This one's a beautiful, tender, quiet romantic drama with a moody atmosphere, set in a tight knit Welsh fishing community. It's a touching story about a man waking up sexually in the middle of his life, and how he, his family, and everyone around him deal with it, which makes it emotional and sentimental without ever getting over the top. The slow burn plays out against a landscape that's as bleak as it is gorgeous, where quiet, closed off men are stuck inside rigid ideas of what masculinity should be. Some people might be reminded of "God's Own Country," but I think both films are lovely in their own way. Jack is a middle aged guy who co-owns a mussel farm with his rough around the edges brother Dyfan, and the tension between the two of them is simmering under the surface right from the start. Dyfan's three sons all help out with the work, while Jack's sulky teenage son Tom keeps skipping out. Jack's been with his wife since they were both 16, and...
The artists dance & vogue on underground subway platforms, down half-empty streets, and on the grass at Christopher Street Pier. They pour themselves into stunningly elaborate costumes before hitting the dance floor under the eyes of hundreds of enthusiastic onlookers. The dance competitors are mostly queer and trans people of color, and "Kiki" introduces you to many of them. Twiggy and Chi Chi , two prominent leaders on the Kiki scene, introduce us to the structure of this ballroom community’s various houses, where LGBT youth form makeshift families. We meet 5 other people who have tried to break down the same barriers in their lives and activism. Divo Pink Lady describes his experience of homelessness after being thrown out by his folks, as well as the homophobia he routinely experiences. Christopher Waldorf recalls a childhood memory of dancing much to his father’s chagrin. Gia , a transgender woman whom we see at different stages of her transition, had an easier time being embraced by her family.
“Kiki” is, among other things, a record of that hostility. It’s a film of unmistakably and unapologetically political intent — not only in its focus on mostly black and Latino youth, but also its willingness to give significant emphasis to transgender issues. Kiki, ballroom and voguing isn’t just a pastime; it’s a cultural form derived from groups of LGBT people of color who have had to create their own families, clubs, and societies when they weren’t accepted in others. This documentary never lets you forget that, and never fails to pay homage to the past historical context of the scene while looking towards its future. On a flip side, the documentary keeps introducing people and takes a while to understand what is happening, and who is who.
A beautifully made documentary that takes an in-depth look at the personal lives of those who make up a fabulous and unique community. Very insightful, and a stunning, visually artistic documentary. (6/10)
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