Category: Documentary

Now Available: Marionette Land

Robert Brock, the artistic director and founder of the Lancaster Marionette Theatre in Pennsylvania, lives above the space with his mother, Mary Lou.

Together the pair have been keeping this Lancaster treasure going for thirty years with unique takes on classic marionette shows for families (including Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz and Aladdin) and cabaret-style grown-up shows which feature Brock performing as Liza Minnelli, Bette Midler and other divas.

Each puppet has not only been handcrafted by Brock himself, but also acts as a window into the personality that has passionately driven this fading form of entertainment.

Offbeat and endlessly endearing, the new documentary Marionette Land follows Brock and his mother as they go about their daily business… until COVID-19 threatens to drop the curtains for good. As the thirty year anniversary approaches and attendance dwindles, Robert begins to reflect upon his life dedicated to entertaining others while sacrificing his own personal needs. Though the stage gave him confidence to become and accept his true self, it also left him without a partner to share the spotlight with.

From director Alexander Monelli (the filmmaker behind the acclaimed doc At the Drive-In), Marionette Land intimately captures a deeply gifted artist as a personal and professional crossroad.

Watch the trailer for Marionette Land below. The film is now available on Dekkoo.

New This Week – 4/28/22

What begins as a friendship turns into a fierce and complicated romance in this heart-wrenching prison drama about two men who meet behind bars and try to make their relationship work outside of lock-up. ‘Luz’ is a story of survival, not only for the lives of both men, but for their relationship and the unconventional way it came together. ‘Luz’ is available to stream now on Dekkoo!

In this short film from director Anderson Bardot, a contemporary dance company is about to debut “The Uninhabitable Ones,” its newest performance which addresses black homosexuality as its theme. Running parallel to the rehearsals, the choreographer builds a friendship with Pedro, a black youth who no longer wishes to identify as “a boy.” Stream ‘The Uninhabitable Ones’ now on Dekkoo!

This truly joyous documentary follows groundbreaking filmmaker and poet James Broughton. His remarkable story spans the post-war San Francisco Renaissance, his influence on the Beat generation, a lifetime of acclaim for his joyous experimental films and poetry celebrating the human body, finding his soulmate at age 61, and finally, his ascendancy as a revered bard of sexual liberation. ‘Big Joy’ is streaming now on Dekkoo!

______________________

Coming next week: Those Bears are back!

New This Week – 4/22/22

1950s Hollywood heartthrob Guy Stone is a wildly popular leading man. The public loves to gossip about Guy’s love life, but the young actor has a secret: none of his various flings involve women. Guy’s agent, convinces him to marry the unassuming Sally to maintain his reputation. However, soon after the wedding, Guy develops feelings for a writer named Rick. ‘Straight Jacket’ is available to watch now on Dekkoo!

A gay single father and his offbeat eight-year-old daughter struggle to come to terms with his fabulous past life, which he’s kept hidden from her for years. ‘Pretty Things’ is a thoughtful and heartfelt short film drama from director Pedro Suarez.

Robert Brock lives above his own magical marionette theatre with his mother, Mary Lou. He puts on shows for families, as well as wild drag shows for adults where he performs as famous Hollywood divas of the past. The intimate new documentary follows along as Robert and Mary Lou struggle to keep the theatre open while preparing to celebrate its 30th anniversary. ‘Marionette Land’ is available to stream now on Dekkoo!

___________________________

Coming next week: What began as a friendship turns into a fierce romance in this heart-wrenching drama.

The essential documentary A Bigger Splash comes to Dekkoo

Released in 1974, A Bigger Splash offered up an intimate and innovative film about English-born, California-based artist David Hockney and his work while honoring its subject through creative cinematic risk-taking.

Director Jack Hazan created an improvisatory narrative-nonfiction hybrid featuring Hockney, a wary participant, as well as his circle of friends, capturing the agonized end of the lingering affair between Hockney and his muse, an American model named Peter Schlesinger.

Seen today, A Bigger Splash is at once a time capsule of hedonistic gay life in the 1970s, an honest-yet-tender depiction of gay male romance that dispenses with the then-current narratives of self-hatred and self-pity, an invaluable view of art history in action and a record of artistic creation that is itself a work of art.

Watch the trailer for A Bigger Splash below. A recently restored version of the film is now available on Dekkoo.

New This Week – 1/28/22

Jin Woo lives a simple country life, spending his days working on a local farm and keeping a watchful eye on his adventurous young daughter. When his city-dwelling lover comes to visit, Jin Woo starts to envision their future as a family before the surprise arrival of his twin sister threatens to complicate his dream. ‘A Distant Place’ is now available to stream on Dekkoo.

Director Serena Porcher-Carli creates a cozy and intimate atmosphere to draw a short documentary portrait of Enzo, a young transgender boy who tells us the extraordinary story of his life so far. Watch the short film ‘Enzo’ now on Dekkoo!

In this intimate and innovative film about artist David Hockney, director Jack Hazan creates an improvisatory narrative-nonfiction hybrid. The result is at once a time capsule of hedonistic gay life in the 1970s and an honest-yet-tender depiction of gay male romance. A true classic, ‘A Bigger Splash’ is an invaluable view of art history in action. ‘A Bigger Splash’ is streaming now on Dekkoo!

_________________________

Coming next week: In a high-rise apartment in Paris, four men and one woman gather to share their experiences of a man with whom they have all been either romantically or sexually involved.

Now Available: Dream Boat

While it’s certainly not advisable to set sail on a cruise ship during a pandemic, this colorful and wildly entertaining documentary invites you aboard from the safe comfort of your home.

Once a year, during normal times, the “Dream Boat” sets sail for a cruise exclusively for gay men – where most passengers, from all corners of the world, are united by the wish to live life authentically as themselves in a protected place. The men have seven days to enjoy their freedom and to love openly. But also on board are their personal stories, their doubts and uncertainties.

Dipankar from India escaped an arranged marriage and now throws himself into action to find the man of his dreams; Ramzi was persecuted by the police in Palestine for being gay and had to start a new life in Europe; Frenchman Philippe was let down by his family when he was bound to a wheelchair, but found a new family with his partner; Martin from Austria enjoys the hedonism and abundant choice of men on the ship and gives his perspective on how to deal with HIV today; and Marek from Poland has everything he needs to stand out on the men’s market, thanks to his trained body.

Watch the trailer for Dream Boat below. The film is available now on Dekkoo.

New This Week – 12/31/21

A stunningly beautiful documentary, ‘Dream Boat’ takes you aboard a cruise ship filled with gorgeous gay men – from bow to stern, starboard to port! For many of them, this yearly trip has become a blissful escape from their day-to-day lives in the closet – the one place where they can truly be free. Watch ‘Dream Boat’ on Dekkoo!

17-year-old Nagisa is in his second year of high school. When he meets Shun, a boy his same age, over spring break, his love life begins to change in unexpected ways. This prequel to ‘His” (also available on Dekkoo) is a heartwarming romantic coming-of-age drama from Japan. ‘His: I Didn’t Think I Would Fall in Love’ is available to stream now on Dekkoo!

This poetic short romance from director Aretha Iskandar takes us inside the mind and heart of Fred, an introverted young man. When he meets Raphael, the boy of his dreams, his vision, energy and sensuality leave him breathless. Though they part ways, Fred is compelled to tell Raphael how he really feels. ‘Raphael’ is streaming now on Dekkoo!

_______________________

Coming next week: A rich character study with a surprisingly erotic sting.

New This Week – 12/3/21

The children of a religious family begin clashing with their elders during the wake of their recently deceased brother. Teenage Mason is desperately trying to reach his lost identical twin brother through spiritual means. When a handsome stranger arrives, family secrets are brought out into the open. ‘A Wake’ is available to stream now on Dekkoo.

18-year-old Jules is reluctantly spending his holidays in the naturalist camp where he was raised. He soon finds himself torn between his attraction to Karim, an alluring seasonal worker on the textile beach, and Adele, his depressed mother who refuses to let him grow up and move on. Watch ‘Nuclear Family’ now on Dekkoo!

When twenty-something Maurice joins his family on a weekend getaway, he starts to notice how much of a gap has grown between the generations. Though he tries to keep up appearances, he grows more and more frustrated by his family’s myriad secrets – until he reaches a breaking point. The short film ‘Holiday’ is now playing on Dekkoo!

The life and important work of Hank Wilson, a longtime San Francisco LGBTQ rights activist and AIDS survivor, are chronicled in this deeply emotional feature-length documentary. ‘Thanks to Hank’ is available now on Dekkoo!

__________________________

Coming next week: A film that holds a mirror up to what it still means to be young and gay today in so much of the world.

Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood examines scandalous show-biz history

Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood is the deliciously scandalous story of Scotty Bowers, a handsome ex-Marine who landed in Hollywood after World War II and became confidante, aide-de-camp and lover to many of Hollywood’s greatest male and female stars.

In the 1940s and ‘50s, Scotty ran a gas station in the shadow of the studio lots – where he would connect his friends with actors and actresses who had to hide their true sexual identities for fear of police raids at gay bars, societal shunning and career suicide.

An unsung Hollywood legend, Bowers would cater to the sexual appetites of celebrities—straight and gay–for decades. While the studio PR machines were promoting their stars as wholesome and monogamous, Bowers was fulfilling the true desires of many of them.

This cinéma-vérité documentary by director Matt Tyrnauer (Valentino: The Last Emperor) tells his story, as well as presents eye-opening takes on icons from the Hollywood Golden Age including Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Lana Turner, Ava Gardner and many more.

Watch the trailer for Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood below. The film is available now on Dekkoo.

New This Week – 11/5/21

After learning he has only six weeks to live, all veteran drag queen Jackie Collins wants to do is perform his long-running act and behave as if everything is normal. But between a new friendship with a rising young queen and some unfinished business with his estranged daughter, he’s about to have the most eventful month and a half of his life. ‘Tucked’ is available now on Dekkoo!

After leaving Brazil, Cesar meets Martin at an empty café in Tallinn, Estonia. In front of these two attractive young men lies an uncertainty as infinite as the sea itself. A charming new short film drama from writer-director-star Gabriel Motta. Watch ‘Two Men By The Sea’ on Dekkoo!

A deliciously scandalous documentary about unsung Hollywood legend Scotty Bowers, whose controversial bestselling memoir portrayed him as a sexual liaison to the biggest movie stars of the 1940s and ‘50s – including Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Lana Turner, Ava Gardner and more. Stream ‘Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood now on Dekkoo!

_________________________

Coming next week: An unapologetically homoerotic study of a profound male friendship.