From Reboot:
Filmed over 21 years, Sabbath Queen follows Rabbi Amichai Lau Lavie’s epic journey as the dynastic heir of 38 generations of Orthodox rabbis who rejects his traditional destiny and becomes a drag-queen rebel, a queer father, and the founder of Lab/Shul - an everybody-friendly, God-optional, artist-driven, pop-up experimental congregation in New York!
Sabbath Queen...captures director Sandi DuBowski and Amichai Lau-Lavie (all Reboot Network members) on a lifelong and cinematic quest to creatively and radically reinvent religion, ritual, and love..
The film, which was featured at the Closing Night of the SFJFF last weekend, was the subject of a recent interview published by Variety with Sandi DuBowski and Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie.
https://variety.com/2024/film/features/sabbath-queen-rabbi-drag-israel-documentary-1236087194/
The two dive into the impetus of the film, the future of religion, and engaging with the polarizations that are highlighted in the documentary.
My Broken Mariko
Intense, difficult but light amongst the dark, and very very good.
Tied for my best film of the festival.
See link for content warnings.
KIBA: The Fangs of Fiction
Well made but I don't get on with business settings and the artificial constructions of the corporate world. Kudos for a resourceful female protagonist fighting for her values and her character's message of choosing what standards to update and what to discard as society changes.
i am what i am
Aroace woman coping in a world where that's not understood. Striking was two characters in particular who, rather than listening to her when she told them, insisted on redefining her into their world views.
It's an often lonely film, although she's rarely alone. Or at least it felt that way to me.
She did have a supportive friend.
The Zen Diary
Food, nature, living with the seasons and environment, and a 60 year old man dealing with grief and his fear of his own death. Also, the shallowness of relative 'privilege'. Overall, contemplative and contented.
BL Metamorphosis
A completely delightful story of a friendship between an elderly woman and a high school girl who bond over their shared love of BL manga.
(Not available in UK w/o a VPN. Check JFF page linked at top of thread re your location. Also on bilibili.)
Father of the Milky Way Railroad
Beautiful, poetic melodrama depicting a romanticised and idealised life of an idealistic young man who, after his death, became one of Japan's most loved poets and writers.
Now to read some of his writings while this is still fresh in my mind.
The Lone Ume Tree
About acceptance of difference and problems caused by those quick to judge. Cho-san has both learning disabilities and autism, needs his routines and works in a supported facility. He also has a great mum and difficult neighbours.
Single8
Another youth film focused on creativity, a visual art and finding your own voice. High school students work together, with the help of a uni film student and a history teacher, pushing themselves, their skills and ingenuity to make a short science fiction film with meaning.
It's left me with a big smile 💖
Vivi Zine
Chevra haChachamot
Elisheva Meira ✡︎ 🌈
