Film Feast
Mercury Cinema
Season closed

A Four Letter Word
Director: Casper Andreas
Rated R

Shelter
Director: Jonah Markowitz
Rated M


Having attended the last four Film Feasts, it's apparent that the quality of the product available to the programmers improves with each event. 'Film Feast 2008' has benefited from being scheduled at the same time as the Sydney Mardi Gras allowing organisers access to the latest queer cinema from the United States in particular.

Casper Andreas's 'A Four Letter Word' is proof that the screwball romantic comedy set in New York is not exclusive to straight Hollywood. Zeke (Cory Grant) and Luke (Jesse Archer) are gay men working in a porn store in Queens called 'Gaybourhood'. While Zeke is deeply political, uncompromising and detests gay clichˇs, Luke just wants to suck and fuck as often as he can. However, when Luke meets Stephen (Charlie David) and a relationship develops, it is Stephen who struggles to be open about who he is and what he wants.

At the same time, Luke's friends Peter (Steven Goldsmith) and Derek (JR Rolley) have just moved in together only to discover that cohabitation is co-dependence and arguments about doing dishes and toothpaste rather than the bliss they had expected. Peter's boss Marilyn (Virginia Bryan) is also staring commitment in the form of marriage squarely in the face and is scared stiff at the prospect.

The film delightfully and incisively explores similar territory to typical romantic comedies such as the importance of honesty in relationships, accepting your partner for who he or she is rather than trying a makeover, and the benefits of commitment, but with a gay twist. When there's no woman in a relationship, straight conventions are thrown out. As Luke says, "Gay men don't date to see if they want to fuck, they fuck to decide whether they can be bothered dating." The film is full of other acid one liners about dress sense, masturbation and sex toys all of which adds to the fun.

The tone in 'Shelter' is more sombre, but still entertaining. Zack (Trevor Wright) is a young man living next to the huge oil refineries in San Pedro making burgers in a greasy spoon for a living and being surrogate father to his nephew because his sister (Tina Holmes) is selfishly putting her latest boyfriend first.

Unable to pursue his dream of going to art school, Zack's only escapes are skateboarding and surfing. However, Zack's world is transformed when his rich best mate's brother Shaun (Brad Rowe) returns for a holiday from college and they fall in love. Sensing Zack's artistic talent, Shaun encourages him to break free, but Zack is torn between his sense of obligation and his own needs.

Zack's journey from conformism to self-realisation is slightly predictable but compelling nevertheless. The realities of coming out in a macho working class town are evident and it's refreshing to see a film that melds gay romance with surf culture. The assertion that coming out is to some extent is class based is valid. Let's face it. If you want to come out in Adelaide, would you rather do it in Rose Park or Elizabeth?

Also screening at the festival was 'The Bubble', an Israeli/Palestinian gay Romeo and Juliet, two documentaries on the sexual habits of San Franciscan and Sydney lesbians respectively ('In Search Of The Wild Kingdom', 'Give Piece Of Ass A Chance'), 'Dolls', where three young women hitchhiking around Europe have significant sexual awakenings, and 'This Kiss', where old school chums Judith and Lucy reunite in an evening of deep self-discovery. The festival also benefited from reprise screenings of some of the best films from the I Can See Queerly Now series including the award winning 'Not Drowning Waving', shot at the Marion Swim Centre. Queer cinema is still alive and well and long may it prosper.

Mal Byrne