No, I'm not crying, but Susie Bright is visibly tearing up as she remembers "an old silly movie," The Children's Hour. The scene where Martha reveals how much she loathes herself strikes a chord within Susie. This is one instance where a scene is not used to show homosexuals how to behave in public, instead, it draws out Susie's fear of self loathing, allowing her to make a meaningful connection to the characters on screen.Had the book the film was based on been written fifteen, or even ten years later, I think the film would have a very different feel to it. Shows like Will & Grace, Ellen, The L Word, and Queer as Folk, and networks Logo and Here! allow homosexuals to be scene in a differe
nt light, leading...mostly normal lives. With different lifestyles receiving so much exposure, had The Celluloid Closet been released this year, I think it would have been seen by many more people, and could have had more of an impact. With sites like Youtube and Twitter and advocates like Kathy Griffin and Margaret Cho, the documentary could have generated more buzz, and made meaningful connections with more people.
I remember going to see Milk with a friend. He did not know who Harvey Milk was, but by the end of the movie, I could see he was tearing up. The film made a connection with him, and he gained a new appreciation for those who had been fighting defeat Proposition 8.
I think it's difficult for any
film to make that kind of connection, but when it does, it drives action. I was approached on the street a few days ago by someone asking for donation for EQCA. She wanted donations to help bring Prop 8 back to the ballot in 2012. I had recently watched this video, and while it didn't make a strong connect
ion with me, it was enough to compel me to listen to what she had to say (in general, I don't speak with strangers on the street, regardless of the cause). Being able to make that con
nection is good, but it is important to know how to use it.
Susie Bright is confusing to me in general. I'm not sure that I ever saw that scene movie before, it seems familiar, maybe I saw a section of it in another class but I kind of think I remember not understanding what she was so upset about. And even not being gay, I can totally relate to her feelings and I think it was really good acting. I don't think gay issues have a monopoly on those kinds of feelings. I think that even if the Sal Mineo character hadn't been gay, he still could have been targeted by bullies just because he looked different and was small.
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