Postman, Laurens

1993

An episode from a British series devoted to black issues, called Black Bag. This one—Gender Bender—is a short portrait of Winston, England's answer to Ru Paul and a dead ringer for Naomi Campbell. "I'm not a drag queen, I'm a gender illusionist," says Winston; we get to join him on a fabulous Mahogany-style photo shoot, as well as on-stage at London's hot club, Kinky Gerlinky.

Freeman, Chris

1993

A porno music video.

Boschman, Lorna

1993

Big Fat Slenderella is a humorous and fast-paced look at dieting from the fat person's point of view. Interviews with fat persons are juxtaposed with commercial spoofs that satirize the mainstream obsession with dieting.

Nash, Mark

1993

A white boy and his shrink: Mark Nash's Between Two Worlds features Jason Durr—the white punk in Isaac Julien's Young Soul Rebels—as Graham, who, when not working in a flower shop, develops an intense relationship with Dr. Ludwig, his Czechoslovakian analyst. Graham thinks he might be gay; Paul, the florist's owner, definitely is.

Wheelock, Martha
Weaver, Kay

1993

A portrait of one of the richest careers in the history of photography. The 92-year-old Abbott shines as she talks about her life, her work, and her circle of friends which included such famous artists and writers as James Joyce, Andre Gidé, and Janet Flanner. Focusing on Abbott's prolific work as an artist, the film also reveals clues about her relationships with women, including such notable contemporaries as Djuna Barnes and Edna St. Vincent Millay. Extensive archival film footage and photographs are complemented by interviews with scholars, as filmmakers Martha Wheelock and Kay Weaver trace the fascinating life of this remarkable lesbian of the twentieth century.  This thorough and engaging biography traces Abbott's life from her Ohio roots, to her days in Paris during the '20s, her documentation of New York in the '30s, her landmark studies of science in the '50s, and her portraits of small town America. Berenice Abbott: A View of the 20th Century reveals the life of one of our greatest woman artists, who not only endured—but triumphed—writing books, patenting inventions, teaching at prestigious universities, and giving the world a grand body of work.

Achten, Irma

1993

This stunning debut feature from Dutch lesbian filmmaker Irma Achten portrays the life story of Belle, a woman in search of herself and the meaning of life. Crisply photographed and poetically constructed, this tender tale follows in the footsteps of Dutch director Annette Apon's 1989 magical-realist feature, Crocodiles in Amsterdam. Drawing on operatic and poetic conventions, director Achten presents Belle as a sort of Everywoman who confronts the ethical, existential, and moral issues of modern times. The haunting existential figure of “The Man” appears at critical moments in Belle's life to remind her of her mortality. A feminist cross between Citizen Kane and Wings of Desire, Belle never wavers from its woman-focused center. Belle's lifelong commitment to her lover, Marthe, is the emotional linchpin of her life. But when Belle's desperate desire for independence mutates into an obsession with power and control, she pushes Marthe out of her life. Although Belle marries as a means to independence ("I never had any illusions, I can do exactly what I like"), her repressed love for Marthe continues to influence her life.

Branco, Ivo

1993

Two friends plan a hold-up that turns from bad to worse in Batimam and Robim, a would-be love story set on the outskirts of Sao Paolo.

Miller, Tanya

1993

Basic Necessities is an impactful poetic narrative exploring the effects of sex work on a lesbian couple.

House, Carrie

1993

An experimental documentary about Native Gay/Lesbians sharing their regard for balance. Prior to the onslaught of Euro-Americans, Native Gays held special roles. Today these roles still have cultural and environmental significance.

Verhoeven, Robert

1993

The Bach Virus could only be made in the Netherlands. It's an extraordinarily frank documentary about three gay pedophiles.