[rating=4]
Cert: 15 • US: 8 x 30 min • HBO • January 19, 2014

Whilst Looking is not perfect, it admirably holds up a refreshingly astute and sometimes critical mirror to contemporary gay life.

“Finally, queer filmmakers seem comfortable balancing explicit representations of sex with (or against) the fuzzier feelings, without sacrificing emotional complexity or social commentary.”

2012 Retrospective

The Editor looks back at the year 2012 in Polari and how it has explored the LGBT subculture. Part 1: Arts and Culture.

[rating=4]
US: 101 min • Alarum Pictures, Parts and Labor, Tiny Dancer Films • November 2, 2012

Michael Langan finds this exploration of damage and addiction to be intelligent, difficult, grown-up, and thoughtful.

“Like Weekend and I Want Your Love, Keep the Lights On has a verité feel to it, though the production values are high – this feels like quality film-making without the commercialised glossiness of, say, A Single Man.”

25 August, 2012

Recommendations from Polari’s writers based on what they are watching this week.

“This week: 13, Weekend, Dark Knight Rises..”

LLGFF 2012.

The London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, 23 March 23 – April 1, 2012, is one of the most important events in the LGBT arts and culture calendar.

“As part of the LLGFF, the BFI is screening four key films from The Celluloid Closet: Queen Christina (1933), Morocco (1930), Suddenly, Last Summer (1959), and Spartacus (1960). This is a great chance to see these classic films as they were meant to be seen: on the big screen.”

Wallis Bird, Alp Haydar and Weekend

The second Polari Magazine podcast features interviews with Alp Haydar, Andrew Haigh, the director of Weekend, and Chris New, one of the film’s two main characters. With music by Wallis Bird.

Weekend

Polari talks to director Andrew Haigh, and actor Chris New, about Weekend.

“Because the story is about two people who are becoming very intimate with each other, it was important you feel the same way with them. So I always thought about it as almost like a foursome. It was me, Urszula who shot the film, and the two actors. We were having a relationship together.”