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June 15, 2007
Vol 35 Issue 24

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Tuesday, Oct 07, 2008

Inlaws & Outlaws next at Uptown: Premiered at Cinarama on Thursday, June 14th

Inlaws & Outlaws next at Uptown: Premiered at Cinarama on Thursday, June 14th
by Herb Krohn - SGN A&E Writer Inlaws & Outlawsoriginally premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival in 2005 and has been on a cross-country odyssey ever since, winning festival awards and playing to enthusiastic audiences in unexpected places, such as churches in Oklahoma City. This new and final cut of the film had its Seattle theatrical premiere at the Cinerama on June 14th. It starts an exclusive run at the Uptown Theatre on Friday, June 15th through June 28th. Three of the film's lead subjects have also been named as Celebrity Grand Marshals of the Seattle Pride Parade on Sunday, June 24th. [Editor's Note: This review by Herb Krohn was originally published by the SGN on July 1, 2005.] Inlaws & Outlaws Rating: Excellent USA - Made in Seattle Directed by Drew Emery The sorry state of American Gay Cinema has for too long been a source of frustration for many in our community; typically with horrible production values, poor scripts, inane plots, bad performances and lousy direction have combined over the years to create very low expectations among LGBT filmgoers. We as a group have been so desperate to see images of our lives portrayed on the silver screen that we have tossed out the high expectations that we as a community have a reputation for in such areas as art, creativity, and style to tolerate and even embrace absolute garbage cinema as long as it was Gay themed. So it is refreshing and exciting that American Gay Cinema seems to finally be improving, at least as represented in this year's Seattle International Film Festival presentations. At the top of the list of excellent Gay films is the documentary Inlaws & Outlaws. Even more appealing is that this film was produced locally, directed by Seattle filmmaker Drew Emery, this film focuses on the number one issue impacting our LGBT community today - Marriage! Emery tied for fourth place for Best Director in the 2005 Seattle International Film Festival Golden Space Needle Awards. More noteworthy is that it was one of only 19 films out of more than 250 presentations to be rated as a sleeper by SIFF Full Series pass holders - meaning it was screened by less than one third of voting pass holders and rated as "great" by at 55% or more of those who saw it. In an effort to try to define and explain what makes a marriage, this film profiles individuals and couples both hetero and homo who all reside in the Puget Sound area. Although it is a talking head style of documentary, it is impossible not to become absolutely absorbed by the experiences of the subjects as they share the intimate details of their private romantic lives. Emery made this film because he wanted to produce a film that would educate and inform the audience about the complexities of this issue. What he has really produced is a profile of human relationships, and the meaning of commitment and marriage through the perspectives of a large and diverse group of people, both children and adults. The impact of social custom effects not only the opinion of the majority of heterosexuals on the issue of Gay marriage, but it has a significant impact on Gay and Lesbian people themselves: from the male couple who were together for over fifty years and lived their entire lives together in the closet, to a Mormon Lesbian woman who even though she was in love with another woman set out to find a husband and went so far as to be married in the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City to a man she didn't even love. Of course there is the couple whose marriage crumbled as one of the parties struggled with their sexual orientation, but there is also the heterosexual couple who just wanted a civil marriage who ended up with a big church wedding to please the family. Really what Drew Emery has made is a film about love, commitment, romance, and the difficulties and struggles which nearly everyone experiences in romantic relationships. It becomes clear as we peer into such topics as dating, religion, pleasing family members, companionship, devotion, and divorce that love knows no boundaries and same sex relationships at the core are exactly identical to our heterosexual counterparts' experiences. It becomes very clear that gender is irrelevant when two humans "feel the magic" with each other. Yet what does become ardently clear is the inequality and unfair treatment faced by those who happen to love another person of the same sex. It really strikes hard when you hear the surviving partner of the half century long relationship explain that he was denied a the American Flag by the government for the coffin of his WWII veteran lover - because he was not a recognized "member of the family" and therefore was not authorized to make such a request. He just lived with the deceased for over fifty years!! Inlaws & Outlaws clearly demonstrates what the power of the institution, the word marriage, and the piece of paper that conveys the inherent legal rights of a family relationship, and how denial of these rights to LGBT people is a public denial of the existence of our love and dedication for each other. While the film uses some interesting techniques including sliding frame transitions, as well as musical interludes featuring a performing group and vocals, it is the stories of the subjects and the topic that really hooks the audience. It becomes abundantly clear that while we get married or want to get married for a whole host of reasons that are important to each individual, the reality is love and commitment between two people is what makes a marriage survive and thrive regardless of the gender of the individuals involved. Intelligently done, even including an opposite sex couple who oppose same sex marriage, their ugly bigotry and arrogance was blatantly obvious as soon as they opened their mouths in defense of limiting marriage rights. Drew Emery's film has the potential to educate and influence public opinion on the marriage issue, and while it will be especially appreciated by the LGBT community it is not a "preach to the choir" kind of documentary. Don't miss it; you might even have a different perspective on what makes a marriage after you view this excellent locally made documentary.

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