Gay and Lesbian Documentaries - DVD and Video Page 5

Page 6

This documentary presents a very powerful message: That HIV/AIDS is real, and if we are not careful, it can haunt us like it haunts this group of men. But it is absolutely fantastic that these healthy-looking men can continue to lead productive lives even though not denying the fact that their lives have changed forever. If you want to convince your friend or any type of audience on the demand of practicing safe sex, this is THE VIDEO to get.

From the director of the inspiring Last Call at Mauds comes this intriguing and humorous documentary on the battle between the sexes. But director Poirier and producer Karne Kiss offer a uniquely contemporary spin on the often told subject -- that is the hidden gender gap between gay men and lesbians. Although united in the struggle for civil liberties and social acceptance since the founding of the homophile movement in the 1940s, gay men and lesbians have always made for an uneasy partnership. Their unity always threatened by both the divergent goals of liberation as well as the age-old struggle of man vs. female. This gender gap is examined and analyzed in a series of wonderfully intercut interviews with such queer luminaries as Joan Jett Blakk, Kate Clinton, Martin Duberman, Harry Hay, Michael Musto, Camille Paglia, Michael Goff, Barbara Gittings, Sarah Schulman, Michelangelo Signorile and several others. Fascinating, entertaining and topical -- and if you dare, bring a friend of the opposite sex!

This outlandish behind-the-scenes look at the drag Miss All American Beauty Pageant of 1967 has only improved with age, offering the viewer a fascinating and humorous peek into the world of drag, its memorable participants and a glimpse at one aspect of pre-Stonewall gay life. Staged in New York, the film captures the frantic days of preparation for the elaborately staged finals as the 40 regional contestants arrive, meet the exacting Edith Head-like coordinator, rehearse their stage entrance and dance numbers, and exchange makeup, fashion and beauty secrets. The pageant itself is a glamorous, sensational affair which gives center stage to these beauties, especially Philadelphia's Harlow. After the crowning of the new queen, many of the attitude-throwing, jealous losers bare their sharp claws and venomous tongues, bitching about the winner and her oh-so-tacky dress. Meow! A camp delight and finger-snapping fun.

The complex relationship between gay Asian and Caucasian men is examined in this revealing and entertaining documentary. A diverse selection of 17 Asian, Asian-American and Caucasians are interviewed. Some are couples, others single; most are under 40. They come from different economic and cultural backgrounds but what they share is their cross-racial sexual attraction. The men explain the physical attraction as well as comment about deeper issues, especially the cultural, racial and sexual stereotypes that prevail even among gay men. Other topics include family ties and reactions, communication difficulties in relationships as well as their shared experiences. Their stories range from the humorous and obvious to the academic, from the saucy to the mundane. A simple and direct work that offers much in helping to understand sexual preferences and racial prejudices.

Often hilarious, highly original and utterly convincing, this revisionist interpretation of Rock Hudson's film career and life seeks to discover the "real" Hudson through his "reel" persona. Was this Hollywood hunk completely out of touch with his secreted sexuality, or did he throughout his career offer subtle -- or not so subtle -- hints at his homosexuality. Exploring this idea, Rappaport's insightful and unconventional biography cleverly dissects -- through freeze-frame, slo-mo and replays -- Hudson's films, seeking clues and overtly gay signals. filmmaker Mark Rappaport's premise is that Rock freely chose to perform in these gay suggestive films and that his sexuality was an open secret, the fan only had to read between the lines to see that their Rock was a total queer!
Also included on the DVD is the brilliant 1971 short film Blue Streak that features a group of naked men and women in a posed shot with a running litany of sexually oriented words floating across the screen. This juxtaposition forces us to examine our attitudes towards sexuality and the sex-negative society we find ourselves in.

This based-on-a-real-story television dramatization of Colonel Margarethe Cammermeyer's battle to remain in the Army after she came out as a lesbian was met with polite, if tepid, praise. The Barbra Streisand-produced story stars Glenn Close as the 26-year veteran, Bronze Star winner and former Nurse of the Year who was booted out of the armed forces when, during routine security clearance screening, she admitted to being a lesbian. Close is steadfastly determined (and a bit cold) as a woman who refuses to compromise her beliefs and resolutely seek reinstatement through the legal system despite pressure from the Army, her children, her former husband and even her artist lover (played with pasty charm and complexity by Judy Davis). Somewhat bland and earnest to a fault, the drama suffers from a preachy screenplay, an abrupt ending and a lead that is depicted as so pure and upright as to make Mother Teresa look like a lying whore. The film does feature an on-screen kiss between the two Academy Award-nominated actresses.

One of the best documentaries for sensitizing both GLBT and heterosexual groups to issues of aging and sexuality. This video includes particularly wonderful interviews with two men who have been in a relationship for 55 years and with an African American grandmother.