This landed in my email inbox today, asking me to approve a comment from Alex:
Hey Mr. Dalen, just dropping by to say that I recently watched “Passion” on the Gold Ninja release of “Skip Tracer”.
I’m not a film critic, or especially good writer, and I’m short on time at the moment, so all I have to say is that I had fun with “Skip Tracer”, but absolutely adored “Passion”. I’m so happy to have had the opportunity to view the film, and look forward to sharing it with others when I get the chance.
Thank you for these great films!
And of course I had to reply.
Alex: Thank you for taking the time to submit this comment. For years now I’ve had the feeling that “Passion” will eventually find its audience, which is not the audience that expects the normal tropes and sensibilities of mainstream romcoms. It’s very heartening to hear from a member of that audience, and your help in spreading the word is very appreciated. As I said in my defense of “Passion”, I believe “Passion” is not only of historical significance, being possibly the first prosumer digital feature that makes no excuses for the format, but also a socially radical film.
By the way,Tim Johnson, in reality a cis gendered family man and the actor who played Bob, the transvestite, wrote this line for his character:”But I’m not gay. It empowers me.”
I have always wondered about that line. How did it occur to Tim? Where the hell did it come from? Does it have any basis in reality? Well, fairly recently I asked a new friend why his first marriage ended in divorce and he answered, “I’m a heterosexual transvestite and my first wife couldn’t handle it.” So I invited him and his second wife to dinner to show them the movie and ask him about the line. He told me that it was spot on for him. His mother had been a very dominant personality and a seamstress, and somehow women’s clothing acquired a sexual frisson that he found irresistible. I told this to Tim and asked him how he came up with the line. He said,”I just thought it was funny.”
Thanks again. Your comment has made my day. And yes, please do spread the word.
Hi Zale, like Alex I also enjoyed the Skiptracer release and thought that Passion was a true hidden gem. Thanks for the work on those pictures! I’ll be sure to pass Passion around here in Fredericton, there’s definitely an audience for this movie even if just to view it as a precursor (and maybe the best example of) to the sort of collectively made, digital shot, queer tinged comedy stuff that gets put out by the likes of the NB Filmmakers’ Co-op.
Thanks, Drew. I really appreciate the comment.