What: Chicago Lesbian and Gay International Film Festival
Where: Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., and Chicago Filmmakers, 1229 W. Belmont Ave.; 281-8788.
When: Friday through Oct. 16
How much: $4-$5.50
Movies about the last surviving patients of Sigmund Freud, a perturbed housewife, social disorder in 17th Century Spain and an armored car heist are not readily identified with a homosexual film festival.
Yet those are but a few of the diverse plots in films to be screened at this year`s Chicago Lesbian and Gay International Film Festival, a 10-day showcase of 20 feature films, 24 short films and 26 videos at the Music Box Theatre Friday through Thursday and at Chicago Filmmakers Oct. 14 through 16. It is the variety of subjects combined with an emphasis on homosexual lifestyles under different situations that gives the festival`s film lineup an alternative, noncommercial character.
”These films are not generic stories dealing with the discovery that
`I`m gay!` ” says Brenda Webb, director of Chicago Filmmakers and coordinator of the film festival. ”In these films being gay is taken for granted.”
Webb adds that the festival will show the many sides of being gay while challenging the stereotypes of homosexuality that commercial cinema has long presented. ”Hollywood will show gays dressed a certain way, talking in a funny way or depressed or committing suicide,” she says.
The festival also wants to expose homosexuals to works by gay filmmakers and educate them about gay cultures in other countries. ”Many gays don`t know what it`s like (for example) to be gay in Brazil,” says Webb.
Films and videos from the United States, West Germany, France, Great Britain, Israel, Australia, Spain, Denmark, Canada, the Philippines and Brazil will be shown (foreign language films have English subtitles). Webb notes that homosexuality is only implied in some of these foreign works; explicit portrayals ”could get filmmakers thrown in jail in their countries.”
Among the foreign films are ”Revolution Happens Like Refrains in a Song,” a Philippine movie about the connection between underdevelopment, poverty and prostitution in Manila; ”Manuel and Clemente,” a comedy about two swindlers who pose as religious prophets to get rich; and ”Empire State,” a political satire from England about repression and violence against gays in London`s East End.
American films include ”Gay San Francisco,” a look at gay life in that city from 1965 to 1970, and ”Out of Our Time,” a contrasting look at a literary and artistic society of women in 1930 Chicago and a contemporary group of feminists.
Webb says this year`s fest will take on a bolder attitude than previous years by screening films she deems ”risque” and too controversial to be popular.
Two such films are ”Black and White,” a Cannes Film Festival award winner about a sado-masochistic relationship between a married accountant and his masseur, and ”In a Glass Cage,” the disturbing story of a retired concentration camp doctor and his obsessed male nurse.
Although Webb admits that offending the audience is ”always a concern,” she believes that ”these are very strong films that merit special attention.”
Besides the feature films, the festival will treat moviegoers to series of short films and videos dealing with women`s issues, gay life and AIDS.
The festival will launch its eighth year Friday with the film ”Tiny and Ruby: Hell Divin` Women,” a portrait of Tiny Davis and Ruby Lucas, two lesbian jazz musicians from Chicago who played with the band International Sweethearts of Rhythm in the 1940s while living openly as homosexuals. Davis and Lucas will be at a champagne reception at 5:30 p.m.
Admission prices to the festival are $8 for the opening-night reception and film or $5.50 for only the film; $5.50 for evening programs at the Music Box; and $4 for matinee screenings at the Music Box and for day and evening presentations at Chicago Filmmakers. The video programs on AIDS will be free. A $50 festival pass is good for all shows, and a $25 ”6 Pass” is valid for any six shows, including the opening night movie and reception.
The Lesbian and Gay Film Festival began in 1981 with a dozen programs shown every weekend for a month. According to Webb, in the fest`s first year
”tons of people” attended, selling out all shows.
This year, Webb expects up to 12,000 people to attend. ”The films deal with a lot of different themes, so I think a straight audience will be entertained, too,” Webb says.
Following is the complete film schedule:
MUSIC BOX THEATRE
Friday
7 p.m.-”Tiny and Ruby: Hell Divin` Women” (United States), 1988, 40 min. The story of Tiny Davis and Ruby Lucas, two black lesbian jazz musicians who played in the International Sweethearts of Rhythm. Davis, a trumpet player, was billed the ”female Louis Armstrong” in the 1940s. Davis and Lucas will be present. ”International Sweethearts of Rhythm” (U.S.), 1986, 30 min. A retrospective of the racially integrated, all-female jazz band that defied segregation laws and prejudice against women in the 1940s.
9:15 p.m.-”Friends Forever (Venner For Altid)” (Denmark), 1986, 95 min. A 16-year-old Danish boy seeking popularity at school befriends the school gang leader, who is gay. ”Alfalfa” (Great Britain), 1987, 9 min. A film short about a gay dictionary.
Saturday
11 a.m.-”Vera” (Brazil), 1986, 92 min. A teenage girl at an orphanage develops a masculine personality that she imposes on other girls.
1 p.m.-”I`ve Heard the Mermaids Singing” (Canada), 1987, 81 min. A whimsical story about a secretary in a Toronto art gallery, who builds a fantasy world-a place where mermaids sing-around herself.
3 p.m.-British short films.
5 p.m.-”Empire State” (Great Britain), 1986, 101 min. A political satire in the style of a gangster thriller set in the trendy night-world of London`s East End.
7 p.m.-”The Virgin Machine (Die Jungfrauenmaschine)” (West Germany), 1988, 85 min. Pursued by her former lover, a German woman flees to California in search of love and happiness.
9 p.m.-”The Everlasting Secret Family” (Australia), 1988, 94 min. A modern power and sex fable about a secret homosexual society.
Sunday
12:30 p.m.-Women`s short films.
2:30 p.m.-”Out of Our Time” (U.S.), 1988, 70 min. A look at two circles of women-a literary/artistic society of women in 1930 Chicago and a contemporary group of feminists. ”Hazel`s Photos” (U.S.), 1988, 5 min. Contemporary women ponder photos of turn-of-the-century women.
4:30 p.m.-”Manuel and Clemente (Manuel et Clemente)” (Spain), 1985, 93 min. Two petty swindlers decide to cash in on the religious prophecy racket.
6:30 p.m.-”Extramuros” (Spain), 1986, 118 min. A look at the social decline of 17th Century Spain.
8:45 p.m.-”Black and White (Noir et Blanc)” (France), 1986, 80 min. A married accountant living an ordinary life meets a young black masseur.
Monday
7 p.m.-”1919” (Great Britain), 1984, 99 min. The story of Sophie Rubin and Alexander Scherbatov, the last surviving patients of Sigmund Freud.
9 p.m.-”What Have I Done to Deserve This?” (Spain), 1984, 106 min. A twisted black comedy about a Madrid housewife going over the edge.
Tuesday
7 p.m.-”Crows (Orvim)” (Israel), 1988, 45 min. Homeless youngsters lead a commune-like life in a garbage sanctuary in Tel Aviv. ”Bertrand Is Missing (Bertrand Disparu)” (France), 1986, 44 min. A 12-year-old runaway meets a man who keeps him from getting into trouble.
9 p.m.-”Anita-Dances of Vice” (West Germany), 1987, 87 min. The true story of an eccentric nude dancer who performed in Berlin during the 1920s.
Wednesday
7 p.m.-”Kamikaze Hearts” (U.S.), 1986, 80 min. The impossible relationship between a young woman and a flamboyant porn star with whom she is obsessed.
9 p.m.-”Intimate Power (Pouvoir Intime)” (Canada), 1986, 87 min. An armored car heist goes awry.
Thursday
7 p.m.-”She Must Be Seeing Things” (U.S.), 1987, 94 min. A lesbian relationship undergoes the strains of jealousy and sexual obsession.
9 p.m.-”In a Glass Cage (Tras El Cristal)” (Spain), 1986, 100 min. The tale of an ex-concentration camp doctor and his obsessed male nurse.
CHICAGO FILMMAKERS THEATRE
Friday, Oct. 14
7 p.m.-”The War Widow” (U.S.), 1976, 83 min. The wife of a soldier develops a relationship with a free-spirited photographer while waiting for her husband to return from World War I.
8:30 p.m.-”Six of Hearts: Tall Dark Stranger and Andy the Furniture Maker” (Great Britain), 1986. Two of the six episodes from the gay British TV series ”Six of Hearts.”
10 p.m.-”The Days of Greek Gods” (U.S.), 1949-62, 20 min. A collection of physique films by Richard Fontaine, father of modern gay erotica. ”Gay San Francisco” (U.S.), 1965-70, 60 min. Scenes at Aquatic Park, Land`s End, the Tenderloin and Polk and Market Streets.
Saturday, Oct. 15
2 p.m.-Videos on AIDS.
5 p.m.-Gay experimental films.
7 p.m.-”Stripped Bare: A Look at Erotic Dancers” (U.S.), 1988, 60 min. A look at San Francisco`s erotic club scene via the testimony of the dancers. ”Evolution of a Sex Life” (U.S.), 1988, 15 min. A personal trip through director Cynthia Gaffney`s past, including the lusty influence of a good Catholic education.
8:30 p.m.-”Revolutions Happen Like Refrains in a Song” (Philippines), 1987, 85 min. The third of a trilogy about the links between underdevelopment, poverty and prostitution in the Philippines.
Sunday, Oct. 16
1:30 p.m.-Women`s videos.
3:30 p.m.-Gay videos.
