We’re trying out something new for 2012: Starting today, we’ll be posting a different short film every Friday (give or take). The hope is the shorts will spark conversation and be new, but we may also want to bring an unseen or classic gem to light. They may be gay-themed, by LGBT filmmakers or just strike a queer note in some way.
Today we’re screening Jamil Khoury’s short “both/and,” which explores the binary identities of American and Arab and Arab-American and gay. Khoury is the founder and artistic director of Silk Road Rising, a Chicago-based theater and video production company. His plays—including The Balancing Arab, Precious Stones and Azizati—often address Middle Eastern themes, as well as questions about culture, sexual orientation, national identity and class.
Is there a short you think should run on Film Fridays—either one you’ve seen or made yourself? If it’s SFW and on YouTube, Vimeo or can be embedded some other way, e-mail us the link and we’ll take a look. (Bribes will not be accepted—though we do like caramel popcorn.)
Enjoy!
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.
Interesting
Great idea!. Will watch later.
Chad
The best he could do was cry and then say what he really feels to and empty room?! He should have stood up to that racist, homophobic, woman basher and claimed his space then!!!! This movie portrays gays as weak and cowardly. It is a shame because we are not weak and cowardly!!! Two thumbs down!
Interesting
@Chad: well , I haven’t seen it yet, but if it was able to solicit such a strong emotional response I am not sure if that’s a bad thing. I suppose if one is political rather than watching a movie is it.
mark
@Chad:
I find it interesting that you direct your invective against the Arab bigot while overlooking the equally vile white, non-Arab gay man. The gay bigot was gross. I couldn’t understand why Jamil would want to have sex with a man who looks down him for being Arab.
Frankly, I don’t understand why Jamil would want to associate with either bigot.
Freddie
How utterly pretentious.
LandStander
I thought it was a beautiful portrayal of the rejection he feels by all those he considers his community. When trying to get in touch with his Arab roots, he feels rejected about his homosexuality. When trying to get in touch with the gay community, he encounters racism. These are two parts of him that make a whole, and no matter where he turns he feels a part of him gets left out.
This was not a how-to video on dealing with racism/homophobia. It was an expression of emotions. It was not cowardly, nor was it pretentious.
JKB
Thumbs up!
Jay Pat
That was amazing. This pretty much applies to Indian Americans as well, regardless of being gay….well also Asians in general actually.
<3
Jay Pat
also my fantasy: A gay Arab surgeon husband!
Interesting
Being a double minority applies to anyone who is a double minority. Being black and gay. Or poor and gay. Or black, poor, and gay. Or Indian, poor, and gay (I know some of those type of guys in my neighborhood in NYC since not all Indians are well off) can be really hard since you face it from all directions. As my friend, who is a psychologist doing research in this are has said to me- it is amazing many gay people who are also people of color and/or poor can get up in the morning because they are assault in this society by all directions.
AK
Hm, this condescends to its audience and oversimplifies people of every background, though this same simplicity could make it a good jumping-off text for a classroom discussion. Interesting subject matter but a really exaggerated portrayal. I agree with mark above.
Empowered
It does not seem as though Jamil is defending either man, nor is he oversimplifying the prejudices held against him because he is gay and Arab.
He is simply providing a video that allows others to gain insight into the very core of who he is, and how identifying with his roots has caused others to launch an assault against him.
@Chad, he does stand up for himself. The video seems to stand as an inward reflection. He does not condemn others, but ultimately accepts himself. Almost everyone (regardless of sexual orientation, religious, or cultural backgrounds) can identify with this piece. We have all been put in positions that cause of grief, or challenge our cores. . . Jamil’s video is an accurate representation of this.
I think it’s wonderful.