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As the title suggests, the documentary “Queer Japan” is big and broad, not focused. A vigorous smorgasbord of sexual orientations and gender identities, Graham Kolbeins’ feature encompasses enough varieties of L, G, B, T and Q to leave you exhausted, and does so with energy, style and open-hearted appreciation.
“Right now in Japan, we’re in the middle of an LGBT boom,” says a voice over an opening shot of Tokyo’s Rainbow parade, followed by another voice talking about the importance of becoming visible but “not generating any friction with the majority.” The film celebrates the boom, but its characters aren’t too concerned about the friction; with a couple of exceptions, they’re out and proud, with any days they might have spent in the closet well behind them.
Those opening remarks, by the way, are as close as you’ll get to an overview in “Queer Japan.
“Right now in Japan, we’re in the middle of an LGBT boom,” says a voice over an opening shot of Tokyo’s Rainbow parade, followed by another voice talking about the importance of becoming visible but “not generating any friction with the majority.” The film celebrates the boom, but its characters aren’t too concerned about the friction; with a couple of exceptions, they’re out and proud, with any days they might have spent in the closet well behind them.
Those opening remarks, by the way, are as close as you’ll get to an overview in “Queer Japan.
- 12/9/2020
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
"I think it's incredibly important to gain visibility, to make it so that we can be seen." Altered Innocence has released an official US trailer for a documentary titled Queer Japan, exploring the LGBTQ+ culture in contemporary Japan. The film is a vibrant profile of various people in Japan living brazenly unconventional lives in the sunlight, shadows, and everywhere in between. Japan is still a very conservative society, but of course there are people pushing back and letting loose and being free. "Get to know a vibrant and inspiring group of human beings in a country with a unique history of queer expression." Featuring: Vivienne Sato, Gengoroh Tagame, Atsushi Matsuda, Nogi Sumiko, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Akira the Hustler, Tomato Hatakeno. This premiered at the Rainbow Reel Tokyo & Outfest Film Festivals last year, and will be available to watch virtually in December. Looks like a vibrant, proud, and jubilantly enjoyable film. That final shot is amusing.
- 11/10/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
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