A Rosa von Praunheim Filmproduktion production, in collaboration with ZDF, 3Sat. (International sales: M-Appeal, Berlin.) Produced by Martin Kruppe. Directed, written by Rosa von Praunheim.
With: Manuela Kay, Walter Schwarze, Silke Radosh, Laura Radosh, Ipek Ipekicoglu, Anke Brucker, Albrecht Becker, Mahide Lein, Joe Luga, Maren Kroymann.
There’s no attempt to connect the two halves of Rosa von Praunheim’s latest docu, “Dead Gay Men and Living Lesbians,” a compilation of interviews shot several years ago tacked on to current profiles. Title’s provocative nature is, in fact, merely a straightforward statement without underlying meaning: though the older gay men featured — now all dead — are fascinating studies, and the women articulate and appealing, there’s really no film here, just a random collage of footage mostly going over well-trod territory. Travel will be restricted to gay and lesbian fests.
Earlier interviews with the elderly men alternate with the current crop of women, a broad melange of activists and those simply out and proud. Most of the men experienced severe hardship under the Nazis: “The way I am has always made me suffer” calmly states Walter Schwarze, though 90-year-old extreme masochist Albrecht Becker enjoyed his experiences. The women, such as publisher Manuela Kay and thesper Maren Kroymann, exude a natural confidence, and while the lack of famous “out” lesbians becomes a topic of discussion, there are no parallels between their male counterparts, nor any ideological reason for docu’s construction. Tech credits are solid.
Camera (color, DigiBeta), Elfi Mikesch, Lorenz Haarmann; editor, Mike Shephard; sound, Manja Ebert. (Reviewed at the Berlin Film Festival — Panorama), Feb. 9, 2008. (Original title: Tote schwule – Lebende lesben). Running time: 84 MIN.
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