qFLIX, the area’s LGBT film festival, closes this weekend, with the Philadelphia premiere of “Those People” (8 p.m. July 12 at Prince Theatre).
An absorbing American indie, this romantic drama concerns Charlie (the adorable Jonathan Gordon), a gay Jewish artist whose queer best friend, Sebastian (Jason Ralph), is wracked with feelings of inadequacy after his businessman father is imprisoned for financial crimes. Charlie’s codependent relationship with Sebastian is tested, however, when he meets Tim (Haaz Sleiman, all confidence and sexiness), a Lebanese pianist. The sexy romantic spark between Tim and Charlie forms the soft, gooey center of “Those People,” and viewers will be seduced by the flirtations and physical affections between these two characters. Writer/director Joey Kuhn handles the dramatic love triangle — the diffident Charlie is afraid to fully commit to Tim because he has unresolved feelings for Sebastian — with less finesse, but his film nicely captures the shifting dynamics between the characters as Charlie comes of age.
Other films screening this weekend include:
The fantastic Chilean film “In the Grayscale” (5 p.m. July 10 at Prince) has Bruno (Francisco Celhay) meeting Fer (Emilio Edwards), a man who insists being gay is black or white: One is or one isn’t. Bruno, however, is struggling with his repressed same-sex desires. He is in the gray scale. The film somberly chronicles Bruno’s mid-life coming of age by having him slowly couple up with Fer, only to have their relationship discovered. Celhay gives a beautifully modulated performance here, making Bruno’s angst palpable, and he generates some real heat in the sex scenes with the adorable Edwards.
qFLIX will present the Philadelphia premiere of “Mala Mala” (noon July 11 at Caplan Theater at University of the Arts), a dazzling documentary about the transgender community in Puerto Rico. The film is directed by Philadelphia native Dan Sickels (who will be in attendance) and Antonio Santini. The subjects speak candidly about their identities and insecurities, revealing their humanity and beauty without a sense of exploitation. They discuss advocacy, anatomy and gender dysphoria, “passing” and masculinity and femininity in Latino culture. The comments of Paxx, a female-to-male transsexual, are particularly touching, as is Samantha’s discussion of getting hormone therapy on the black market. What comes across best is the lack of illusions these members of the trans community have. Each is in various stages of transition, and they are seen in private and in public, telling their stories. This is an insightful, inspiring documentary about living with dignity.
“How to Win at Checkers (Every Time)” (2:30 p.m. July 11 at Prince) is Josh Kim’s sensitive Thai film, adapted from two short stories, about 11 year-old Oat (Ingkarat Damrongsakkul), who fears losing his older gay brother Ek (Thira Chutikul) to the army at the annual draft. Ek’s wealthy lover, Jai (Arthur Navarat), bribes his way out of service, and some of the film’s drama hangs in how their relationship will continue if Ek is drafted. While too much of “How to Win” focuses on the brothers’ relationship and not enough on the queer couple’s, the film also features a storyline about the transgender Kitty (Natarat Lakha). Curiously, late in the closing credits, a transgender woman describes being drafted and serving in the military. Her story would have made for a more interesting film.
In “Fourth Man Out” (7:15 p.m. July 11 at Prince), Adam (Evan Todd) is a regular, small-town mechanic who comes out to his three best friends, Chris (Parker Young), Nick (Chord Overstreet) and Ortu (Jon Gabrus). At first, everyone experiences discomfort, but eventually Adam’s supportive friends take him to a gay bar and try to help him find a suitable boyfriend. “Fourth Man Out” relies on tired caricatures and broad humor that cudgels viewers with its messages about acceptance; ironically, the film reinforces the gay (and straight) stereotypes it thinks it is breaking. There are a few nice moments involving Adam and/or Chris and their potential romantic partners, but most of “Fourth Man Out” is forgettable.
“Sand Dollars” (5 p.m. July 11 at Caplan), set in the Dominican Republic, is a terrific romantic drama that depicts the relationship between Anne (Geraldine Chaplin), an elderly French woman who is in love with Noeli (Yanet Mojica). The way Anne looks at Noeli conveys her tenderness towards the much-younger native woman, and Chaplin is particularly expressive with her eyes and smile. But Noeli asks Anne frequently for money, which she sometimes explains is for her brother, Yeremi (Ricard Ariel Toribio). Yet viewers know Yeremi is not Noeli’s relation, but actually her boyfriend. “Sand Dollars” becomes a love triangle, with Noeli at the apex, and things come to a head when Anne makes a decision to return to France with or without her beloved Noeli. Filmmakers Israel Cardenas and Laura Amelia Guzman have crafted a sensitive film about love and money, and the film’s authenticity is one of its many strengths.
For tickets and more information, visit www.qflixphilly.com.