At the recent Tribeca Film Festival, two queer films with Pennsylvania connections stood out.
“AWOL,” co-written and directed by Deb Shoval, was shot and set in Wilkes-Barre. This romantic melodrama, based on Shoval’s 2010 short film of the same name, is a gritty little indie about Joey (Lola Kirke), who is looking to join the Army in part to get money for college. But when she falls for the married-with-children Rayna (Breeda Wool), Joey’s priorities change. She only wants to be with Rayna, a “bad influence,” who talks about moving to Vermont where they will be able to live together and more freely.
“AWOL” builds its romance from the young women sneaking around trying to hide their affair in a small town. The drama stems from the push-pull relationship that develops between the two women, as they struggle with issues of money and obligations until they make a risky decision that may alter their lives and fates forever (the title is a bit of a spoiler).
Kirke gives a fantastic performance as Joey, capturing her emotional cadences as she grapples with pangs of the heart and the consequences of her actions. Moreover, “AWOL” portrays rural queer life in a sensitive way not usually seen on screen, which also makes it worthwhile despite some narrative contrivances.
Shoval met with PGN at the festival to talk about her feature, which is set in 2012 and chronicles the couple over several years. She discussed her focus on rural queer life, noting, “I’m telling a story from the place where I am from, Wilkes-Barre. I wanted to make an honest portrait of people. For gay people around there, ‘Don’t ask, Don’t Tell’ is a good metaphor. People are out to their families who accept them, but they don’t talk about it.”
As for the focus on the military, Shoval indicated, “I do think for young queer people, joining the Army is an avenue to liberation. It is a way to meet people. Joey joins the Army in a new era. She is more empowered when she [returns] home.”
Set partially in Luzerne, writer/director Justin Kelly’s “King Cobra” is a salacious little true-crime story of murder and money, lawsuits and scandals, set in the gay-porn world. It is highly enjoyable thanks to some fabulous performances and an emphasis more on identity and less on sex.
As the film opens, Sean Paul Lockhart aka Brent Corrigan (Garrett Clayton) is auditioning for producer Stephen (Christian Slater) on the proverbial “casting couch.” He’s sexy and adorable, and it’s clear Sean knows what Stephen wants, because he gives it to him. Stephen, in return, sets Sean up in his house, lavishing gifts on this young man whom he desires — and hopes to make the whole world desire. And before long, they do. Stephen’s videos of Sean sell like hot cakes and rival porn producer Joe (James Franco) and his star/lover Harlow (Keegan Allen) want Brent’s value, seizing a chance when a scandal derails Brent’s career.
In “King Cobra,” Kelly wisely never judges these characters, presenting them as flawed but human. The film is not just skin deep.
In an interview at the festival, Kelly talked of the appeal of making “King Cobra.”
“I am pretty fascinated with stories about shifting identity and people who become someone else, or play with who they are. How does that happen and what does that person go through? In this case, it’s what is going through the mind of an innocent underage boy who wants to become a gay porn star. For Stephen, he is an unassuming, suburban guy who wants to become a gay-porn producer. And for Joe and Harlow, it’s their wanting to become kingpins. All of the characters are playing with who they are.”
The role of Sean Paul Lockhart is certainly a conscious change of pace for Clayton, who started his career working for Disney. The actor met with PGN to talk about the challenge of playing Lockhart.
“Initially, when I got it, I called Justin and said, ‘I’m gonna Meryl this shit,’” he said. “But Justin told me to make the character separate from [the real Sean]. Tell the story. It is his story.”
Clayton took the advice to heart, but recalled a moment on set where he needed additional advice.
“I kind of freaked out at the montage of [Sean] becoming a porn star. It got overwhelming. I got back to my hotel that night and called my mom. I was like, ‘I don’t know if I can do this.’ She told me, ‘If you believe in it, I support you.’ She taught me not to judge. And then said, ‘Now you know what it feels like to be wanted for nothing more than your body. Now you are better prepared to play this character.’”
Clayton makes Sean appropriately charming, seductive and insouciant. He is impressive — and irresistible — in the role.