SIFF Sighting: LOVE FREE OR DIE (Documentary, USA)

Gene Robinson led a traditional life for many years. He married, had two daughters with his wife and then divorced a few years later.

He began dating Mark, who would become his husband, soon after. Oh—and he's also a man of the Lord.

In 2003, Gene became the first openly gay bishop to be consecrated in the Episcopal church. Struggling with death threats and the old-world beliefs of many who belong to the same faith, Gene has become a figurehead for religious equality and a symbol of hope for the Christian LGBT community.

This film tells his story and chronicles his time behind the scenes as his church was voting on crucial LGBT issues.

The footage of his various news coverage (60 Minutes, The Today Show, The Daily Show) is entertaining, and the interviews with Gene, his family and other bishops are earnest and sincere.

Really, the film is a simple reminder of how people who claim to follow the teachings of Christ should probably act a little more like Christ (non-judgmental) to achieve the peace and harmony our universe so richly deserves.

LOVE FREE OR DIE screened at the 38th Annual Seattle International Film Festival.

SIFF Sighting: BABY LOVE (comedy; France)

In Vincent Garenq's BABY LOVE, dedicated pediatrician Manu (Lambert Wilson) has a strong desire to become a father, though his partner Phillipe (Pascal Elbé) agrees with the French law that dictates gay couples should not be parents. "It's unnatural," he says, though he clearly doesn't believe his love for Manu is so.

Unable to convince Phillipe that parenthood is the right choice for them, Manu breaks up with him and takes matters into his own hands by pretending to be straight for an adoption agency consultant, which backfires terribly.

Desperate, he begins searching for a woman to be his surrogate and finds one in Fina (Pilar López de Ayala), an adorable Argentinian woman who he accidentally hit with his car.

From there the film takes a few twisty turns (some predictable; others not) that carry viewers through the lives of characters who are both appealing and familiar.

Fina is especially charming with her delicate features and aura of sweetness; Manu is the man all women (and most men) would probably like to have in their lives. As a member of the audience you can't help but root for all of them, even when their goals unfortunately differ.

BABY LOVE is a tender, light-hearted glimpse into a very real problem that many gay couples face. Let's only hope that a decade from now, those problems won't exist.

BABY LOVE screened at the 35th Annual Seattle International Film Festival.

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Cinebanter #64 - MILK

The MP3 of Cinebanter #64 is available here.

In this episode, Michael and Tassoula differ in their degrees of praise for MILK. In the Last Five®, Michael excitedly travels to the slums of India, while Tassoula takes a lengthy trip through Australia. The breakdown is as follows:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:32 MILK Discussion - Part 1
• Break
• 18:04 MILK Discussion - Part 2
• Break
• 32:58 To Sum It Up
• Break
• 33:34 The Last Five®
• 1:02:52 Credits and Outtakes

If you'd like to subscribe to the show (it's free, of course) via iTunes, click here.

The show is also available on Podcast Alley, and blubrry. Please vote for us at any of those sites and leave comments if you like what you hear.

And, if you're compelled to donate to the show, there is a PayPal button labeled 'Make a Donation' to the left of this blog. All donations are much appreciated.

Michael's Last Five in this episode were: DEEP BLUE SEA, MAXED OUT, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, 36 FILLETTE and AN AFFAIR OF LOVE. Tassoula's Last Five in this episode were: LOVE, ACTUALLY, BAD SANTA, AUSTRALIA, P.S. I LOVE YOU and THE DUCHESS.

Special thanks to Brad Daane and Mark Cummins for providing the original music in this episode.

Reviews and/or notes of every movie Michael sees can be found at his MichaelVox website.

Tassoula has reviews, musings and movie-related product links at Tassoula's Movie Review Blog.

Feedback is always welcome - you may leave comments here or e-mail the hosts at cinebanter@gmail.com.

We hope you enjoy the show!

SIFF Sighting: ASK NOT (documentary; USA/Iraq/UK)

ASK NOT provides a telling look at how much the American military is losing by continuing to discriminate against its gay and lesbian soldiers (or would-be soldiers).

The filmmakers interview several men and women who were successful in the military but were discharged when their sexual orientation was revealed. Many of them are expert linguists in Arabic, Korean, etc. (a.k.a. the translators we need most) and have a strong sense of duty that is now being unfulfilled. A particularly harrowing scene shows a former soldier lecturing a community about how the last Al Quaeda memos prior to 9/11, which may have prevented the depth of the attack, went unread because there weren't a sufficient amount of linguists to translate them in ample time.

Another part of the film shows young would-be recruits going on a "right to serve" tour to various military offices, where they attempt to enlist (on camera) but are then rejected when they reveal they are gay or lesbian. Many of the military representatives are kind and sympathetic to their mission, but simply have to uphold the law and deny them entry.

The movie is made in an honest and forthright manner, presenting the facts with statistics to back them up and hopeful glimpses from other countries (Ireland, England, Israel, etc.) that have lifted their bans on gays in the military with favorable results.

Every registered American voter should be required to see this film. It's amazing in this day and age that injustices such as these still reside in the "land of the free."

ASK NOT will be shown Thursday, May 29 at the Harvard Exit theater as part of the 34th Annual Seattle International Film Festival.

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