nov 10-14 2010 - Rehoboth Beach Film Society

feaTuRe fIlms
52
Young Sasha, studious and musically talented, is the
beloved child of his Montenegro-born parents. But he’s
got a secret crush that’s about to throw his life into
chaos. With a clash of cultures and generations, Sasha
is a refreshing take on the coming-out story, bravely
addressing homophobia in a Balkan immigrant family.
Sasha is beginning to take those first few momentous
steps out of the closet, but he’s nervous about an
upcoming audition for a prestigious music school, he’s
beset by a powerful crush on his piano teacher, Mr.
Weber, and he’s taunted by his younger, more athletic
brother Boki. Sasha first comes out to his best friend,
only to find her confused and upset as she’s been hiding
strong feelings of her own for Sasha. His parents are
Quite simply put, the film is a based-on-fact tale of an
early 19th century English gentlewoman who “preferred
the fairer sex” and recorded her conquests in a coded
diary. But get ready — this is no decorous, Jane Austen
costume drama. Anne and her beloved Mariana are
sneaking off into the woods for a clandestine dalliance
in the first five minutes and even manage a romantic
bathtub scene. Nor is Mariana alone in succumbing to
Anne’s charms. The independent Anne cruises girls in
church and favors the classic pickup line, “Are you fond
of Byron?” The lush, BBC-produced film charges ahead
at a lively pace as Anne juggles fickle lovers, jealous
best friends, sinister coalmine owners, and estate
improvements. As her uncle’s only heir, Anne possesses
sasha (sasa)
loving and somewhat permissive but still retaining cultural prejudices
against homosexuality. Pulled in all directions, Sasha’s relationship with
his family comes to a violent head, only to be saved by an unexpected
ally. Writer/director Todorovic juggles all these romantic conflicts and
familial dramas with an effortless touch, while presenting a multiethnic
Cologne with subtlety and nuance. The film boasts a winning
cast of leading and supporting actors, who negotiate easily between
comedy and drama. There is still vitality in coming-out stories, as
Sasha shows us with soul.
[dir. dennis todorovic, 2010, germany, video, 102 mins. in german,
Serbian, croatian and bosnian with English subtitles]
Website: www.strandreleasing.com
unusual independence for a woman of her time, and makes good use
of it, pursuing “manly” pleasures like reading Greek and practicing her
shooting. When Anne declares she will never marry, and instead seek
a female companion, her resigned aunt comments, “I suppose a lady
will know what pleases you better than a man.” Which lady does Anne
have in her sights? Heart-breaker Mariana? Faithful friend Tib? Miss
Walker, the wealthiest heiress in the county? Audiences will cheer
as Anne manages to carve a lesbian life for herself in an era so pre-
Stonewall it seems as far away as the stone age.
[dir. James Kent, 2010, uK, video, 90 mins]
Website: www.oftv.co.uk/
Sponsored by:
Thurs Nov 11 7:20 PM-9:05 PM Randy Gross Blinds
sAT Nov 13 10:25 AM-12:10 PM
the secret diaries
oF Miss anne lister
Best Feature Frameline San Francisco Gay and Sponsored by:
Lesbian Film Festival, Best Feature, QFest,
Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
FrI Nov 12 10:00 AM-11:35 AM Kindred Spirit Sailing Charters
sAT Nov 13 2:10 PM-3:45 PM