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Fears for Queers: A Little Humor and Some Nihilism
June 11, 2009
by Paul Donovan
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The annual Kansas City Gay & Lesbian film festival has become a tradition for the community to venture out and see how “gay cinema” is growing in variety (and quality). The films tend to be celebrations of the freedoms we’ve won over the past decades, or examinations of issues we are still grappling with. This year, however, will include a special showing of short films that will push the envelope of what we are used to seeing. Fears for Queers is an apt name for this selection of movies for two reasons.
The first reason is obvious -- they are chilling films that pull back the curtains on some genuinely uncomfortable issues (well, Gay Zombie probably won’t frighten anyone; we see too many of those in the bars). Three Short Films About Evil uses an unconventional photography technique to interweave three stories about people who do bad things. There are some serious ideas being posed here -- hateful siblings, suicide, child abuse, sexual exploitation, murder -- although they are mixed in with a lot of humor if you are the kind of person that can appreciate the jokes.
So while those films provide the humor to serve as the spoonful of sugar, it’s the third film, Weak Species, that becomes the bitter medicine. This film is going to be hard for many people to absorb. It deals with many of the issues in Three Short Films about Evil, but realistically and without the humor. Centering on two teen boys on a downward spiral of self-destruction (and the adults who are only too happy to help out), this is nihilism in its most complete, modern form.
Which brings me to the second reason that “Fears for Queers” is an appropriate title of the evening: Many gay people are going to be afraid that these films may project an image of the gay community that will be scary or hurtful to straight audiences. It will be hard for them to approve of these films when they try so hard to make all gay people seem like Will & Grace or Ellen -- happy, harmless, and fun for the whole family.
To these people I simply say: Get over yourself.
Despite our rainbow-colored pedigree, we live in the same world as everybody else. We have the same dysfunctions, insecurities and self-destructive tendencies. Weak Species is horrifying because it’s true. But it’s not a “gay film” any more than Brokeback Mountain is a “gay film.” Brokeback Mountain is a romance where the main characters happen to be gay. Weak Species is an uncompromising look at troubled youth -- where the main characters happen to be gay.
The gay community has tried for decades to make it obvious that we are like everybody else. And guess what? We are. We don’t need to be ashamed of that ... even if what we are is not always fit for family fun.
Fears for Queers will be showing at 6 p.m. Monday, June 29. Viewer discretion advised. Tickets can be bought online.
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