WPIRG

Friday March 9th
7:00 PM — Hard Pill
8:45 PM — Summer Storm

Saturday March 10th
7:00 PM — 533 Statements
8:30 PM — Loving Annabelle

Sunday March 11th
1:00 PM — Different than the Others
1:45 PM — Guest Speaker on Queer Film History
3:00 PM — Transparent
5:00 PM — A Dinner Event (more information coming soon)

“YOUR HOMOSEXUALITY CAN BE A THING OF THE PAST!” It’s an insidious but intriguing question: if a pill could make a gay person straight, would it ever be worth taking? John Baumgartner’s suspenseful debut feature explores this charged topic, turning in a highly original work of gay science fiction, and sketching a near future that is distressingly not inconceivable.

Hard Pill is the story of Tim Barrens, a lonely gay man who’s sick of dead ends. Doted on by women friends, spurned by other gay guys, and resorting to sex with a straight buddy, he’s enlivened by news of clinical trials for a new pill that may change his sexuality, and perhaps (he hopes) improve his life. But can his very personhood survive this test?

Award winning Jahn Baumgartner’s taut screenplay and direction, supported by a sterling cast, take on a chilling prospect, drawing provocative conclusions. The synopsis was provided by Outfest 2005. Hard Pill runs 94 minutes long. See the official film website for more information about the film, including reviews, awards and a sexuality quiz. http://www.hardpill.com

Tobi and Achim have been best friends for years. As cox and oarsman, they have helped their team win several rowing cups and are now looking forward to the important regatta in the countryside. As Achim’s relationship with his girlfriend grows more serious, Tobi becomes confused and increasingly left out. As the tension grows, Tobi, Achim and the others head towards a confrontation as fierce and liberating as the summer storm gathering over the lake…

With a vivid display of pathetic fallacy including stunning sceneries and an impressive score, Summer Storm is a rare and touching film which highlights the emotional confusion of young people at the threshold of adulthood. Bolstering the film’s authenticity is the dazzling characterization of Tobi by award-winning young Robert Stadlober (Best Leading Actor at the Montreal Film Festival, 2001).

Directed by Marco Kreuzpaintner, Summer Storm was released in 2004 to critical accliam. The film is 98 minutes long.

See the official film website: http://www.summerstorm-themovie.com

During the summer of 2004 Tori Foster took her camera across the country to talk to 20 women about what it’s like to be queer where they live. The documentary follows the 22 year old’s journey through all ten provinces, beginning in Newfoundland and ending in British Columbia.

Each woman has a unique perspective on all things queer – stereotypes, hairstyles, gender mishaps, and community life, to name a few. Now, Toronto ’s weekly magazine says, “Moments like tranny-boy Jaye’s cogent discussion of macho bullshit in the trans community or manic Winnipegger Madeline’s oddly affecting account of leaving Playboys and nudie-girl posters in her bedroom to piss off her bigoted parents resonate on a deep level.” The 70 minute documentary is intimate and personal, telling stories about what make each of us who we are.

Shot and edited entirely by Foster, the project is a journey of both self discovery, and an exploration of our queer female communities. Inspired by growing up in the small city of Barrie Ontario, the documentary connects individuals and communities separated by the vast geography of Canada. (Taken from Tori Foster’s synopsis of the documentary)

See the official website http://www.torifoster.com/533Statements for a comprehensive view of different aspects of the film, trailers and reviews.

LOVING ANNABELLE

Loving Annabelle is the controversial story of a Catholic Boarding School teacher, Simone Bradley, who has an affair with her female student, Annabelle. The film explores the complexity and controversy of love and struggle between two women who have every reason to deny their feelings. Blind to the world around them, the two journey into a love affair destined to change their lives forever.

Simone is Saint Theresa’s prized young poetry teacher who finds peace and security within the boarding school’s walls. Annabelle is a charismatic and enchanting new student who quickly draws attention for her rebellious behavior. Simone, however, quickly learns that the real challenge is not Annabelle’s behavior but the attraction budding between the two. As Annabelle pursues her teacher, she unleashes the passion that has been locked deep inside Simone, who must decide whether or not to enter into an affair that could cost her everything.

“The torment of forbidden love has never looked as good as it does in Loving Annabelle… Its lush cinematography, strong acting and erotic charge will satisfy.”
Afterellen.com

Written and directed by Katherine Brooks, the film is 76 minutes. Visit the official website: http://www.lovingannabelle.com

DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHERS

Made in 1919 under the title “Anders als die Andern,” Different than the Others deals with the laws in Germany when being homosexual was a punishable crime. About a famous violin virtuoso, Paul, who after a concert one evening is approached by a handsome young man named Kurt who idolizes and has a youthful crush on the older man. The two become closer and eventually fall prey to a blackmailer.

The lead is German actor Conrad Veidt who powerfully plays possibly the first gay character in cinema. An effective drama and a fascinating look at the history of homosexuality, Different than the Others is a reconstruction containing fragments, strung together in a well-done manner with intertitles and stills. It is 41 minutes long and was directed by Richard Oswald.

GUEST SPEAKER ON THE HISTORY OF QUEER FILM

hosted by WPIRG

Details to be announced.

The presentation will be in the EIT building, Room 1015 in the University of Waterloo Campus.

TRANSPARENT

Pink or blue. Male or Female. Mommy or Daddy. Categories that we all take for granted are blown wide open in transparent, a documentary film about 19 female-to-male transsexuals living in the United States who have given birth and, in all but a few stories, gone on to raise their biological children. transparent focuses on its subjects’ lives as parents – revealing the diverse ways in which each person reconciles this part of their history – giving birth and being biological mothers – now that they identify as male and are perceived by the world, but only sometimes by their children, as men. The first-person stories in the film explain how changing genders is dealt with and impacts the relationships, if at all, within these families.

This film has a shocking facade – as a story about transsexual parents – but viewers will be struck by its universality. The subjects resonate powerfully as “normal” parents and human beings dealing with issues like single parenthood, teen pregnancy and their children’s emotional and physical development. But through these extraordinary men, the film challenges, like never before, the ways that we relate to one another, particularly within our immediate families, based on gender.

Directed by Jules Rosskam, transparent has been crictically acclaimed and featured in some of the most prominant queer magazines. Visit the offical website for more information: http://www.transparentthemovie.com

Rainbow Reels was inspired by our queer/queer-positive friends at OPIRG-Kingston and Reel Out!