OUT AFRICA MAGAZINE Issue 26 | Page 49

OUT ON DVD Visit Let’s Watch DVDs on Facebook or visit www.writingstudio.co.za LET’S WATCH DVD’S WITH DANIEL DERCKSEN 12 classic LGBT DVDs you have to have in your collection! THE DANISH GIRL The extreme truth of his hidden identity and acceptance of his true self sets an impassioned artist free in the exceptionally soulful The Danish Girl. Eddie Redmayne delivers a tour de force in his dual roles as man and woman; it is astonishing how he never imitates or impersonates, but becomes, immersing himself wholeheartedly into the character of Lili, allowing his transformation to be truthful.Redmayne’s passionate performance is layered with immense sadness, but equally presents us with the blissful joy of true fulfilment and absolute enlightenment.What’s truly admirable about Redmayne’s courageous performance is how he perfectly captures the innocence and essence of a man who falls in love for the first time when he unleashes the goddess inside.The Danish Girl boldly celebrates the valour of those who embrace their true identity and are not shamed of who they are, and salutes those whose kind-heartedness makes the world a place everyone wants to share equally.If you are looking for a film that offers a sincere and profound journey into the heart and soul of those who walk a different path, The Danish Girl should definitely not be missed.It is a film that will transform the way you see the world of those who live outside your comfort zone. THE DRESSMAKER If there is one film that is divinely unique in every possible way, it’s the quirky Australian charmer The Dressmaker, a film that transforms you in many ways. The Dressmaker showcases a fantastic ensemble cast, with Hugo Weaving stealing many of the scenes as a zany crossdressing policeman, whose fondness for lady garments causes much uproar on and off the screen. The refined and witty comedy of The Dressmaker allows its characters to burst out of their shells and do some crazy stuff; it’s scenes like these that make us yearn for our very own Dressmaker!These comedic interludes are wonderfully balanced by melodramatic and thrilling overtures that allow us to experience a gambit of emotions.Its dark comedy infuses some darker moments with a breath of fresh air, allowing is to connect with issues that could easily become overstated. If you are looking for a film that offers first rate entertainment and ultimate escapism, let The Dressmaker change your world. ABRAHAM This is undoubtedly one of the best South African films ever made, a profound and consummate masterwork from industry legend, Jans Rautenbach that marks his first film in 30 years.It tells an unforgettable tale that will break your heart, a story that connects with who we are as South Africans and how we fit into the bigger scheme of things. Dann-Jaques Mouton delivers a riveting performance as Abraham, an artist and dreamer from Kannaland in the early 1980’s. It’s an open and honest film that invites us to make sense of our lives in a world where those who live in the shadows of society have to survive on nothing but hope in their hearts, and those who own the world feed this desolate hopefulness with unimaginable dreams. An inspiring and tragic tale, filled with the music of Kannaland, Abraham offers an intimate and emotional viewing experience that is meaningful and will change your life, creating an awareness of how important it is to embrace our humanity and those who share our lives, even the strangers who dare to remind us of the unpleasant realities outside our comfort zones. CAROL Love is larger than life in Carol, Todd Haynes’ masterful poetic ode to passion, a sumptuous adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s seminal novel The Price of Salt, following two women from very different backgrounds who find themselves in an unexpected love affair in 1950s New York. As conventional norms of the time challenge their undeniable attraction, an honest story emerges to reveal the resilience of the heart in the face of change.Carol poignantly reveals how dangerous it can be to love for real and break the moral code.Love is splendid and beautiful and deserves to be celebrated with honour and dignity, no matter how impossible the quest.Haynes’ [