Monday 1 February
Tangerine
9:30pm, SBS 2WATCH IT NOW
(USA, drama, 2013)
MA15+
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, Karren Karagulian
What's it about?
Famously shot on an iPhone 5S, this dramedy by Sean Baker (produced by the Duplass brothers), was a hit when it premiered at Sundance Film Festival last year. It follows two transgender prostitutes, Sin-Dee and Alexandra (played by Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor, both perfect), who walk through Tinseltown on Christmas Eve looking for the pimp who cheated on Sin-Dee. Their odyssey leads them through the little-seen subcultures of Los Angeles, including an Armenian family dealing with their own repercussions of infidelity.
[link title="Caitlyn Jenner supports 'Tangerine' Oscar campaign for Mya Taylor" url="node/55266"]Tangerine: Sean Baker interview
Blue is the Warmest Colour
11:10pm, SBS 2
(France, drama, 2013)
MA15+
Director: Abdellatif Kechiche
Starring: Adèle Exarchopoulos, Léa Seydoux, Salim Kechiouche
What's it about?This Palme d'Or winner by Abdellatif Kechiche has drawn huge acclaim around the world for its deeply moving depiction of the passionate love story between two young French women. When young, working-class Adèle (Adèle Exarchopoulos) meets Emma (Lée Seydoux), an artsy young woman with blue hair, the teenager's life changes forever. As she discovers desire and asserts herself as a woman, she also completely loses herself in her love for Emma.
[link title="Stars, director in a blue over 'Blue is the Warmest Colour'" url="node/1802"]
[link title="Blue is the Warmest Colour ★★★★★ Review" url="node/6211"]
Monday 8 February
Dallas Buyers Club
9:35pm, SBS 2WATCH IT NOW
(USA, drama, 2013)
MA15+
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto
What's it about?
This fascinating biopic stars Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto in their Oscar-winning performances. Set in 1986 Texas, it follows homophobic womaniser Ron Woodruff (an emaciated McConaughey), who is completely oblivious of the danger posed by AIDS. When Ron contracts HIV and is given just 30 days to live, he establishes an underground network of drug supply for the growing number of people with HIV and AIDS, and has his prejudices challenged by his transgender partner in crime, Rayon (Leto).
[link title="Dallas Buyers Club: interview" url="node/1883"]
[link title="Dallas Buyers Club ★ ★ ★ ½ Review" url="node/6315"]
The Way He Looks
11:45pm, SBS 2WATCH IT NOW
(Brazil, 2014, drama/romance)
M
Director: Daniel Ribeiro
Starring: Ghilherme Lobo, Fabio Audi, Selma Egrei, Tess Amorim
What's it about?
A warm Brazilian coming-of-age movie about Leonardo, a blind teenager searching for independence, together with his best friend Giovana. His life changes completely with the arrival of new student Gabriel, and with him, a rollercoaster of emotions. A compassionate and delicate look at disability and teen sexuality.
Monday 15 February
My Brother the Devil
9:40pm, SBS 2WATCH IT NOW
(UK, drama, 2012)
MA15+
Director: Sally El Hosaini
Starring: James Floyd, Fady Elsayed, Saïd Taghmaoui
What's it about?
Set on the streets of Hackney, teenage Mo (Fady Elsayed) idolises his older brother, Rashid (James Floyd), a drug dealer. Even though Rashid tries his best to keep his younger brother away from his gang, one summer, as gang violence heats up, Mo witnesses an incident that rips into the brotherly bond and sets him on a dangerous path. Our reviewer described this movie as "a satisfying, original drama, a heady brew of murder, betrayal, sexuality, spiritual beliefs, vengeance and redemption," with "first-class performances."
[link title="My Brother the Devil ★ ★ ★ ★ Review" url="node/5875"]
Gerontophilia
11:45pm, SBS 2WATCH IT NOW
(Canada/France, romance/comedy, 2013)
MA15+
Director: Bruce LaBruce
Starring: Pier-Gabriel Lajoie, Walter Borden, Katie Boland
What's it about?
In this provocative, darkly humourous and perverse rom-com, 18-year-old Lake gets a job in a nursing home and develops an attraction for Mr Peabody, an elderly man. Discovering that the patients are being over-medicated to make them easier to manage, Lake decides to help Mr Peabody escape, resulting in a humourous and heartfelt road trip that strengthens their bond.
Monday 22 February
54: The Director's Cut
9:20pm, SBS 2WATCH IT NOW
(USA, history/drama, 1998)
M
Director: Christopher Mark
Starring: Ryan Phillippe, Salma Hayek, Mike Myers, Neve Campbell
What's it about?
A bored 19-year-old joins the ranks of bare-chested busboys working under the strobe lights of the famous Studio 54 and throws himself into the hedenous lifestyle. Christopher Mark's ode to legendary '70s disco club has earned a rightful status as a cult gay classic thanks to its recent resurrection (read the fascinating full story in the link below).
[link title="54 Bombed in 1998. Now It's Been Resurrected as a Cult Gay Classic" url="node/32974"]
Appropriate Behaviour
11:20pm, SBS 2WATCH IT NOW
(UK, comedy/drama, 2014)
MA15+
Director: Desiree Akhavan
Starring: Desiree Akhavan, Rebecca Henderson, Halley Feiffer
What's it about?
In this Brooklyn-based indie comedy, twenty-something hipster Shirin (played by Desiree Akhavan, who also wrote and directed the movie) finds it hard to reconcile her traditional family's Persian heritage and her identity as a young bisexual woman. After failing to come out to her family, again, Shirin is dumped by her girlfriend, and rebounds with a series of sexual adventures.
[link title="Desiree Akhavan on ‘Appropriate Behaviour’ in sex scenes (interview)" url="node/49897"]
[link title="Appropriate Behaviour ★ ★ ★ ½ review" url="node/13813"]
Monday 29 February
Concussion
9:20pm, SBS 2WATCH IT NOW
(USA, drama, 2013)
M
Director: Stacie Passon
Starring: Robin Weigert, Maggie Siff, Johnathan Tchaikovsky
What's it about?
In a story partially inspired by director Stacie Passon's real-life experience, a lesbian mother upends her happy life with her wife, and sets about exploring her sexuality through leading a double life as a high-end escort. Robin Weigert, who famously played the role of the potty-mouthed Calamity Jane in HBO series Deadwood, and was more recently seen as Carrie Moss' ex-wife in Marvel series Jessica Jones, gives another stand-out performance in this superb film.
[link title="Concussion: Stacie Passon interview" url="node/14294"]
52 Tuesdays
11:05pm, SBS 2
(Australia, drama, 2014)
MA15+
Director: Sophie Hyde
Starring: Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Del Herbert-Jane, Danica Moors
What's it about?
This award-winning debut feature by South Australian director Sophie Hyde, follows teenager Billie (Tilda Cobham-Hervey), as she adapts to her mother (Del Herbert-Jane)'s gender transition, over the course of weekly visits. The 16-year-old reluctantly finds her path towards independence is greatly accelerated. 52 Tuesdays refers to both the film's title and a summary of its production process, as it was shot once a week for a year, gathering the performers on the same terms as the characters in the story.
[link title="52 Tuesdays: Sophie Hyde interview" url="node/14298"]
[link title="The extraordinary story behind 52 Tuesdays" url="node/16409"]
[link title="52 Tuesdays Review" url="node/13809"]
