[WQ40] G.T.F.O. [2024-04-14]

[hermionesviolin]

SHORT FILM PROGRAM
G.T.F.O.
Sunday, Apr 14 @ 4:00 pm
Brattle Theater

WQ blurbed this as: "GTFO is for the films we love because of their weirdness. We have Vico Ortiz. We have talking boobs. We have ghost boyfriends. We have someone cumming gold. Come and see all our weird, fun finds."

I think Abby definitely enjoyed this set more than I did.  Which tracks.

If I am Here it is by Mystery 22 min
CONTENT WARNING: SIMULATED MURDER
New Rio, 2054 AD. The Order of Truth wreaks havoc on the streets, killing every being that has special powers. Renowned witch Dahlia is determined to beat the Order and assembles a clan of trans and queer people, each with their own supernatural talent. The fate of the city is in their hands.
DIRECTOR: Clari Ribeiro
COUNTRY: Brazil
LANGUAGE: Portuguese

I generally enjoyed this.  I think it could have benefited from being fleshed out into a full-length film, but it worked fairly well for what it was.

The Peach Activations 9 min
The Peach Activations is a devoted homage to the butt, fleshy and jiggly, funny and lovable, as diverse in appearance as the face itself. The film documents, in mesmerizing slow motion, impromptu private performances by amateur activators who pinch, poke, stroke, slap, or shake butts. The artist filmed many scenes at Fire Island Pines and received plenty of additional footage contributed by collaborators worldwide. Enthusiastic consent was granted by all participants before, during, and after every step of the creation of this film. This means that models and butt (peach) activators have fully consented to participating in the performances as well as in the dissemination of this video artwork. Most participants have chosen to remain anonymous. The Peach Activations, Volume I, is Nadine Faraj's first art film, conceived to be released in several segments as its title suggests.
DIRECTOR: Nadine Faraj
COUNTRY: Canada
LANGUAGE: English (English credits - in fact a silent film)

🍑🍑🍑

Because it's slow-mo, I definitely at times felt like, "Okay, this is dragging and I'm ready for it to be over," but I was also often like, "This is cool and interesting, and I could watch more of this."

Neon roses 11 min
After a bereaved young man uncovers a startling truth about his friend, he sets off on a daring and comedic escape, with the help of his ghost boyfriend.
DIRECTOR: Iven Tu
COUNTRY: United States
LANGUAGE: English

The previous film was by "enthoosiastic consent productions" or something, and at one point Abby joked that this one was by "unenthusiastic consent productions" (because one of the characters is acting creepy and not paying attention to his partner's consent -- the audience is supposed to think it's creepy, to be clear).

In retrospect, I regret not asking the meaning behind the film's title.

Discoteque 5 min
CONTENT WARNING: ANIMATED PENISES
I feel your beat, you feel my rhythm, till the end.
DIRECTOR: Masashi Yamamoto
COUNTRY: United States
LANGUAGE: English

I wanted a content warning for the cannibalism/body horror.  Abby really liked this film (she was gonna vote for it as best of the program until we got to the last one), but it was not for me.

Bold Eagle 16 min
CONTENT WARNING: NUDITY
Bold Eagle is about an "alter," a person who anonymously posts nudes and performs lascivious acts in the nether regions of the Internet. Trapped at home with hallucinogenic drugs and his talking cat, BOLD seeks refuge in the strong arms of strange men from the internet as they masturbate their way to true happiness.
DIRECTOR: Whammy Alcazaren
COUNTRY: Philippines
LANGUAGE: Tagalog

Oh, he's taking hallucinogenic drugs?  That explains some things.  (I did not reread these blurbs before we watched these films live.)

I felt like this film did not need to be as long as it was, and Abby agreed that it might well have been a stronger film if it were shorter.

Boob 7 min
Boob is a 7-minute romantic comedy following the trials of Butch, a large left boob who struggles with his masculinity, as he works to impress his new crush in unfortunately toxic ways. Butch may or may not end up getting the girl, but in trying he goes through anxiety, humiliation, and a transcendental experience. Shot entirely on green screen with an iPhone and animated to within an inch of its life using scraps from the internet, this film examines the tensions of normative transmasculinity from the perspective of one of its exiled subjects, the breast.
DIRECTOR: Lokchi Lam
COUNTRY: Canada
LANGUAGE: English

After the program, various people connected with various of the shorts got on stage for a Q&A, and the trans-masculine writer-director talked about trans-normativity and how breasts aren't seen as masculine, etc.

Auganic 20 min
A married couple examines an unusual phenomenon when they discover a special ability during an intimate moment.
DIRECTOR: Krit Komkrichwarakool
COUNTRY: Canada
LANGUAGE: English

This was generally solid.

There's a moment where the couple has a conflict where I felt like they were threatening to break up and then later we learn they're married, and I felt some whiplash about what their relationship is, so I think it could have benefited from a little more build-up about their relationship before we get to that conflict moment.

Lesbophilia 15 min
CONTENT WARNING: IMPLIED NECROPHILIA
Chase is head over heels in love with Eliana, but they’ve got a problem that’s about to prove very hard to deal with. When Eliana’s ex-boyfriend, Garrett, unexpectedly passes away, she realizes that she may never have dick like that again. Tacos are delicious, but what if I want a hot dog every now and then? This catches Chase off-guard. She’s been left for men before and now is wondering if she’s enough for Eliana. They arrive at Garrett's wake located at Miss Madam’s Funeral Parlour, a funeral home by day, moonlighting as an upscale brothel by night. When Eliana discovers her ex is rock hard in his casket, she comes up with a proposal to solve their problem – one more ride on Garrett’s saddle just for good measure. It’s unethical, unsanitary, and very unconventional. Chase wants to be supportive of her partner’s needs, but isn't this going too far? In a story about freedom, pleasure, and leaving the past behind, Chase and Eliana must decide how unconditional their love really is.
DIRECTOR: Michelle West
COUNTRY: United States
LANGUAGE: English

This has Vico Ortiz -- which led to Abby posting in a Discord we're in (during the post-show panel): "We are like 150 ft from someone who got to kiss Vico Ortiz on screen."

The production values were good (who knew you could find almost everything you need for a funeral home/strip club at a Hungarian cultural center?), the acting was good ... the other films in this set felt indie to some degree or another, but this felt very professional (which I say as a positive thing).