Gay, lesbian filmfest soon

Joko E.H. Anwar, Contributor, Jakarta

Local movie audiences should feel lucky as they are offered many special movie events besides the "Hollywood Film Festival" that runs throughout the year at our beloved multiplexes.

We also have events that screen movies catering for specialized interests, such as movies on the women's movement or on food.

As the capital has become more and more like a place where movies are highly celebrated, audiences with other special interests (pets or even philately) should not be worried because they are likely to get their turn soon.

The next event will be the screening of movies with a gay and lesbian theme.

Dubbed as Q! Film Screenings, the event is scheduled to show 30 movies from several countries on Sept. 21, 22, 27, 28, and 29.

The event is organized by self-proclaimed movie buffs who are part of a movie-lovers club, Q-munity.

Group members comprise columnists and scriptwriters who have a strong interest in movies.

"We wanted to give local audiences something to watch that had a theme different to those of many other movie festivals here," event director John Badalu told The Jakarta Post.

John acknowledged that the event, the first to explore the theme here, might be controversial due to the nature of the subject.

However, he said, there was no other motive in showing the movies other than to show quality movies that had a similar theme, which, in this case, was homosexuality.

"There will be no discussion of the movies as we are not staging this as a political event, for example, to fight for public acceptance of homosexuality," said the 31-year-old, who has organized special movie screenings both here and abroad.

The movies scheduled to be shown come from many genres including drama, comedy and thrillers. The event will also show documentaries and shorts.

Porn lovers, however, will be disappointed as there are no such movies scheduled to be screened.

Three local movies can also be seen during the event. The first is Aku, Perempuan, dan Lelaki Itu (Me, Woman, and That Man), directed by Aria Kusumadewa, which tells the story of a woman who comes to the conclusion that she does not need a man in her life.

Another is 28-minute short Duniaku, Duniamu, Dunia Mereka (My World, Yours, and Theirs) by Nugroho Adisusilo, which features a monologue by a transvestite revealing the secrets of his/her life.

A 12-minute short titled Ternyata..! (Apparently..!) by Azhar Lubis will also be screened. It tells the story of a young woman who discovers that her boyfriend is gay.

Watching the three movies should be interesting as there were no other gay-themed movies made locally after Istana Kecantikan (The Beauty Palace) in 1989, which ineptly portrayed a bleak, fatalistic world of homosexuals.

There have been several local movies which include homosexuality in their sub-plots, including Kuldesak (1999) but which never specifically dealt with the issue.

The event will definitely attract its target crowd. However, other movie-lovers should also check the screening times as most of the movies scheduled to be shown are quality movies that are also hard to find anywhere else in the capital.

Among them is I Shot Andy Warhol (1996), an extraordinarily- acted movie that tells the true story of radical feminist Valerie Solanas, who shot and paralyzed artist Andy Warhol in the 1960s.

There is also the very well-written, critically-acclaimed British movie, Priest (1994) which daringly mixes issues of church, homosexuality and incest with thought-provoking results. The event also features recent releases, such as Lan Yu, directed by Chinese director Stanley Kwan. The movie is based on an Internet novel written by someone using the pseudonym The Beijing Comrades.

The event will also include little-known movies from several countries including The Philippines.

The screenings are scheduled to be held at four venues: the Italian Cultural Institute, Jl. HOS Cokroaminoto 111 and GoetheHaus at Jl. Sam Ratulangi Nos. 9-15, Central Jakarta, Ruangrupa art gallery, Jl. Tebet Barat Dalam I/26, South Jakarta, and Teater Utan Kayu, Jl. Utan Kayu no. 68 H, East Jakarta.

Admission will be free. For more information, call 08128432211 or 08121325636, or check out the event's homepage at http://qfs2002.tripod.com.