Guide to LGBTQ Films in Novemer
Queer webseries, classic lesbian fi lm among new options available this month
BY GARY M. KRAMER
A trans documentary, a
classic lesbian fi lm, a
Brazilian fi lm by a gay
fi lmmaker, and an Argentine
LGBTQ drama — along
with a queer webseries — are all
available to stream in November.
Here’s a rundown of what to
watch.
North By Current
The provocative documentary
“North by Current” (on PBS November
1) opens by asking, “How
did you become who you became?”
Trans fi lmmaker Angelo Madsen
Minax takes a refl ective approach
to answering this question about
identity-formation by investigating
his own family members, who are
still reeling from the death of his
niece, Kalla. Both Madsen’s sister,
Jesse, and her partner David, are
suspected of child abuse in a case
that was initially ruled a tragic
accident. But “North by Current”
is not a true crime story; instead,
the fi lm parses out information—
about the case, and about the family
history—to examine the truth
and lies people tell in order to cope
with a diffi cult reality. In addition,
Madsen grapples with some painful
remarks regarding his transition.
But it is Jesse’s relationship
with Madsen that forms the core
of the fi lm. Scenes of them talking
honestly and openly about events
in their lives or recreating a scene
from their childhood, are affecting.
This is an intimate, personal, and
quietly powerful fi lm.
Go Fish
“Go Fish” (Criterion Channel),
part of the New Queer Cinema
movement, was a watershed release
in 1994. This charming romance,
set in Chicago, has Max
(Guinevere Turner), a “carefree
single lesbo looking for love,” being
unexpectedly set up with Ely (VS
Brodie). Their fi rst date is fi lled
with promise, but Ely confesses
that she has a girlfriend — albeit
one who lives thousands of miles
away in Seattle. As their relationship
develops slowly, their mutual
friends meet up and discuss the
“Lair” is available on VOD beginning on November 9.
would-be couple’s progress, acting
as a Greek chorus. Director Rose
Troche fl eshes out the story with
insight into queer representation,
sex and gender roles — including
butch/femme dichotomies — and
even the best terms for female
genitalia. Part of the appeal of “Go
Fish” is its scrappy indie vibe and
racially diverse cast; it was shot
in 35mm black-and-white on a
tiny budget ($15,000). “Go Fish”
captured magic in a bottle back
in the day. It’s worth rewatching.
Also on Criterion this month is
lesbian director Celine Sciamma’s
“Girlhood,” and the camp classic,
“Mommie Dearest.”
Lair
On VOD November 9, “Lair”
has a fl imsy plot but some decent
thrills. Steven (Corey Johnson)
hopes to get his pal Ben (Oded
Fehr) out of jail by proving a Satanic
item generated a demon that
forced Ben to kill his wife and
child. To do this, Steven rents
an apartment to lesbian couple
Maria (Aislinn De’Ath) and Carly
(Alana Wallace) with Maria’s two
daughters — teenage Joey (Anya
Newall), and 8-year-old Lily (Lara
Mount) — in tow. Steven hopes to
determine what object unleashed
evil spirits by testing it on his tenants.
While there are some jump
scares and a tense sequence when
Lily goes missing at a Pride Parade,
the fi lm is best when it gets
gory, as when Joey invites some
new friends over to the apartment
and they all meet their deaths in
HULU
gruesome ways. Alas, no one believes
the traumatized Joey, so
more hell breaks loose after the
police start to investigate. “Lair”
is uneven to be sure, but the
music adds to the unsettling atmosphere,
and there is plenty of
bloodletting.
FILM
7 Prisoners
“7 Prisoners,” (on Netfl ix November
11) by out writer/director
Alexandre Moratto, has Mateus
(Christian Malheiros, from Moratto’s
previous fi lm, “Socrates”)
taking a job in São Paulo to earn
money for his rural family. However,
when he arrives at the junkyard
run by Luca (Rodrigo Santoro),
Mateus and his fellow workers are
enslaved, forced to work off an incurred
debt and punished for any
transgressions. The observant
Mateus makes a series of calculated
decisions and fi gures out how
to gain Luca’s trust, if he is going
to survive and possibly escape his
dire situation. “7 Prisoners” gives
light to social issues of poverty,
education, power, and human
traffi cking in Brazil, but this potent
fi lm is indicative of equally
fraught situations around the
world. Moratto’s absorbing drama
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