WAYS IN BEING GAY

QUEER AS FOLK (1998, UK, Episodes 1-4, 160 min, video)

Please join us at the Hamlin House for our gala presentation of Queer As Folk, the sensational British television series which follows the lives of three men living it large in Manchester’s gay village. The screening begins at 8:00 PM. There will be a reception at intermission. [Queer As Folk will continue Sunday, November 5th (episodes 5-8, 160 minutes) at 4:00 PM and will conclude Wednesday, November 8th at 8:00 PM (second season, 90 minutes) in Hallwalls’ Paul Sharits Cinema, 2495 Main Street, Suite 425. The whole series will repeat from November 27 through the 29th.]

The story centers on former school chums Stuart (Aidan Gillen) and Vince (Craig Kelly). Although both are regulars in the clubs of Manchester's Canal Street, Stuart takes home a different guy every night (sometimes more than one), while Vince lives a virtually celibate existence, no doubt because his hero-worship of Stuart prevents him from being satisfied with anyone else. Things get more complicated when Stuart picks up 15-year-old Nathan (Charlie Hunnam), who turns into the one-night stand who wouldn't go away.

Through ten episodes, four of which will be presented Friday night, we follow the twists and turns of the trio's lives: Nathan comes out of the closet with a vengeance. Stuart does his best to avoid responsibility, despite fathering a child with a lesbian couple. Vince meets a great guy but doesn't appreciate him. Everybody (except Vince) has lots of sex.Which brings us to the controversy. The sex scenes are quite explicit, featuring sexual acts never before seen on network television. Add to that Nathan's underage status, and it's not surprising that the British tabloids blasted the show. Even gay rights groups slammed the show, saying that the characters were poor role models.

But the series is about a lot more than sex. It's really about relationships -- the relationship among the three principal characters and their relationships with their families, friends, and lovers. The web of relationships grows as Vince's mother Hazel (Denise Black) helps other mothers, in turn, to deal with their own sons' homosexuality.
Don’t miss this one!