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Sebastiane

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Gay and Lesbian
starring: Barney James, Neil Kennedy, Leonardo Treviglio, Richard Warwick, Donald Dunham
directed by: Derek Jarman, Paul Humfress


With this DVD, KINO presents Derek Jarman's debut feature loosely based on the story of Sebastiane, son of a wealthy Roman family during the days of emperor Diocletian. However, those expecting a historical story of Christian faith should better look elsewhere. Recommented for Jarman completists (an early indication of the filmmaker's later work) but virtually no one else with serious interest in film.

Sebastiane converted to Christianity early on and even as commander of the Praetorian Guard and a personal favorite of the emperor, he did not hide his beliefs, actively renouncing persecutions of Christians, helping prisoners and proselytizing Romans to Christianity. This led Diocletian to order his execution. Roman soldiers shot him ... Read More:

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Noir et blanc

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Gay and Lesbian
starring: Marc Berman, Jacques Martial, Catherine Belkhodja, Benoît Régent, Joséphine Fresson
directed by: Claire Devers


Moody and atmospheric, this directoral debut by Claire Devers tranplants a Tennessee Williams story to 1980s France. Something may have gotten lost in the translation. The story of a repressed accountant who finds pleasure in the pain provided him by a sullen African masseur is disturbing, but ultimately too sketchy. If you're going to plumb the darkest depths, there's at least a strong argument for going into some detail. No, not more torture scenes, but some hint of the actual relationship of the two protagonists might help.

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Paul Bowles: The Complete Outsider

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Gay and Lesbian
starring: Paul Bowles, Ned Norem, Allen Ginsberg, Millicent Dillon, Edouard Roditi
directed by: Regina Weinrich, Catherine Warnow

May 28, 1996
I don't think any writer has ever been served as well by a documentary as Paul Bowles is in this excellent film. There are stimulating interviews with Bowles and his critics and friends, and the differces and contradictions in their views are thoroughly explored. Allen Ginsberg gives a remarkable, lucid explication of Bowles' world-view, and others give honest glimpses into his fascinating life. The filmakers pull off the impossible trick of being severely objective and sympathetic at the same time; their approach is the journalistic equal of Bowles prose style. Includes excerpts from Bowles' lively musical compositions. Bowles was a terrifying, implacable writer but he had something important so say, and fans of "The Sheltering Sky", "A Distant ... Read More:

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Red Ribbons

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Gay and Lesbian

November 11, 1998
I don't think any writer has ever been served as well by a documentary as Paul Bowles is in this excellent film. There are stimulating interviews with Bowles and his critics and friends, and the differces and contradictions in their views are thoroughly explored. Allen Ginsberg gives a remarkable, lucid explication of Bowles' world-view, and others give honest glimpses into his fascinating life. The filmakers pull off the impossible trick of being severely objective and sympathetic at the same time; their approach is the journalistic equal of Bowles prose style. Includes excerpts from Bowles' lively musical compositions. Bowles was a terrifying, implacable writer but he had something important so say, and fans of "The Sheltering Sky", "A Distant ... Read More:

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Timepiece (1994)

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Gay and Lesbian

November 11, 1998
I don't think any writer has ever been served as well by a documentary as Paul Bowles is in this excellent film. There are stimulating interviews with Bowles and his critics and friends, and the differces and contradictions in their views are thoroughly explored. Allen Ginsberg gives a remarkable, lucid explication of Bowles' world-view, and others give honest glimpses into his fascinating life. The filmakers pull off the impossible trick of being severely objective and sympathetic at the same time; their approach is the journalistic equal of Bowles prose style. Includes excerpts from Bowles' lively musical compositions. Bowles was a terrifying, implacable writer but he had something important so say, and fans of "The Sheltering Sky", "A Distant ... Read More:

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Desperate Living

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Gay and Lesbian
starring: Liz Renay, Mink Stole, Susan Lowe, Edith Massey, Mary Vivian Pearce
directed by: John Waters

July 20, 1999
In my opinion, John Water's movies have always been smarter on paper than most give him credit for. All of his work skewers the establishment was well as some of its offshoots and although intended to be shocking (in many instances just for the sake of being able to do so), my favorite moments generally involve the amazing Mink Stole and when John Waters in a very matter of fact fashion throws in something absolutely jaw-dropping as if it were just another scene.

On one hand you'll have people who will find Waters' early work to be too repulsive to watch and on the other extreme, you'll find others who worship his movies without any reservation and reject any critique as a sign that people just don't get it. My perspective is a little different as after ... Read More:

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The Sum of Us

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Gay and Lesbian
starring: Jack Thompson, Russell Crowe, John Polson, Deborah Kennedy, Joss Moroney
directed by: Geoff Burton, Kevin Dowling

January 28, 1997
Twenty-something Jeff Mitchell (Russell Crowe) is a gay plumber and footie player who lives with his father, Harry (Jack Thompson). The two have a close and loving relationship and Dad is forever trying to fix Jeff up with nice men. Harry, a widower, misses being in love and tries a computer dating service for himself; the lady he meets seems just about perfect, until he tells her about his son.

This is a very sweet father and son story, with Crowe and Thompson both convincing, sympathetic, and utterly likeable in their roles. Filmed in Sydney, the thick Aussie accents and slang may be a bit hard to understand at times, but they make the story seem very real and intimate. I would have given the film five stars (I did give it 3.5 stars) had it not been for the very ... Read More:

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Queen, the

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Gay and Lesbian
directed by: Frank Simon

May 13, 2003
This film is very amateur yet it's a treat to watch to see how gay men were practically no different in the mid 60's than they are today. Superficial, eyes rolling, just about everything is spontaneous and is obviously not scripted. There are many funny moments throughout this movie; as well as scenes where some of the guys talking about being "out" even in the mid 60's, and how one guy was talking about how he was from a town of 500 people and his mother accepted him for who he is. The best part of this film is towards the end, where the jealous 4th runner up in the drag queen pageant verbally attacks the winner, reading her about her makeup and dress. They definitely saved the best for last in this one. Worth a watch, as you will see the pre-Stonewall gay/drag queen life.

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Making of Bar Girls

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Gay and Lesbian
from: Vid Canada

June 14, 2000
This film is very amateur yet it's a treat to watch to see how gay men were practically no different in the mid 60's than they are today. Superficial, eyes rolling, just about everything is spontaneous and is obviously not scripted. There are many funny moments throughout this movie; as well as scenes where some of the guys talking about being "out" even in the mid 60's, and how one guy was talking about how he was from a town of 500 people and his mother accepted him for who he is. The best part of this film is towards the end, where the jealous 4th runner up in the drag queen pageant verbally attacks the winner, reading her about her makeup and dress. They definitely saved the best for last in this one. Worth a watch, as you will see the pre-Stonewall gay/drag queen life.

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Not Angels But Angels

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Gay and Lesbian
directed by: Wiktor Grodecki

November 11, 1998
Grodecki's "Not Angels But Angels" is fair treatment of the overwhelming issue adolescent male prostitution in Prague. Although I think his fictionalized treatment in "Mandragora" is better, this is a good first look into these young boys world.