Reviews:
Film-School Projects Show Their Age
The films in Boys Shorts are, to be blunt, boring. I found myself fast forwarding looking for the next bit of dialog or human interaction. A few of these directors have fallen into the arrogant trap of believing that their work is so good that it needs neither plot nor momentum. It's not.My advice is to leave these shorts to their owners. They are from the early 90s, and feel even older. They will never become classics. They feel like film school projects. Several of them might well garner an A from the teacher, but none are worth public exhibition. Save your money.
Review
"Boys' Shorts showcases six of the finest gay shorts produced in the last four years. This feature-length program, spanning the work of filmmakers from the U.S., Canada, England and Australia, exemplifies the quality, defiance and self-affirmation of The New Queer Cinema. B. Ruby Rich, in her ground-breaking article in Sight & Sound on The New Queer Cinema, wrote: "These works are irreverent, energetic, alternatively minimalist and excessive. Above all, they're full of pleasure. They're here, they're queer, get hip to them." " - From Frameline RSVP Director: Laurie Lynd 1991 Canada 23 mins. A powerful and moving portrait of loss, punctuated by the haunting recording of La Spectre de la Rose, performed by Jessye Norman. Anthem Director: Marlon Riggs 1990 USA 9 mins. A collage of erotic images and a call to arms, with a feverish hip-hop energy that celebrates the lives of African American men. Relax Director: Christopher Newby 1991 Great Britain 25 mins. An elegant film about one man's fears and fantasies regarding HIV testing. Billy Turner's Secret Director: Michael Mayson 1990 USA 26 mins. An upbeat, slickly produced, energetic comedy about a young Black man coming out to his homophobic roommate. The Dead Boys' Club Director: Mark Christopher 1992 USA 25 mins. A charming and poignant tribute to the '70s world of promiscuity and glitter balls, firmly rooted in the American cinematic tradition (it pays tribute to The Wizard of Oz) and in gay life in the '90s.
Summary
Showcases six of the finest gay shorts produced in the 90's and exemplifies the quality, defiance and self-affirmation of the New Queer Cinema. BOYS' SHORTS includes RESONANCE (Dir. Stephen Cummins), an exploration of a gay-bashing in the back streets of Sydney; RSVP (Dir. Laurie Lynd), a powerful portrait of loss punctuated by the haunting voice of Jessye Norman; ANTHEM (Dir. Marlon Riggs), a collage of erotic images that celebrates the lives of African American men; RELAX 9Dir. Christopher Newby), an elegant film about one man's fears and fantasies regarding HIV testing; BILLY TURNER'S SECRET (Dir. Michael Mayson), an upbeat, energetic comedy about a young Black man coming out to his homophobic roommate; and THE DEAD BOYS' CLUB (Dir. Mark Christopher), a steamy and poignant tribute to the '70s world of promiscuity and disco balls from the perspective of gay life in the '90s. Color and B&W, 119 min., NTSC
