8:00 PM, 24th August, 2002
A combination of fraternity jokes, toilet humour and good old misogyny, coupled with a frank exploration of stereotypes and gender roles, Sorority Boys threatens to be as confused and shallow as the people it portrays. The plot follows three dormless fraternity boys who engage in cross-dressing - not as a normal college pastime but in order to invade a girls' dorm. Aware of their own shortcomings, they decide to invade the unattractive girls' dorm where they will, apparently, be less conspicuous (quite a nice feminist statement for anyone looking closely). For those who watch 'Jerry Springer' because they love to laugh at idiots, I am sure that this film will be entertaining.
Z
10:00 PM, 24th August, 2002
There's this lesbian volleyball coach who's putting together a team of gay and transsexual players for the National Championships...
If you think this sounds like the beginning of a really tasteless joke, then you've got the premise of The Iron Ladies pretty much clear. Mon (Tor) and Jung (Nimpulsawasdi) are best friends, both volleyball players, and both gay. Their sexuality has so far prevented them from being chosen for teams - until Coach Bee (Hongsopon) comes along and selects the pair to play in the championship. Horrified, their boofy, homophobic team-mates resign. Oh, dear. Do Mon and Jung have four suitably wacky, zany, offbeat pals to replace them? Sure thing. Enter Nong (the gay army sergeant), Pia (the transsexual cabaret star), Chat (Pia's boyfriend) and Wit (the young man struggling with coming out to his parents).
Can the team win the championship, maintain their manicures and challenge social conventions - all in under two hours? Can a film mean well but sabotage its message by resorting to cheap stereotypes? Come along and find out...
Helena Sverdlin