Fridae

Hands up, those of you who consider yourself fabulous and cultured.
Fridae and The Arts House have a treat for the arty gay men and
women of Singapore.

This Friday, we are holding a Fridae movie marathon that begins
from 7 pm and will stretch all the way to 2 am. Held at The Arts
House on Parliament Lane, the event will screen the finest films
of acclaimed Australian director Baz Luhrmann — namely Strictly
Ballroom, Moulin Rouge and Romeo+Juliet (also
known as the Red Curtain Trilogy).

Strictly Ballroom is a wacky, colourful and over-the-top
comedy that revolves around a few eccentric characters who are crazy
about dance routines. For these folks, there is nothing more important
in life than winning the Pan-Pacific Grand Prix State Championships
dance contest. So they stamp, spin and shuffle all day and night
to get their steps right.

The second film, Romeo+Juliet, is an incredibly hip production
of Shakespeare's classic romance. Many may be familiar with the
tale of doomed lovers, but Baz gives it such a refreshingly modern
spin that you can't help but sit up. He updates it with MTV-style
camerawork and dance music in a way that's rarely seen in Shakespearean
films. The film is also buoyed by the terrific performances of Leonardo
Dicaprio and Claire Danes, who say their Shakespearean lines so
naturally, the meaning comes through.

And finally, there's Moulin Rouge, the stunning and outlandish
musical starring Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman as star-crossed
Parisian lovers. Combining every genre of music from classical to
Queen, the film is a fine piece of entertainment that was also a
huge box-office hit a few years back.

If you haven't seen any of these films, you should. If you've
seen them already, come see them again with your gay family.