Sex, 10/13.

Shortbus opens this year's Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival tonight (the fest runs through October 22) and, after singing the film's praises in the Stranger, Christopher Frizzelle writes, "Elsewhere in the festival, I can't recommend much." Oh. But he does manage to mention a few titles that might rouse the interests of this or that niche.

"Shortbus opens on the image of a lovingly animated Statue of Liberty, holding her torch high into the New York sky, welcoming the huddled masses to her teeming shore. The only difference is that, in Shortbus, the masses huddle a little more snugly than usual." Scott Foundas introduces his conversation with John Cameron Mitchell. Also in the LA Weekly, Judith Lewis on what's actually sexy onscreen and Ella Taylor's meeting with Helen Mirren, who "sees her sexual allure as more Simone Signoret than Brigitte Bardot, more Anna Magnani ('My goddess of acting') than Claudia Cardinale."

Updated through 10/14.

Sean Burns talks with Mitchell for the Philadelphia Weekly, where he gives the film an A. Meanwhile, Dan Savage all but turns his "Savage Love" column over to Mitchell this week.

More on Shortbus from Cindy Fuchs in the Philadelphia City Paper. Earlier: "Shortbus."

Watching Mitchell's films, writes David Lowery, "I don't have to chose between laughing and crying - I have to figure out how to do both simultaneously." And then he's got a terrifc conversation with Mitchell to boot.

Update, 10/14: Anne M Hockens has a few SL&GFF recommendations at the Siffblog.

Posted by dwhudson at October 13, 2006 12:51 PM