Look back in wonder: FLARE 2016 critics’ roundtable

On its thirtieth anniversary, the erstwhile London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival had plenty to reflect on, from biopics, revionist histories and rereleases to the new styles and subjects queer cinema is beginning to open up. Our three critics at the festival convened afterwards to share thoughts and tips.

Claire Kurylowski , Ben Walters

In this discussion —

01m 28s

Biopics, historical dramas and a sense of reflection, stock-taking and nostalgia across this year’s programme

Welcome to This House (2015)

Welcome to This House (2015)

 

03m 22s

Increasing documentation of queer lives

Feelings Are Facts: The Life of Yvonne Rainer (2015)

Feelings Are Facts: The Life of Yvonne Rainer (2015)

 

05m 17s

1980s-model public lives and group identities

Rebel Dykes (2016)

Rebel Dykes (2016)

 

08m 25s

Ways of looking back

Mapplethorpe  Look at the Pictures (2016)

Mapplethorpe Look at the Pictures (2016)

Seed Money: the Chuck Holmes Story (2015)

Seed Money: the Chuck Holmes Story (2015)

 

10m 24s

Reenactments and troubling reflexivity

Jason and Shirley (2015)

Jason and Shirley (2015)

 

12m 11s

Queering the mainstream: secrets and thrills

Women He’s Undressed (2015)

Women He’s Undressed (2015)

 

14m 55s

Los Angeles as a queer city

Tangerine (2015)

Tangerine (2015)

Lucid Noon, Sunset Blush (2014)

Lucid Noon, Sunset Blush (2014)

 

17m 50s

Physical interiority and chamber pieces

The Chambermaid Lynn (2014)

The Chambermaid Lynn (2014)

The Pass (2016)

The Pass (2016)

Theo and Hugo (Théo et Hugo dans le même bateau, 2016)

Theo and Hugo (Théo et Hugo dans le même bateau, 2016)

 

20m 00s

Beyond identity politics: spending time with characters

Some of My Best Friends Are… (1971)

Some of My Best Friends Are… (1971)

Trouser Bar (2016)

Trouser Bar (2016)

 

22m 09s

Revivals and correctives

Desert Hearts (1985)

Desert Hearts (1985)

 

23m 36s

New economic identities

Sworn Virgin (Vergine Giurata, 2015)

Sworn Virgin (Vergine Giurata, 2015)

 

25m 27s

Wild spaces

Girls Lost (Pojkarna, 2015)

Girls Lost (Pojkarna, 2015)

Something Must Break (Nånting måste gå sönder, 2014)

Something Must Break (Nånting måste gå sönder, 2014)

 

26m 58s

Transgender director Silas Howard

By Hook or By Crook (2002)

By Hook or By Crook (2002)

Silas Howard

Silas Howard

 

31m 30s

Transform and the lives of trans people

Gendernauts: A Journey through Shifting Identities (1999)

Gendernauts: A Journey through Shifting Identities (1999)

 

32m 34s

Magical nonrealism and the fruits of progress

Girls Lost (Pojkarna, 2015)

Girls Lost (Pojkarna, 2015)

Floozy Suzy (Vagabunda de meia tigela, 2015)

Floozy Suzy (Vagabunda de meia tigela, 2015)

 

35m 41s

Queer horror

Sauna the Dead – a Fairytale (2016)

Sauna the Dead – a Fairytale (2016)

 

37m 08s

Queer technologies and scifi

Facial Weaponization Communiqué: Fag Face (2015)

Facial Weaponization Communiqué: Fag Face (2015)

Poshida (2016)

Poshida (2016)

 

39m 11s

Queer films from Latin America

San Cristobel (2015)

San Cristobel (2015)

Tremulo (2015)

Tremulo (2015)

Sunset (2014)

Sunset (2014)

From Afar (Desde Allá, 2015)

From Afar (Desde Allá, 2015)

I Promise You Anarchy (Te prometo anarquía, 2015)

I Promise You Anarchy (Te prometo anarquía, 2015)

 

40m 05s

Claire’s favourite film

Rebel Dykes (2016)

Rebel Dykes (2016)

 

42m 12s

Ben’s favourite films

Femme Brutal (2015)

Femme Brutal (2015)

Trouser Bar poster

Trouser Bar poster

 

44m 56s

Sophie’s most missed programme – Night School – plus censored scenarios and fantasies from Matilda

The Black Widow (2016)

The Black Widow (2016)

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