Queer Ghosts from the Past

Malcolm Stumpf in Wild Tigers I Have Known

We noticed last night, as we waited for our film at London's Lesbian and Gay Film Festival to start, how many queer couples resemble each other. This is the relationship curse that afflicts many: the longer you stay with a person, the more prone you are to dress like him/her, share a haircut, and even body language. As we sipped our chilled pints of Cobra beer, we spotted two Chinese men wearing glasses and grey coats come out of the cinema, followed by two tall, lanky, shaved-headed blokes in green army jackets. Sitting by us, preppie Martina Navratilova lookalikes ate dinner and, nearby, a couple of girls with long hair and dirty jeans shared a joke. Luckily, Kevin was wearing an outfit completely different from mine; but we have been known to leave the apartment in matching styles and it's only a matter of time before we are seen around town in identikit sailor suits.

The first film we saw this year was Wild Tigers I Have Known [trailer]. Although directed by Cam Archer, the film is heavily influenced by Gus Van Sant, who produces it: there are teenagers who can't act, a nameless American suburb and awakening queer sexuality, all very reminiscent of Van Sant's Elephant. The film tells the episodic story of a pre-pubescent boy discovering his queerness, and love for the coolest boy in school. Fairuza Balk (remember her from The Craft?) plays, very badly, his mom; in fact, all the scenes with adults were poorly acted (perhaps on purpose?)

The film is a strange sort of hybrid. You cringe at one scene, only to marvel at the beauty of the next one. The film works well when it captures that time in any queer boy's life when he realizes he's attracted to boys instead of girls, the obsessions created and the frustrations that eventually lead to violence/depression/disappointment, etc; but it doesn't do so well in making you care for the characters.

The strangest thing happened just before the film started: I spotted in the crowd an Ex-Livejournal friend whom I've never met in real life! He was someone from America I was friendly with for a couple of years -- we shared a love of boys and Morrissey -- until one day we drifted apart and he cut me loose. I'd seen plenty of photos of him to recognize his face, and this morning I learned from his LJ that he moved to London. During the movie, he sat right in front of me. At one point, we exchanged glances. I asked Kevin what was the meaning of such a coincidence but he didn't know what to say. Should I have said hello? I felt like a total stalker. In the end, I silently walked behind him as we left the cinema. He disappeared into the night with his companion. I'm now undecided as to whether I should go to his LJ and leave a note.

( A music video taken from the film's soundtrack )