Queer Celluloid on Parade

[Shana A]

Queer Celluloid on Parade
NewFest hits Chelsea beginning June 3
Published: Friday, May 28, 2010 12:29 AM CDT
BY GARY M. KRAMER

http://www.gaycitynews.com/articles/2010/05/28/gay_city_news/features/doc4bff52b875c0a619817132.txt

This year's NewFest program features an eclectic line up of 100 queer shorts, features, and documentaries. While there are some hot tickets – "Howl" with James Franco as Allen Ginsberg (Jun. 5 at 8 p.m.) comes first to mind — some of the more obscure titles are worth a look.

"Paulista" (Jun. 11 at 10:30 p.m.) is a poignant Brazilian film that tells a trio of love stories. The film opens with Marina (Silvia Lourenço) arriving in São Paulo to work as an actress. She soon becoming smitten with Justine (Danni Carlos), a musician, and seeks out a connection with this intriguing woman. Another storyline — the weakest of the three — has Marina's neighbor Jay (Fábio Herford) romancing a prostitute.

The strongest story concerns Marina's transgender roommate Suzana (Maria Clara Spinelli), who reluctantly begins a relationship with her co-worker Gil (Gustavo Muchado). Their future pivots on his reaction to the fact that she was born a man, information revealed in a beautifully handled scene.