World Premiere
Luci, a queer Peruvian-Canadian woman, gives her beloved nephew the Christmas gift of his dreams: a beautiful sequined dress. But when he tries to show the rest of the family, Luci finds herself enacting the same restrictions and shaming she has experienced herself.
Supported by
Community Broadcast Partner
Community Partner
Sydney Kuhne, Desmond Zavier Sivan, Alexandra Lainfiesta, Juan Rodas, Fernando Figueiredo
Canada
2022
In English and Spanish with English subtitles
Featured in:
VIFF Short Forum: Program 2
Fear, doubt, and loneliness give way to pleasure, empowerment, and reclamation—or, is it the other way around?
Missing VIFF? Check Out What's Playing at the VIFF Centre
The 39 Steps
In our new film studies series, FRAMEWORK, film scholar Michael van den Bos explores the work of Alfred Hitchcock, across four monochrome masterworks. This week: The 39 Steps (1935), a witty and fast-moving spy thriller from Hitchcock's English period.
American Doctor
One of the most powerful documentaries of the year, this puts us smack in the open wound that is Gaza, filtered through the eyes of three American surgeons (of Palestinian, Jewish and Zoroastrian backgrounds) compelled to do their utmost to alleviate harm.
La Bola Negra
A big, old-school historical melodrama gets a thrillingly modern, queer makeover from Spanish duo Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, who artfully juggle three gay protagonists across stories set in 1932, 1937, and 2017. Winner: Best Director, Cannes. Screening on 35mm.
The History of Concrete
After attending a workshop on pitching saccharine Hallmark movies, John Wilson tries to apply all the same best practices to his documentary about concrete. Frequently absurd and endlessly entertaining detours, asides, and digressions ensue.
The Great McGinty
Preston Sturges' first film as writer-director is an omnivorous satire on endemic political corruption, the tale of a tramp who gets his entry into politics by casting 37 votes for mayor at $2 a pop. Eventually he'll be on the ticket himself...
To Be Or Not To Be
Strange but true: one of the greatest comedies of Hollywood's golden era was inspired by Hitler's annexation of Poland in 1938. Jack Benny is the renowned theatre actor whose performance of Hamlet is interrupted by the Germans.
Credits
Executive Producer
Colin Ng, Françoise Girard
Producer
Sofia Bant
Screenwriter
Beth Warrian
Cinematography
Zachary Clark
Editor
Tommy Pal
Production Design
Lori Si
Original Music
Hari Sivan, Giran Findlay
Director
Beth Warrian
Beth Warrian is a writer-director based in Toronto who, fascinated by inner worlds, liminal states, and the spiritual dimensions of queer experience, draws from a background in theatre and a hard-knocks decade as a sous chef. Warrian is a recent graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Image Arts film program, where she received accolades, including the Norman Jewison and Promising Filmmaker awards. Adore is her second collaboration with producer Sofia Bant.