MQFF 2012 reviews
Claudine kinda reminded me... and I was thinking I should prove I do things other than buy clothes these days.
I've now seen six films at this year's MQFF:
For 80 Days (2011 Spanish Film Festival, review)
Tomboy (2011 MIFF, review)
Fake Orgasm (doco; 2011 Spanish Film Festival, review)
Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same (below)
Jamie and Jessie Are Not Together (below)
Fjellet (The Mountain) (below)
Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same
Black and white comedy/homage to the cheesiest of cheesy SF. Pie-tin alien spacecraft and all. On a planet far far away, aliens (that seem to only have same sex relationships) believe that unrequited "big feelings" (love) are causing the destruction of their ozone layer. They send folks to Earth to get their hearts broken once and for all. There are three in this film - one co-dependent, one "sexually available" (can't remember the exact phrasing) and one rather closed off and quiet, who falls for the main Earthling character, a stationery store owner/clerk. It's quite funny and also charming in parts. Perfect to see at the festival because I can't see it having a life outside it. Maybe it will screen on late night SBS, if you're lucky.
Jamie and Jessie Are Not Together
A "lesbian musical hybrid, cum romantic comedy relationship drama" says the programme - hmm, romcom dramedy with a few songs thrown in, more like it. Jamie and Jessie are housemates, both aspiring actors in Chicago. Jamie is the cool as a cucumber, hot (and she knows it) luck-falls-into-her-lap type, who enjoys the perks of having all the women in her life fall in love with her without ever having to admit that to anyone. She's moving to New York in a couple of weeks and neither her nor Jessie are really prepared for it. Jessie works in a cafe and is pretty hopelessly in love with Jamie, and can only admit it to herself half the time. For example, she goes on a blind date with a cute girl with glasses, and they both awkwardly chew gum. The girls bursts out: "I'm still in love with my ex." Jessie: "I'm kind of in love with my roommate." The girl: "Let's try this another time, okay?"
The musical interludes in this are not that essential - I suppose they give it an air of the early 2010s (although I appreciate that the actors are not very good singers and there's no Glee-style autotune in sight). Two recurring bearded men look on in each song which is quite amusing. Overall the movie is quite funny, moves along at a good pace, is well acted and captures well this kind of unequal heartache intensified by someone leaving. Mayyybe the ending doesn't quite do the rest of it justice but it gets pretty close.
This is a bit weird to say but I appreciated that Jessie (played by Jessica London-Shields) is made to look quite plain. Relatable, you know. In the context of her relationship with Jamie. She still has ladies falling over themselves for her, but that is for comedic effect.
Also, long skinny denim shorts - the current/next thing in (lesbian/hipster) fashion!
Fjellet (The Mountain)
A Norwegian film with only three characters - two women and a mountain. It follows the two women, Solveig and Nora, hiking up the mountain, alone with nature, and their troubled relationship. The scenery is appropriately expansive. I really like relationship/character studies like this. I think it captured really well how things like camping or hiking trips can become much more intense than usual, and also the dynamics of a long-lived relationship (rather than a new love), where the tiniest gesture or reference can have a huge history of meaning. Ellen Dorrit Petersen (who plays Solveig) is a charming Nordic blonde, I might add.
In a sense there is nothing "huge" in this film, but it is very solid for what it is. I am curious how it was received in Norway. I hope it was a big hit!
I've now seen six films at this year's MQFF:
For 80 Days (2011 Spanish Film Festival, review)
Tomboy (2011 MIFF, review)
Fake Orgasm (doco; 2011 Spanish Film Festival, review)
Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same (below)
Jamie and Jessie Are Not Together (below)
Fjellet (The Mountain) (below)
Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same
Black and white comedy/homage to the cheesiest of cheesy SF. Pie-tin alien spacecraft and all. On a planet far far away, aliens (that seem to only have same sex relationships) believe that unrequited "big feelings" (love) are causing the destruction of their ozone layer. They send folks to Earth to get their hearts broken once and for all. There are three in this film - one co-dependent, one "sexually available" (can't remember the exact phrasing) and one rather closed off and quiet, who falls for the main Earthling character, a stationery store owner/clerk. It's quite funny and also charming in parts. Perfect to see at the festival because I can't see it having a life outside it. Maybe it will screen on late night SBS, if you're lucky.
Jamie and Jessie Are Not Together
A "lesbian musical hybrid, cum romantic comedy relationship drama" says the programme - hmm, romcom dramedy with a few songs thrown in, more like it. Jamie and Jessie are housemates, both aspiring actors in Chicago. Jamie is the cool as a cucumber, hot (and she knows it) luck-falls-into-her-lap type, who enjoys the perks of having all the women in her life fall in love with her without ever having to admit that to anyone. She's moving to New York in a couple of weeks and neither her nor Jessie are really prepared for it. Jessie works in a cafe and is pretty hopelessly in love with Jamie, and can only admit it to herself half the time. For example, she goes on a blind date with a cute girl with glasses, and they both awkwardly chew gum. The girls bursts out: "I'm still in love with my ex." Jessie: "I'm kind of in love with my roommate." The girl: "Let's try this another time, okay?"
The musical interludes in this are not that essential - I suppose they give it an air of the early 2010s (although I appreciate that the actors are not very good singers and there's no Glee-style autotune in sight). Two recurring bearded men look on in each song which is quite amusing. Overall the movie is quite funny, moves along at a good pace, is well acted and captures well this kind of unequal heartache intensified by someone leaving. Mayyybe the ending doesn't quite do the rest of it justice but it gets pretty close.
This is a bit weird to say but I appreciated that Jessie (played by Jessica London-Shields) is made to look quite plain. Relatable, you know. In the context of her relationship with Jamie. She still has ladies falling over themselves for her, but that is for comedic effect.
Also, long skinny denim shorts - the current/next thing in (lesbian/hipster) fashion!
Fjellet (The Mountain)
A Norwegian film with only three characters - two women and a mountain. It follows the two women, Solveig and Nora, hiking up the mountain, alone with nature, and their troubled relationship. The scenery is appropriately expansive. I really like relationship/character studies like this. I think it captured really well how things like camping or hiking trips can become much more intense than usual, and also the dynamics of a long-lived relationship (rather than a new love), where the tiniest gesture or reference can have a huge history of meaning. Ellen Dorrit Petersen (who plays Solveig) is a charming Nordic blonde, I might add.
In a sense there is nothing "huge" in this film, but it is very solid for what it is. I am curious how it was received in Norway. I hope it was a big hit!