Bangkok Love Story
Unlike a book, if one can indeed judge a DVD by its seductive cover, this one’s a winner: virtually every gay man who saw it on my desk picked it up and expressed immediate interest in this action adventure/romance. In reality, it’s much more about poverty, classism, and keeping secrets than banging kok, making the film far deeper than expected. 2007. Thai with English subtitles. TLA Releasing (www.tlareleasing.com). — Preview: Nancy Ford
________________________
Shelter Me (Riparo)
The Golden Globes bestowed 2008 Best Upcoming Actress and Best European Actress honors on Antonia Liskova and Maria De Medeiros, respectively, for this quirky import about the unexpected consequences of immigration on the lives of a lesbian couple. Steamy and intense, but Lou Dobbs would hate it. Italian with English subtitles. 2006. Wolfe Video (www.wolfevideo.com). — Preview:Nancy Ford
________________________
Before I Forget (Avant Que J’oublie)
If Irma la Douce were to be remade into a much more serious, far less musical film, it might result in this downright gritty drama. It is the continuing saga of director Jacques Nolot’s character of the aging, HIV-infected prostitute, Pierre/Jacques that began in 1983 with director Andre Techine’s La Matiouette. 2007. French with English subtitles. Strand Releasing Home Entertainment (www.strandreleasing.com). — Preview: Nancy Ford
________________________
Four Minutes (Vier Minuten)
This winner of the 2007 Lola Award (Germany’s Oscar) for Best Picture tells the tale of an elderly piano teacher (Monica Bleibtraub) who trains a violent young convict (Hanna Herzsprung) at a women’s penitentiary. Piano lessons and a lesbian love story set in prison — what more could we ask? 2006. German with English subtitles. Wolfe Video (www.wolfevideo.com). — Preview: Nancy Ford
________________________
The Good Boy (Segundo Asalto)
Pedro Almodovar protégé Dario Grandinetti (Talk to Her) stars as a charming bank robber who exercises great influence over young boxer, Vidal (Alex Gonzalez), largely because of his past relationship with Vidal’s mother. 2005. Spanish with English subtitles. Available October 28 from Picture This! Home Video (www.picturethisent.com). — Preview:Nancy Ford
________________________
Saturn in Opposition (Saturno Contro)
The Big Chill is done Italian-style when a group of longtime friends, now in their 40s, dine at the home of dynamic Lorenzo and his partner, Davide. Time Out London called director Ferzan Ozpetek’s gay film-fest favorite “a beautifully directed ensemble drama.” 2007. Italian with English subtitles. Strand Releasing Home Entertainment (www.strandreleasing.com). — Preview:
7 Virgins (7 Vírgenes)
This dual Goya (the Spanish Oscar) winner relates the story of Tano (Juan Jose Ballesta), an incarcerated juvenile given a 48-hour leave to attend his brother’s wedding. But the beautiful young man’s temporary freedom reveals more than he expected or wanted. 2005. Spanish with English subtitles. Available October 28 from Picture This! Home Video (www.picturethisent.com). — Preview: Nancy Ford
________________________
Comments