Again, the gay movies at the Palm Springs Film Festival that I saw – cause there were others.

Let My People Go

Basic Idea: Comedy about European lovers who are separated and must go through lots of zany plot twists to eventually get back together again. Director: Mikael Buch

The Good:

• It’s a farce, and as such, constructed pretty well with engaging and attractive characters
• Nicolas Maury, who plays Ruben, is great at physical comedy in the tradition that goes back to Buster Keaton – a joy to watch
• Carmen Maura – isn’t any movie with Ms. Maura worth watching just for that?
• The overall message of the film is pro-tolerance – and affirmation of a family’s love for their gay son.
• at 80 minutes, a good length for a comedy like this

The Bad:

• Not enough of Teemu (Jarrku Niemi), Ruben’s Finnish boyfriend, who is adorable but absent for much of the film
• I couldn’t think of anything else I didn’t like!

Time to Spare

Family Values: This Dutch film by Job Gosschalk about the lives and loves of two siblings shows what really holds a family together, and it has nothing to do with sexual orientation.

The Good:

• I enjoyed the melodrama plot construction – it started out one way, and you thought it was going to be about one thing and then it made a major switch (also see The Bad)
• Intergenerational gay relationship! That works! Hello!
• The inclusion of friends to form families of choice
• Character flaws are to be expected, and that adds to what makes us interesting rather than disqualifying us from this or that relationship

The Bad:

• The movie starts out to be one thing – a relationship movie, and turns into something else – a cancer movie! (get out those tissues now, folks)
• Perhaps an unrealistic depiction of a cancer patient’s suffering and treatment

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