WELCOME TO CHECHNYA – ★★★★

Incredible documentary covering the efforts of a Russian organisation to help LGBT people in Chechnya escape from persecution. There were some pretty distressing scenes in this showing the treatment of these groups in Chechnya. It’s hard to believe that in 2020 this kind of bigotry and hatred can still exist. Please consider donating to https://outrightinternational.org to help make a difference.

CORPUS CHRISTI – ★★★☆

This Polish film sounded like its plot was similar to that of ‘Troubled Water’, a Norwegian film from MIFF 2009; in both films someone comes out of jail, and ends up trying to escape their past by becoming part of a church in a small town. (The former was by playing the organ, the latter, by pretending to be a priest). This one is apparently based on real events, and I thought it was very well done. It’s obvious that the character is trying to reconcile their past, and uses it to help provide good to a community that is still trying to come to terms with a recent tragedy. An excellent performance by the lead, too.