Skip to main content

Flare · 2024

Flare 2024

Bodies

Programme

11 films · 4 reviews

Jump to a film

Backspot

Riley is given the chance to cheer with the all-star squad, Thunderhawks. With a competition looming, Riley must navigate her crippling anxiety, her relationship with her girlfriend, and her desperate need for approval from her new coach.

(Country: US, Canada; Year: 2023; Director: DW Waterson; Writer: Joanne Sarazen, DW Waterson; Stars: Devery Jacobs, Evan Rachel Wood, Shannyn Sossamon, Wendy Crewson, Olunike Adeliyi)

Departing Seniors

After an act of bullying sends kind but awkward high school senior Javier to the hospital, he begins having psychic visions that reveal the horrifying truth behind a rash of supposed suicides at his school. It is now up to him and his sarcastic best friend Bianca to unmask a serial killer who’s targeting his classmates before it’s too late.

(Country: US; Year: 2023; Director: Clare Cooney; Stars: Ignacio Diaz-Silverio, Yani Gellman, Ireon Roach, Maisie Merlock)

I Don't Know Who You Are

Review preview for I Don't Know Who You Are

It’s Clennon’s first ever film role, but you wouldn’t think it. The interiority, the subtlety of his performance is what really sells it.

Jennie Kermode · 4 out of 5
A gay musician spends his weekend trying to find the money for HIV-preventive treatment after being sexually assaulted by a stranger.

(Country: Canada; Year: 2023; Director: MH Murray; Writer: Writers Mark Clennon, Victoria Long, MH Murray; Stars: Mark Clennon, Anthony Diaz, Nat Patricia Manuel, Deragh Campbell, Victoria Long)

Full review See: Interview with MH Murray, Mark Clennon and Nat Patricia Manuel about I Don’t Know Who You Are

Join The Club

When Dennis Peron’s lover dies of AIDS, he realises that his vocation as a pot dealer could be put to good use – as medicine for those suffering from the physical and mental effects of the disease. With boundless passion, street smarts and wit, Peron outsmarts the police and opens cannabis cafes.

(Country: US; Year: 2023; Director: Kip Andersen, Chris O'Connell)

Life Is Not A Competition, But I'm Winning

Review preview for Life Is Not A Competition, But I'm Winning

Takes a team approach to the material, using a group of documentary participants as a collective.

Amber Wilkinson · 3.5 out of 5
Consideration of the historic bias against female Black and queer athletes.

(Country: Germany; Year: 2023; Director: Julia Fuhr Mann; Writer: Julia Fuhr Mann)

Full review See: Julia Fuhr Mann on scrutinising sporting bias in Life Is Not A Competition, But I'm Winning

Love Lies Bleeding

Review preview for Love Lies Bleeding

There's no doubt that by presenting several characters as pure id is quite a dangerous gambit for a filmmaker but Glass keeps things interesting by having them driven by different things.

Amber Wilkinson · 3.5 out of 5
Reclusive gym manager Lou falls hard for Jackie, an ambitious bodybuilder headed through town to Las Vegas in pursuit of her dream. But their love ignites violence, pulling them deep into the web of Lou’s criminal family.

(Country: UK, US; Year: 2024; Director: Rose Glass; Writer: Rose Glass, Weronika Tofilska; Stars: Kristen Stewart, Katy M O'Brian, Ed Harris, Dave Franco, Jena Malone)

Full review See: Olga Mill on creating the Eighties look of Love Lies Bleeding and being inspired by mold for Eileen

Riley

The boy who has it all in his final year of high school is living a secret gay life. His girlfriend, family and teammates all realise something is unravelling. The intense strain of living a lie is made worse by a series of sexual encounters on Grindr or with classmates.

(Country: US; Year: 2023; Director: Benjamin Howard; Writer: Benjamin Howard; Stars: Jake Holley, Colin McCalla, Connor Storrie)

Silver Haze

Franky comes from a gritty East London borough and works as a nurse. When she falls head over heels in love with her patient Florence, her life changes profoundly.

(Country: Netherlands, UK; Year: 2023; Director: Sacha Polak)

Slow

Dancer Elena and sign language interpreter Dovydas meet and form a beautiful bond. As they dive into a new relationship, they must navigate how to build their own kind of intimacy.

(Country: Lithuania, Spain, Sweden; Year: 2023; Director: Marija Kavtaradze; Stars: Greta Grinevičiūtė, Kęstutis Cicėnas)

The Summer With Carmen

Review preview for The Summer With Carmen

With a lesser canine star, the film would not have worked, but Nala is sensational.

Jennie Kermode · 4.5 out of 5
While enjoying a day at Athens’ queer beach, 30-something Demosthenes offers to help his bestie and aspiring filmmaker Nikitas in drafting an idea for his feature debut, inspired by the events surrounding a certain dog named Carmen.

(Country: Greece; Year: 2023; Director: Zacharias Mavroeidis; Writer: Fondas Chalatsis, Zacharias Mavroeidis; Stars: Yorgos Tsiantoulas, Andreas Labropoulos, Nikolaos Mihas, Nala, Roubini Vasilakopoulou, Vasilis Tsigristaris)

Full review

We Are Perfect

Transgender and non-binary young people, and their wider families and support networks, stand up to widespread hostility in Poland, where legally changing your gender involves suing your parents in court.

(Country: Poland; Year: 2023; Director: Marek Kozakiewicz; Writer: Marek Kozakiewicz)