Entertainment ‣ The Gayly Mirror

18Sep

By rebeccaNo Comments

closeUp, Entertainment

Film recommendation: Rocks

A life-affirming celebration of female friendship and the power of youthful energy set in the lesser-known parts of London. When her mum unexpectedly leaves their home in London’s Hackney, sixteen-year-old Shola, aka ‘Rocks’, (Bukky Bakray) has to take on responsibility for her younger brother. She tries to keep below the radar of the authorities who might take him away while also wanting to live her teenage life to the full in the company of her group of girlfriends. The film is a genuine collaboration between its director, Sarah Gavron (Brick Lane, Suffragette), writing duo Theresa Ikoko and Claire Wilson, and its young cast who workshopped the storyline and dialogue through a long and detailed process. The result is a film which is a profound joy – not shying away from all that is...

Film recommendation: The Heiresses (Las herederas)

10Sep

By rebeccaNo Comments

closeUp, Entertainment

Film recommendation: The Heiresses (Las herederas)

This award-winning drama is a richly resonant character study and a commentary on Paraguayan class structure, beautifully portrayed by its impressive cast. The Heiresses is a love story set in Paraguay among the complacent wealthy gentry of the nation’s capital, Asunción. Chela (Ana Brun) and Chiquita (Margarita Irun) have lived together all their adult lives – during which they’ve never had to do a day’s work – in a beautifully appointed house that belonged to Chela’s family. As the story begins, disaster has struck. Chiquita is in trouble with the bank and she must go to jail while her debts remains unpaid and the couple suffer the humiliation of selling most of their possessions. Chiquita, robustly confident, immediately settles into prison life but shy Chela is struggling with l...

5Sep

By rebeccaNo Comments

closeUp, Entertainment

Film recommendation: Sócrates

This moving film tells the story of a gay black teenager in Brazil, facing homelessness and discrimination for his sexuality after his mother’s sudden death. Alexandre Moratto’s film opens with 15-year-old Sócrates trying to waken his mother, but she is dead. They had been living on the margins of society in São Paulo, and now the teenager must try to make ends meet without being returned to his father or placed in a foster home. He tries to look after himself, turning up to do his mother’s cleaning job and claiming she is ill. But when the truth emerges, he has to leave – he is underage and nobody can employ him. He finds work in a junkyard but gets into a fight with co-worker Maicon who accuses him of trying too hard. But this inauspicious start leads to a developing relationship. ...

Senhit’s #Freakytriptorotterdam continues!

1Sep

By Luka MandićNo Comments

Entertainment, Eurovision

Senhit’s #Freakytriptorotterdam continues!

San Marino’s famous artist and Eurovision alumni is taking us on a musical adventure to Rotterdam 2021. Senhit (formerly known as Senit) made her San Eurovision debut for San Marino back in 2011. She was selected to compete once again in Eurovision 2020. Since it’s cancellation due to the global pandemic, we’re happy to say that Senhit will return in 2021! “I will represent San Marino at the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam. So I have decided to go on a freaky tribute journey to celebrate the Eurovision history and its fans…” https://youtu.be/c6ZNo_hVA6E To ease the wait until next Year, Senhit is releasing covers of Eurovision classics rendered in her original and unique musical and visual style. So far the #freakytriptorotterdam consists of 3 amazing covers - “Chee...

28Aug

By rebeccaNo Comments

closeUp, Entertainment

Film recommendation: Matthias & Maxime

Xavier Dolan’s new film follows a group of 30-something friends, their bonds and their arguments, as confusion surfaces after an unexpected kiss. The latest film from Canadian wunderkind Xavier Dolan is more mature and less flashy than much of his earlier work but still made with flair and style – and plenty of talking. After his less successful foray into English-speaking cinema with The Death & Life of John F Donovan, he is back in his native French-speaking Canada. The eponymous Matthias and Maxime, now in their late 20s, have been friends since childhood and move in a tight circle of friends, used to partying and enjoying life. Maxime (played by Dolan himself) has been caring for his ex-addict mother but is making a break for freedom, heading off to Australia. Matthias (Gabri...

23Aug

By rebeccaNo Comments

closeUp, Entertainment

Film recommendation: The Levelling

A haunting British drama about grief and familial bonds set on a farm in England’s Somerset Levels. Hope Dickson Leach’s haunting debut follows trainee veterinarian Clover Catto (Ellie Kendrick, Game of Thrones) as she returns to the farm on the Somerset levels where she grew up, summoned for the funeral of her brother Harry. Her gruff father, Aubrey (David Troughton), blithely carries on with business as usual, in denial about the decrepit state of the farm due to the floods, lack of money and the loss of Harry. And in this dark world, neither of them seems able to share their feelings or address their sense of guilt. The film unfolds with layers of ambiguity and secrets, haunting images and music rooted in this rural life, and the strong feeling of absence – of Harry as well as Clo...

13Aug

By rebeccaNo Comments

closeUp, Entertainment

Film recommendation: Disobedience

Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams give superb performances in this powerful love story set in London’s Orthodox Jewish community. In this rich and impressive drama, adapted from Naomi Alderman’s 2006 novel of the same name, bohemian photographer Ronit (Rachel Weisz) returns home to north London when her rabbi father dies. She is now an outsider from the Orthodox Jewish community, having left London years earlier for New York and there is uncertainty about her return. But her old friends Esti and Dovid (Rachel McAdams and Alessandro Nivola), who have stayed in their community and are now married, welcome her. As Ronit and Esti’s passionate feelings from their youth start to resurface, so do the suspicions of their conservative community. This is a tender love story, beautifully played, ...

The Big Bang Theory star, Jim Parson, opens up about his coming-out, and offers us some interesting reflections.

12Aug

By RaffaNo Comments

closeUp, Entertainment

The Big Bang Theory star, Jim Parson, opens up about his coming-out, and offers us some interesting reflections.

Jim Parsons said that the decision to come out as gay, back in 2016, was “great thing” for him. Jim had a very interesting and almost introspective conversation about his coming out experience on David Tennant’s podcast. Jim, that played the role of Sheldon Cooper in the famous TV Series, reflected on his experience of coming-out, as a famous person, but “through the back door”. Speaking to Jim, Tennant said: “It’s interesting when you have the success that you have had and you also happen to be gay, you become de facto an activist. […] The very fact that you admit that in a world where still not everyone who’s in that position is willing to talk about it…” Jim quickly understood the direction of the question and replied: “That’s right. And that was my last hurdle with coming out. The ...

Disney to release their long-awaited bisexual lead in The Owl House

10Aug

By RaffaNo Comments

closeUp, Entertainment

Disney to release their long-awaited bisexual lead in The Owl House

Disney is making strides with the LGBT+ representation in their films, and they shall soon feature a bisexual protagonist. You will surely remember the other animation movie that had a lesbian character and the famous Duck Tales with two gay dads- unfortunately not well accepted in all countries - and Disney continues to make strides in the representation of LGBT+ characters. The Owl House - this is the name of TV Series that should represent a bisexual protagonist - which airs on the Disney Channel, sees its lead character named Luz - a 14-year-old Dominican-American, that has already given some hints on her sexuality, to be possibly queer. Luz (whose voice belongs to Sarah-Nicole Robles) has previously shown interest in guys, but recently fans have noticed her growing interest fro Ami...

Arisa: the Italian singer that many would love to see at Eurovision

7Aug

By RaffaNo Comments

closeUp, Entertainment

Arisa: the Italian singer that many would love to see at Eurovision

Arisa has recently released a new single called "Ricominciare Ancora" (tr: let's restart) and with her voice is ready to let her fans dream again. Arisa (real name Rosalba Pippa) is a famous Italian singer that won twice Festival di Sanremo - the national Italian song festival - and is widely considered to have one of the most powerful and beautiful voices of the entire Italian panorama. She has recently released her new single, after the lock-down due to Covid 19 pandemic, and it is a positive message for everyone. Interviewed by some Italian radios, when talking about her new song, she often said: "I consider it [Ricominciare Ancora] a manifesto of rebirth, a caress, a push towards a more aware dimension that describes us as protagonists of our time and architects of our destiny. ...