Gay culture both high and low can be found in a collection of documentaries this week: Just in time for Mardi Gras season comes the story of New Orleans’ queer history in The Sons of Tennessee Williams (above). Meanwhile, halfway around the world, a queer Peruvian searches his soul in the documentary Paolo. And in Man 2 Man , some of our relationship habits are put under the microscope. Then there’s David DeCoteau’s latest fleshy fantasy, 1313:Cougar Cult, which makes us wonder what’s going on in the director’s head. Enjoy!
Click through for this week’s DVD releases!
http://youtu.be/6nIlvCVYl2A
The Sons of Tennessee Williams
($24.95 DVD, First Run Features)
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Tim Wolff’s enlightening documentary delves into the queer history of New Orleans’ decadent Mardi Gras celebration. Back in the 1950s, gay social groups started throwing extravagant costume parties that played a key role in gay liberation as we know it. Enjoy extras like bonus footage, deleted scenes and photos of outrageous krewe ball costumes. Beads not included!
NEXT: Looking for papa in Paolo
http://youtu.be/Zc7TFMCPauI
Paolo
($29.99 DVD, Andrea Franco Films)
In filmmaker Andrea Franco Batievsky’s artful documentary, a gay Peruvian revisits his homeland to unpack some emotional baggage and search for his long-lost father, who abandoned him in childhood. Will his journey end happily?
Billy Elliott goes to Mumbai in Bollywood Beats
Bollywood Beats
($24.99 DVD, Breaking Glass Pictures)
Downright Miramax-ian in concept, Bollywood Beats sees a young, single, unemployed Indian fellow start up a dance class for women. One of his students, Victor, is a gay teen who struggles with a homophobic father.
NEXT: Dating in the gay world in Man 2 Man
Man 2 Man: A Gay Man’s Guide to Finding Love
($24.99 DVD, Rogue Culture Productions)
Are you spending Valentine’s Day 2012 alone? This documentary could be the key to a hot date or husband next year, as filmmaker Christopher Hines explores how gays go about dating, LTRs and one-night stands.
NEXT: Another slutty slasher flick from David DeCocteau
1313: Cougar Cult
($19.99 DVD, Rapid Heart)
Another week, another ludicrous David DeCoteau film! This time, three 1980s scream queens lure a trio of young male hotties to their mansion. One of the lads, presumably the smart one since they threw nerdy glasses on him, discovers the ladies are actually spell-casting cougars with diabolical plans to maul their scantily-clad male victims. Oh dear!
NEXT: Home might not be where the heart is in Tiny Furniture
http://youtu.be/gWnLjMHBOG0
Tiny Furniture
($39.95 BluRay, $29.95 DVD, The Criterion Collection)
In both this, her breakthrough film, and HBO’s upcoming Girls, writer-director-actress Lena Dunham captures the zeitgeist of early 20-somethings. Here Dunham plays Aura, a flaky, self-entitled college graduate who moves back in with her artist mom and insufferable younger sister. As we see Aura sleepwalk through her hostessing job and two ill-conceived relationships, Dunham—a sort of anti-Kardashian—exploits her least flattering angles and neurosis for comedic effect. This Criterion Collection DVD really packs in the extras: A conversation between Dunham and idol Nora Ephron, plus an essay by critic Phillip Lopate, four of Dunham’s previous shorts and her first feature film, Creative Nonfiction.
ALSO OUT ON DVD:
The Debt (Focus Features)
Human Centipede 2: Full Sequence (IFC Films)
Bros on Bikes (MVD Entertainment)
American Teacher (First Run Features)