Tony Winner Preps for "Minsky's"
By Chris Carpenter
Theatrical releases had a banner year in 2008 in terms of the sheer number of films geared toward the LGBT community, culminating with the acclaimed Milk., andThe coming year’s offerings look similarly plentiful, with even Jim Carrey going gay in the fact-based I Love You Phillip Morris.
First out of the gate is Ciao from Regent/here! Films, which opens on Dec. 26 at the Laemmle Sunset 5, 8000 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood. It is a quiet, affecting story of two men unexpectedly brought together by the sudden death of a common friend.
As Jeff (played by Adam Neal Smith) undertakes the sad task of going through the recently deceased Mark’s e-mails to inform acquaintances of his best friend’s death, he discovers a romantic correspondence Mark was having with another man, Andrea (Alessandro Calza, who also co-wrote the movie’s script). What’s more, Andrea is due to visit from Genoa, Italy, in a few days.
Andrea is initially inclined to cancel the visit, but Jeff invites him to come to Dallas and stay with him rather than waste the plane ticket. Andrea accepts the invitation, and a weekend of increased awareness of their late, mutual friend — as well as of each other — results.
Directed and co-written by Yen Tan (who made the award-winning gay film Happy Birthday), Ciao realistically conveys the vacuum that is often created through the death of a loved one. However, I didn’t find it maudlin or depressing; in fact, the movie is pleasantly hopeful in tone. It becomes a story of discovery between two men who were previously unknown to each other and from different countries.
While Jeff and Andrea’s time together provides some closure to their individual relationships with Mark, it opens up an opportunity for friendship and love between the new friends. Benefiting from fine performances from its intimate cast, Ciao is well worth seeing.
Another recommended film, Serbis (also from Regent), is scheduled to open Jan. 30, at the Laemmle Sunset 5. It makes its U.S. debut after being the first Filipino film in 24 years selected for competition at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival.
Serbis (which means “service” in English) is set in a dilapidated movie theater in Manila. The former movie palace, which now shows dated adult films, is run by and serves as the home for three generations of the Pineda family. It is also one of the city’s centers of male prostitution.
The theater barely provides enough income for the Pinedas to survive, so they turn a blind eye to the gay sex that takes place during screenings. If they were to prohibit prostitution, it is unlikely the theater would have much business. At least the “serbis boys” and the men who want to meet them pay for admission.
The Pineda family also has its own internal issues. In particular, son Alan (the attractive Coco Martin) is overwhelmed by the unplanned pregnancy of his girlfriend, a painful boil in an inconvenient place and the desire to escape his current, dead-end life.
Serbis is grim and often sexually explicit, but it provides insight into another culture, as well as harsh economic realities. It is well directed by Brillante Ma. Mendoza (The Masseur, Tirador) as a reflection on the dual themes of family and service to others, and the various forms service can take.
Prior to the L.A. opening of Serbis, Mendoza and his films will be the subject of a retrospective presented Jan. 23 –- 24 by the University of California, Los Angeles Archive at the Billy Wilder Theatre in Westwood. It is a great opportunity to get acquainted with this rising filmmaker, who clearly isn’t afraid to take on touchy subjects.