Written by:
John Esther
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this Issue of Curve:
Vol. 16#10
Using GLBT social movements and recent independent cinema as its linchpin, Lisa Ades and Lesli Klainberg’s documentary Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema traces the somewhat hidden history of LGBT cinema.
Curve caught up with Klainberg in Los Angeles to get her thoughts on the subject.
Why make this documentary?
Being a gay filmmaker myself, I always felt there was a story that hadn’t been told. The issue of gay and lesbian people in film and their stories were so long hidden. Gay and lesbian cinema is about several things, not just our sexuality. It’s about telling stories about our lives.
The films you discuss in your documentary were under the independent film banner. Do you think Hollywood has come around?
The story of independent cinema and queer cinema is inextricably and completely tied together as queer cinema is tied to the gay and lesbian social movement. Gay and lesbian filmmakers make plenty of Hollywood films, that aren’t gay or lesbian per se. There are a lot of gay producers, actors, directors and writers making mainstream films. It will be only a matter of time before we start seeing more gay and lesbian protagonists.
You mentioned a lot of good films in the documentary. Do you have any favorites?
Parting Glances is a film that meant a lot to me. Desert Hearts, I don’t think there is any lesbian in American who won’t tell you it meant a lot. Go Fish was also extremely important. License to Kill is an amazing film.
How effective can art, such as film, be toward social change?
Art is what creates social change. Artists often lead the way. It is all about being out. The more people who are out there, where people know someone is gay or lesbian, the more comfortable people feel. That’s just an obvious progression; that we’re real people. Films and TV reflect the fact that we’re out there just like everyone else.
Where do you see queer cinema heading in the future?
It’s interesting to see how technology is changing cinema in general. I see gay and lesbian films thriving.
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