Getting into Inside Out

Andrew Murphy, Inside Out’s spanking new and ridiculously cute director of programming, is determined to make his mark on the 22-year-old festival. “In my first year, I want to ensure that the festival’s audiences are treated to some of the freshest voices and perspectives in cinema.”
This year’s films are jam-packed with gay heroes, fighters and icons. To help film-hungry homos navigate the schedule, fab offers reviews in three categories: skin flick (sexual pleaser), chick flick (heart-wrencher) and think flick (gay mind-scraper). 

Love Free or Die
Directed by Macky Alston
This Sundance award-winner takes a peek at the struggles of the first openly gay, non-celibate leader of a major Christian denomination: Gene Robinson, Bishop of the Episcopal Church in New Hampshire.

Skin flick: Men in mitres, robes
and clerical collars kill all hope of arousal.
Chick flick: Love against all
odds makes history!
Think flick: What will it take for other churches to follow suit?

Lost in Paradise
Directed by Ngoc Dang Vu
Possibly the first Vietnamese film to portray gay love explicitly and positively, this is the tale of a relationship between two young male prostitutes.

Skin flick: Lots of long, lingering shots
of homoerotic twink nudity.
Chick flick: Tender moments between the two lead actors are attention grabbing.
Think flick: There’s a parallel story about
a developmentally disabled fellow, his pet duck and a female prostitute.

United in Anger: A History of ACT UP
Directed by Jim Hubbard
A documentary chronicling the birth and evolution of AIDS activism in the US.

Skin flick: Footage of sexy men and gay kissing spice up the archival
clips and photos.
Chick flick: Fiery, courageous gay people lend urgency to the cause.
Think flick: The sheer number of voices and accounts challenges, educates and blows the mind.

Madame X
Directed by Lucky Kuswandi
A campy film from Indonesia about a fierce and fabulous transsexual turned superhero. 

Skin flick: More wigs and costumes than muscled villains. The kinky stuff fails to sizzle.
Chick flick: Indonesian guys playing villains and supporting roles provide nice eye-candy.
Think flick: How did this film emerge from Muslim Indonesia? It’s mind-blowing!

Sagat
Directed by Pascal Roche and Jerome M De Oliveira
A cinematic attempt to scratch the surface of steamy French pornstar Francois Sagat’s persona.

Skin flick: x2 Self-explanatory, but not quite porn.
Chick flick: Sagat’s honesty, vulnerability and quiet dignity make him lovable, not just desirable.
Think flick: An object of desire becomes a compelling human subject. Sagat runs deep.

Speechless
Directed by Simon Chung
A subtle and quiet story that unravels the mystery behind a lost, and inexplicably silent, Frenchman who befriends a male nurse in China.

Skin flick:  Interracial sensuality, tight twink bodies and tasteful nudity heat up the screen.
Chick flick:  There’s a love story
in every corner.
Think flick: A big mystery keeps viewers guessing until the big reveal.

Bullhead
Directed by Michael R Roskam
An Oscar-nominated film set in Belgium about cattle mafia and a deeply traumatized, hyper-masculine man.

Skin flick: Nudity and man-on-man encounters deliver the machismo - if bad boys are your thing.
Chick flick:  A buff, shy, bad boy who can’t get over his first love is as lovable as he is flawed.
Think flick: What makes a man - beef, balls or bull? Conversely, what makes a gay man?

The 22nd Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival
Thurs, May 17–Sun, May 27
Check insideout.ca for schedules and venues.