our first screening at 9:30 p.m. at Cumberland. People are in a line for "Suddenly"!
and the theatre is packed. Thanks to all the hotdocs staff and the ICE for all your effort.
Director Andy Blubaugh, who's short "The Pull" was screened before our film.
Bjarte Morner Tweit, producer of "Belarusian Waltz"
you got mail: some emails we got after the screening.
Hey guys,
we met really briefly after the filmmakers dinner on Thursday - I just wanted to drop a line and say how much I liked your film yesterday afternoon. I had no idea how bad things were in Italy. I grew up in Dublin where we had the church strangling the country for years, but since the 1990's thing have really turned around there, and now they find it hard to even sign up new priests (maybe they've gone to the gay bar instead!). So I guess I imagined that things had moved in a similar direction all over Europe. Guess not!
But the film was this great balance of getting the (depressing) message across with lots of great moments of laughing, and you two just being yourselves and putting yourselves out there. I'm sure it's going to be seen a lot, and this very open and accessible approach will really help dispel some of the ignorance. So thanks for the film!
Hope to run into you over the next day or so - we're here til Monday. Keep in touch and let us know how your projects are going.
All the best
P.
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Dear Gustav and Lucca,
I saw you yesterday in Toronto at the Hot Docs festival at the Isabel Bader
theater. Your film was very moving and important and also fun!
Congratulations -- I am sure that it was not easy to do. You are both very
brave.
The behaviour of the Catholic church has been disgraceful and terrible,
historically and more recently.
I want to thank you for making this film -- it is very important, not only
for you but for young gay people in Italy and others around the world. I
read your website and the section on homophobia in Italy and it is shocking.
My partner and I visit Italy regularly for vacation (Umbria, Toscana, Roma,
Bologna, Ravenna and Venice) and we are dismayed by what we hear.
I think that a future project and important issues that needs to be
addressed is this:
- why did people vote for Berlusconi in 2008?
- why is the right-wing gaining in popularity? (this is more than just
saying that Prodi was not an exciting candidate)
We in Canada are puzzled about Berlusconi's re-election and cannot
understand it. If gay rights are to be made safe then people need to deal
with why the right wing has gained in popularity.
If you can begin to address these issues, then I think that your chances of
success (DICO or gay marriage) might be more successful in the future. I say
this because it is not just gay rights that are at stake, the League and
other right wing parties have an agenda and we must counter this. So by
conducting an analysis of what is going on we can begin to understand why
people are voting the way that they do.
I know that it is a big project but it is just an idea for the future -- you
and Lucca are so talented.
I hope that you enjoy your time in Canada and if you have extra time we
would like to discuss the situation in Italy with you - perhaps over
cappuccino -- our treat.
Kind regards,
S. and J.
------
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
For making this film.
P.
-----
I label this post under three categories for a specific reason. First it's a post talking about a movie that I'm recommending to see. Secondly, it's a movie about gay life in general with elements that affect us all. Thirdly, it's about church and politics/state.
Suddenly, Last Winter is a wonderful short documentary film showing at the Hot Docs film festival in Toronto. As a movie you were never bored, always captivated and felt the charisma of Luca and Gustav, the main characters. As a gay or lesbian you either have experience some of the same narrow-minded attitudes showcase in the film or know someone who has in their life. As a political statement the film uncovers, through the eyes of an ordinary gay couple the struggles to have a government recognize us as equals in society and how the church has such a strong influence on the minds of those who are to represent the people. If you get a chance to see it, do so. You won't be disappointed.
On a personal note, I was lucky enough to meet both Lucas and Gustav after the film showing and again meeting Luca at my partner's birthday bash. In the film you come away thinking that these two are very nice individuals. This will be confirmed once meeting them in person. With all the attention from industry insiders, traveling across the globe to promote their small budget film, meeting various people. They are humble, polite and thankful.
http://avenueroad.blogspot.com/2008/04/suddenly-last-winter.html
We made it over the ocean and our first north America date is here in Toronto.
Our first "date" was with Chris, the cute host of the SUN TV programm CANOE LIVE
and this morning (23 april) at 8:30 a.m. we were the guests of the morningshow on PROUD-FM with Ken Kostick & Mary Jo Eustace
St. James Park
Angels say hello to us
Toronto at night
