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GONZALEZ BROUGHT FILM HISTORY TO THE SET'
Selina Robertson meets pioneers of queer cinema Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland (T he Fluffer) and takes a walk in Echo Park, LA.
‘ odd Illaynesl really champions touching I domestic dramas. It‘s something that he did in Far From Heaven and in a different way it's something that we‘re trying to do with this lilm.‘ Wash Westmoreland. lie/m I’m-k [A‘s linglish co- director is clearly still excited that Haynes agreed to exec produce his second film l'eature. 'He‘s our cinema godl'ather‘ adds New Yorker Richard (ilat/cr. the other half in this very creative partnership.
Their new l'ilm's universality seems to have genuinely touched both critics and audiences alike and is perhaps the reason why UK distributor Metrodome have seen stronger legs in this niche- market drama - so you might catch it in a few more cinemas than usual. Queer l'ilmmakers Westmoreland and (ilatzer have bra/.enly positioned the lilm as a gay Latino re-working ol' the kitchen sink drama A 'Iiisie ol’Honev. So how did they come tip with the lilm's idea‘.’ ‘In 2004 we were invited to
be the official photographers for our next-door
neighbour's Quinceanera la girl’s l5 years coming-ol- age birthday celebration] and things developed from there.‘ They both smile and in doing so became
witness to a cultural event far beyond their
imagination btit right on their doorstep. To write a script about teenage pregnancy. coming out and gay gentrification in LA on a budget of {225.000 — these boys certainly had their work cut out. ‘We felt very welcomed iii the neighbourhood. The irony was that we made a film about emotional tension but after the film‘s release there was an article in the [A Times that
42 THE LIST 21 Sep—5 Oct 2006
used the lilm to locus in on the more lurid aspects ol
the licho Park area of the city.‘ Says (ilat/er wrny.
Finding stars limin Rios (Magdalena) and Jesse (iarcia (Carlos) was clearly serendipitous. Both Jehovah's Witnesses in real life. their intimate bond is evidently realised on screen. When veteran actor (‘halo (ion/ach (Bring Me the Head (lfx‘lleY/(l (iur‘r'iu) sent them his head shot tor the role of 'l‘io Tomas. they were overjoyed. He had never worked on a low-budget film but was very happy to muck in. ‘He was our veteran'. says Westmoreland. 'He brought with a sense of film history to the set.‘
(ilat/er and Westmoreland see their llllll as 'post Broke/mek Mountain‘ and given the pair‘s large eclectic l'ilmography (Aids dramas. porn. a documentary about (iay Republicans). it seems they‘ve been waiting for this moment. 'Bmkelmek i'llountui'n was a kind ol‘ watershed in terms ol‘ getting universal gay love stories on screenf states \Vestmoreland. ‘There is a tremendous need for positive images ol~ gay people in cinema. btit there is also room to explore other issues. As gay cinema moves forward it has to keep taking on new challenges or it will become stale‘ So what‘s next for this daring duo'.’ 'Projects about ('ollette and lirrol Flynn.‘ They reply in tandem. Looks like these t'airies no longer need their godmother.
Cineworld Renfrew Street, Glasgow and Filmhouse, Edinburgh from Fri 29 Sep. See review, page 43.
Mountain Patrol Breathtaking blast of pure narrative Cinema from China based on the true stOry of a group of volunteers charged With protecting antelope from poachers in Tibet. See reView. page 45. Cineworld Renlrew Street from Fri 29 Sep.
Keane Lodge H Kerrigan's intense character study is a painful but deeply rewarding experience. See review. page 43. Fi/mhouse, Edinburgh from Fri 22 only.
Echo Park LA Lovely and uplifting coming out drama set in the Mexican/American ‘burbs' of LA. See interview, left and review. page 43. Fi/mhouse from Fri 29 Sep.
Children of Men Nightmarish but emotive adaptation of PD James' futuristic novel. Clive Owen stars along with Julienne Moore. Michael Caine. Danny Huston and Peter Mullen. See review. page 44. General release from Fri 22 Sep.
Zidane: A 21 st Century Portrait Douglas Gordon dizzying, multi camera art film gets its first installation at the cinema. See review, page 44. GFT. Glasgow and Cameo. Edinburgh from Fri 29 Sep.
This Film is Not Yet Rated Hilarious but depressing documentary investigation into the bizarre activities of the US' MPAA rating board. See review, page 45. GFI'. Glasgow from Sun 24 - Thu 28 Sep only
The Long Goodbye Robert Altman's masterful 1973 Chandler adaptation gets an airing as part of a Raymond Chandler season which also includes classics The Big Sleep and Double Indemnity. Fi/mhouse, Edinburgh on Sun 24 8. Mon 25 Sep only.
PS Dylan Rodger Dodger Kidd's theatrically unreleased second feature from 2004 finally gets a decent DVD release and its something of an overlooked gem. Out Mon 25 Sep (Tartan).