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[REVIEW
> SURRENDER DOROTHY]
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| 04/08/2001 |
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"Surrender
Dorothy" is an energetic and bizarre idiosyncratic drama about
an interdependent relationship that crosses over to sexual abuse
and violence. |
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Reviewed by Quentin Lee
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| There is certainly something disturbing
and unsettling about "Surrender Dorothy." I saw the movie
for review on tape, took an afternoon nap and woke up
feeling a little disturbed remembering the stark black
and white images from the film. Director/Writer/Actor
Kevin B. Di Novis' "Surrender Dorothy" is an energetic
and bizarre idiosyncratic drama about an interdependent
relationship that crosses over to sexual abuse and violence. |
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| Lanh
as "Dorothy" (Kevin B. Di Novis, left)
and Trevor (Peter Pryor) |
Trevor (Peter Pryor) is a sexually confused bus boy with
an intense fear of women. With images of female patrons
eating, he masturbates by gouging the inside of his mouth
with a fork stolen from the restaurant which female patrons
have used. Trevor takes in Lanh (Kevin B. Di Novis, the
filmmaker), a handsome but homeless heroin addict. This
seemingly harmless friendship soon turns into a codependent
relationship where Trevor uses drugs to coerce Lanh into
cross-dressing and becoming "Dorothy," Trevor's demented
idea of a woman/girlfriend. |
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| While the filmmaker tries to explore domestic abuse
in an almost surreal drama, we, the audience, are jarred
out of our socially conditioned responses. Even for a
pretty liberal gay men, I find the making out scene between
Trevor and Lanh in drag to be disturbing. Maybe it's because
it borders on violence or abuse. I don't know. The whole
relationship disturbs me, and I must admit that the film
as a whole is not a pleasurable experience, albeit being
an interesting one. |
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| The film does have its stunning moments. The credit
sequence is highly imaginative where credits are projected
onto different body parts of a female figure. There are
also some really amazing shots, notably the one that introduces
Trevor's dwelling with the camera roaming of in and out
of light and dark. Amidst some stunning cinematic moments,
the rest of the film is shot quite evenly as a black and
white low budget drama. |
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Back to the question of pleasureŠ you'd imagine that
after watching a difficult independent film you would
learn something from it or that there would be some rewarding
moments out of displeasure. It's about 12 hours after
I watched the film, the movie still remains sort of a
puzzle. It's certainly accomplishes what the filmmaker
is going for: being a subversive film. But I wonder what
I have gained from this subversion and absurdity other
being subverted and disturbed. "Surrender Dorothy" undoubtedly
shows that Di Novis has talent and a voice, but perhaps
something will be better articulated and defined in his
next film. Nevertheless, "Surrender Dorothy" is still
a curious and interesting item that worth a look on the
big or small screen if you're in the mood for something
dark, something black and white, something perverse, and
something disturbing. .jpg) |
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FESTIVAL
& AWARDS
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Best Feature Film
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Slamdance Film Festival 1998
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Best Feature Film
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New York Underground Film Festival
1998
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Best Feature Film
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Chicago Underground Film Festival
1998
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SUNSET 5: April 7 & 8 10am
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MONICA 4: April 14 & 15 11am
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Destiny
Entertainment - 87 minutes - 1998 - 16mm
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"Surrender Dorothy" is also available
on VHS & DVD from TLAvideo.com
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