series About a Queer Woman's Quest for True Love
Anne + is a web series where Anne (Hanna van Vliet) has just moved into her first grown-up apartment after graduating university in Amsterdam. While out on an errand, she runs into her ex-girlfriend and first love Lily (Eline van Gils). The encounter makes her ruminate on her ever-evolving dating life since their break up four years earlier.
Split into six stories running about ten minutes each, the episodes explore how all of Anne's relationships have helped define the person she has become. While the main character is queer, the relationship issues she experiences are universal; your first big romance fizzling out, falling in love with someone who just wants to be casual (or the other way around), being attracted to someone's wild personality but then getting overwhelmed by it.
The series is run by Maud Wiemeijer and Valerie Bisscheroux, two Dutch lesbians who wanted to create more authentic media for queer women. And in that goal they absolutely succeed; although your window into each of Anne's relationships is brief, they feel real and lived in. And each episode builds off the last so, by the end, you really feel like a world has been created.
My personal favourite episode was Anne+ Esther, where she has an affair with an older boss. After a devastating infatuation with a woman who didn't love her back, Anne is giddy sleeping with Esther (Kirsten Mulder). She's getting off on the secrecy of it all and assumes Esther just wants to keep things casual. Especially since she's already in an open but committed relationship with someone else. But when she discovers that's not the case, now it's Anne's turn to let someone down.
The series really works because of the appeal of its lead, Hanna van Vliet. She's a character you immediately root for, even when she dumps sweet Lily for wild Janna, or feels no shame about sleeping with her married boss.
While there are a few supporting characters that show up throughout the season like her friends Casper (Alex Hendrickx) and Jip (Jade Olieberg) it's mostly Anne who carries this show, and van Vliet does easily. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Anne's exploits (they're currently filming season two) in the future.
You can watch all of the Anne + episodes (some of the episodes already have subtitles, other episodes you have to fiddle with the settings) on the show's official English website
By Stephanie Laughlin Dec 2, 2019 Dec 2, 2019
ArtsFestivalsFilmQueer
And Then We Danced is a Beautiful Story About Being True to Yourself
Swedish filmmaker Levan Akin's third feature And Then We Danced is about sensitive dancer Merab (real-life dancer Levan Gelbakhiani making an impressive acting debut) coming to terms with his homosexuality in the conservative, hyper-masculine world of Georgian dance. While that may sound like a giant bummer, the film manages to retain a sweet optimism throughout.
When we first meet Merab, his dance instructor is chastising him for being 'soft'. It's clear that while Merab is extremely passionate about dance, he doesn't quite fit in this world. He's too expressive with his movements, too sensual.
But still, Merab is desperate to please. He comes from a long line of dancers and despite his father's warnings that the profession can destroy you, wants to take it seriously.
Merab's life changes when newcomer Irakli (Bachi Valishivili) arrives. Irakli is brash, talks back to the instructor, and immediately becomes a rival for dance numbers.
They eventually do become friends, and then more, when members of the dance troupe go away together for the weekend. I mean who wouldn't want to experiment with their sexuality when you're drinking wine and dancing to Robyn shirtless in the woods?
Lesser films would have focused solely on the melodrama of Merab and Irakli's ill-fated romance. Yes, Merab is devastated at how it works out, but the story isn't focused on that.
The real focus is about how that experience helps him become the man he's truly meant to be: He meets some new like-minded friends and has an epic night out. He's able to come clean to his longtime dance partner/sort-of girlfriend Mary (Ana Javakishvilli) about who he really is.
But most importantly, Merab dances the way he wants to dance, not the way his instructors have tried to drill into him. There's no big Flashdance moment where Merab impresses the dance company so much they completely change their minds about him, but as he walks offscreen for the last time, you can't help but feel it's off to a much better future.
By Stephanie Laughlin Nov 25, 2019 Nov 25, 2019
FestivalsFilmQueerWomen's Issues
Tell it to the Bees: A Lesbian Romantic Drama that Doesn't Quite Stick Its Landing
An adaptation of Fiona Shaw's novel, Tell it to the Bees has plenty going for it. There's a strong cast, led by Anna Paquin and Holliday Grainger, beautiful Scottish countryside locations, and dreamy period costumes.
While there's nothing revolutionary here (small-town people were prejudiced in the 20th century!), for most of the film the story works. That is until the unfortunate third act, where the screenwriters lean into the outdated cliche that a story like this can only end in tragedy and sadness.
At the beginning of the film, we're introduced to a grown-up Charlie (voiced by Billy Boyd, heard but never seen) as he reflects on growing up in Scotland in the 1950s. There we meet young Charlie (Gregor Selkirk) who's being bullied at school. After a fight with his schoolmates, Charlie is brought to the local doctor by family member Annie (Outlander's Lauren Lyle).
It is here Charlie meets Dr. Jean Markham (Paquin) who has just inherited her father's medical practise and estate. Sensing that Charlie needs more than just medical care, she befriends the young lad, eventually becoming friends with his mother Lydia (Grainger) as well.
Both Lydia and Jean aren't new to town gossip: Lydia is in the middle of splitting up with Charlie's dad Rob (Emun Elliot) and Jean left town many years earlier after she was caught kissing another woman.
As Lydia and Jean's relationship progresses, especially after Lydia becomes Jean's housekeeper and she and Charlie move into Jean's house, the town becomes increasingly hostile towards them. But even so, the two women find themselves falling in love.
Paquin and Grainger have excellent chemistry together; their scenes are without a doubt the highlight of the film. When they do finally consummate their relationship, it's a moment that both feels earned and is very sexy without getting too Blue is the Warmest Color.
And then the unfortunate third act arrives. A film that spent most of its time being a gentle love story suddenly has moments of rape, domestic violence, and a scene where Annie is forced to get an abortion after her family discovers she's gotten pregnant by a coloured man.
There was no reason for this horrific scene except to ramp up the melodrama and it feels really forced. Eventually, Jean and Lydia are separated for good, and as an audience member, we're left wondering why we spent time investing in this relationship in the first place.
Tell it to the Bees plays at Université Concordia Cinéma Alexandre de Sève on November 24th as part of IMAGE+NATION and is available to watch on Netflix.
Image+Nation Festival: Five Films to Check Out
Returning for its 32nd edition, the LGBTQ Film Festival Image+Nation will be running from November 21st to December 1st in downtown Montreal.
"As we live through times of social change in the world, image+nation 32 proudly brings new films from countries that share stories through LGBTQ cinema's newest voices," states Programming Director, Katharine Setzer, "with an emergence of exciting Eastern-European filmmaking, the cream of local talent, and even a pioneering Guatemalan production, this year, more than ever, we're bringing the best new and innovative storytelling to Montreal."
Below are five films that I'm looking forward to seeing at this year's festival.
Hari Sama's semi-autobiographical epic of adolescence in 1980s Mexico City. Outsider Carlos (Xabiani Ponce De León) finds his life changed when he gets swept up in a punk-filled world of sexual liberty and drugs. Navigating the storms of his sexual awakening in the process, Carlos finds himself faced with a choice; the comforting inclusiveness of popularity, or being true to himself.
Tell it to the Bees
Charlie, a young boy in 1950s Scotland befriends the new doctor in town, Dr. Jean Markham. Concerned about this relationship, Charlie's recently single mother Lydia confronts the doctor.
When she subsequently falls on hard times, Dr. Jean invites her to come work for her and live in her home. While Lydia begins as Dr. Jean's cleaning lady, the relationship quickly becomes something more when the women realize their undeniable chemistry.
Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street
This documentary explores how 1980s horror films, in particular Nightmare on Elm Street, were in part a backlash against Reagan conservatism and the terrors of the AIDS epidemic.
Based on a pulp novel, this 1970s homoerotic prison drama follows Jamie, a new inmate who gets the nickname "The Prince" by an older inmate he forms a friendship with.
A fictionalized version of the real-life romance between London socialite and popular author Vita Sackville-West and literary icon Virginia Woolf.
Image+Nation runs November 21 through December 1, tickets and full schedule available through image-nation.org