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Festival coverage

Flare

16 March – 26 March 2017

Mahershala Ali in Moonlight
Mahershala Ali in Moonlight

Flare is back for another year with a thrilling line-up of films, from Oscar nominees to radical indie works surviving on the fringes of queer culture. There are sweet romances and daringly sexy dramas, tales of persecution and stories of triumph. Several films depict important aspects of queer history, while others look to the future, full of hope.

The festival runs from 16 to 26 March.

Other years (12)

Box office and information

Latest reviews

  • Signature Move
    Review preview for Signature Move

    Notions of identity, duty to others and duty to the self intersect in this pleasingly nuanced tale.

    Jennie Kermode · 4 out of 5
    The story of a young woman navigating her life between a mother who doesn’t really know her daughter and a burgeoning relationship that offers the possibility of real happiness.
  • Seat In Shadow
    Review preview for Seat In Shadow

    Henry Coombes' film contains some highly entertaining banter.

    Jennie Kermode · 3.5 out of 5
    A painter who doubles as a psychotherapist tries to help a young man battling depression.
  • The Handmaiden
    Review preview for The Handmaiden

    One of the film’s leading forces is its stunning visual composition.

    Evelin Toth · 5 out of 5
    A handmaiden sets out to swindle an heiress but things don't go to plan.
  • Miles
    Review preview for Miles

    An astute, intelligent character study which neatly captures what may prove to be an important turning point in social history.

    Jennie Kermode · 4 out of 5
    In a desperate bid to get the college scholarship he needs, a teenage boy joins the girls’ volleyball team.
  • Below Her Mouth
    Review preview for Below Her Mouth

    A simple story told well, this is an affecting piece of cinema that punches well above its weight.

    Jennie Kermode · 4 out of 5
    Two women embark on a passionate affair that derails their lives.
  • The Ornithologist
    Review preview for The Ornithologist

    In keeping with the hagiographic tradition, Hamy keeps his performance rather flat, but this is problematic for The Ornothologist as a film; its success as a piece of art is somewhat at odds with audience appeal.

    Jennie Kermode · 3.5 out of 5
    An ornithologist searching for black storks is swept away by rapids and awakens in a mysterious, dark forest.
  • Handsome Devil
    Review preview for Handsome Devil

    A stylish and heartwarming tale of triumph against adversity that is somewhat undermined by its predictable story and lack of guts in its final third.

    Luke Shaw · 3 out of 5
    A loner and the star athlete at a rugby-mad school form an intense friendship, but it will be tested.
  • Moonlight
    Review preview for Moonlight

    Jenkins doesn't just show us the experience of his young protagonist, he bathes us in it.

    Amber Wilkinson · 4.5 out of 5
    Three-part narrative about the life of a gay African-American.
  • Southwest Of Salem: The Story Of The San Antonio Four
    Review preview for Southwest Of Salem: The Story Of The San Antonio Four

    Esquenazi's approach is cool and focused.

    Jennie Kermode · 4 out of 5
    Documentary about a trial that was infused with homophobic prejudice.
  • It's Only The End Of The World
    Review preview for It's Only The End Of The World

    The histrionics on display submerge everything else while the narrative pitch throws so much at the spectator that it is impossible to sympathise with anyone.

    Richard Mowe · 2 out of 5
    A writer returns home after a long absence to tell his family he is terminally ill.

A–Z of Flare 2017 reviews

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