Everything from the sweet to the heartwrenching
BY KRYSTA MCKENZIE, IMAGES BY BFI FLARE
Here at DIVA, we have been loving all the LGBTQIA stories that BFI Flare have shown during this year’s festival. If you haven’t had a chance to go see any of the films yet, fear not — there are still a few tickets left for some of the best films in the festival. For the queers that are eager to see some banging representation but are outside of London, we haven’t forgotten about you, and this list includes some options that you can stream online (some of them are free… thank us later)! Now, without any further ado, let’s have a look at what you can still catch at BFI Flare this year…
It’s Only Life After All
In 1985, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers became a lesbian folk rock duo called the Indigo Girls. This film is their story; told with humour and heart, using old camcorder footage shot by Amy and material from their archives. If you’re interested in understanding the lives of the duo that every young queer person was listening to in the 1990s, then this film is for you. It’s Only Life After All reveals the personal struggles the two women dealt with, whilst enduring hatred from misogynists and the religious right. Get your ticket here.
Egghead & Twinkie
Twinkie is a young Asian American lesbian who aspires to be an animator, and Egghead is her best friend who has a not-so-secret crush on her. The two steal Twinkie’s parents’ car hit the road to meet her online crush in this delightful road movie. The only problem? Egghead, as Twinkie’s loyal chauffeur, has no idea what he’s been roped into. Egghead & Twinkie is a sweet comedy about connecting with your heritage and finding love in unexpected places. Get your ticket here.
Polarized
In Polarized, two women (Dalia and Lisa) from very different worlds fall in love in a small community in America. When Lisa loses her farm, she starts working on a newly established ‘vertical farm’ owned by Dalia and her family. After a heated encounter between the two women exposes the stereotypically racist views Lisa holds towards Dalia, Lisa is fired. However, after Lisa expresses her apologies the two start to build a connection on the back of these rocky beginnings. Get your ticket here.
For DIVAs outside of London…
Five Films For Freedom
The five short films selected by #FiveFilmsForFreedom come from Cyprus, Guyana, Nigeria, Northern Ireland and South Korea and are now available for free all over the world on the British Council’s YouTube Channel and BFI Player. The campaign began on 15 March, and is running until 26 March 2023. The selection of films, chosen by the British Council from BFI Flare’s programme, explores subjects such as violence and security, love across borders and shifting identities. Watch here until 26 March.
Silent Love
After her mother’s death, 35-year-old Aga leaves her life and girlfriend in Germany to care for her teenage brother, Miłosz, in rural Poland. Whilst navigating Polish bureaucracy to get custody of her brother, she answers deeply personal questions, careful not to reveal details of her romantic relationship as anti-LGBTQIA+ protests are in full force across the country. When Aga’s partner starts to visit more often, the improbable trio must find a way to live together. Watch Here from 25 March.
Happy watching DIVAs!
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