Gay porn actor, producer and activist Michael Lucas is hosting a local screening July 14 of his new documentary, “Undressing Israel,” as part of this year’s QFest.
The film, through interviews with a range of local men, examines a side of the Holy Land that the world at large often doesn’t get heard about.
“There is really no information that is available about Israel, except one aspect, which is the conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbors,” Lucas said. “It’s the only aspect that is being reported in the media. Everything else Israel has to offer is overlooked, which is a shame. I have been visiting Israel for so many years and I am very much impressed with their record on gay rights and with many other aspects. I decided to make this movie because Israel is the best vacation spot for gay men. I do travel nonstop. I’ve been through half of the world, so my views are based on what I saw and what I experience, as well as the comparisons I’ve made.”
Lucas added that people’s perceptions of Israel are largely shaped by the news reported from that region, which is usually negative.
“They think this is a war zone and a religious place,” he said. “That’s Jerusalem. We don’t see Tel Aviv. We don’t see other cities. We only see Jerusalem, where there are religious lunatics from all over the world. The three largest religions are presented, from Christian to Muslim and Jews. The other image of Israel is the Wailing Wall and Christian holy site. That is a small part of it. The reality is it’s a gorgeous country, a Mediterranean country that has everything including incredible nightlife. It’s incredibly gay, particularly Tel Aviv. They have more gay rights than the United States has. They have amazing restaurants and beautiful people. It’s very friendly. People speak perfect English and there is so much to see. You can go to the beach. The weather is beautiful year-round. You can go to the Dead Sea. It’s a very small country, the size of New Jersey. It’s a great vacation spot. You don’t have to look for the gay bar because everything is very gay in Tell Aviv.”
In the film you will see a lot of nightlife and members of the gay community. But what you won’t see are lesbians.
Lucas said it was his intention to focus on men but, in hindsight, he could have made the documentary more inclusive.
“This is something I know better,” he said of his decision to focus on gay males. “There is a big lesbian community. I always pass by two lesbian clubs in Israel. It’s something I overlooked. I think if I could turn back time, because it’s my first movie, I would include lesbians in the film. But it just didn’t happen. I made a movie about gay men. I didn’t make a movie about lesbians. Maybe I should have but I concentrated on gay men. Someone else should do a movie about lesbians.”
We also asked Lucas if his work in the adult-film industry has led to any stakeholder skepticism or resistance to his foray into documentary filmmaking.
“Everyone was as supportive as when I was filming the adult film ‘Men of Israel,’” Lucas said. “I’m well -known in Israel. People know me, gay and straight. It was actually very easy to get people to participate in the movie. The casting was the easiest thing to do.”
QFest presents “Undressing Israel,” followed by a Q&A with Michael Lucas, 2:15 p.m. July 14 at Ritz at the Bourse, 400 Ranstead St. For more information, visit www.qfest.com or www.undressingisrael-themovie.com.