Venezuelan director Lorenzo Vigas’ Golden Lion–winning feature debut is a terse and gripping story of two men and their relationship’s shifting dynamics of power, affection and closeness. … read more
Damn These Heels Film Review: From Afar
Damn These Heels Film Review: Set the Thames on Fire
In what may well be the most WTF-worthy film of the festival, Ben Charles Edwards’ Set the Thames on Fire is a beautifully dark fairy tale that calls to mind the films of Terry Gilliam and Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Taking place in a dystopic shadow of London, which has been drowned by the slow rise of the River Thames, Set the Thames on Fire introduces itself as “an agony in three acts.” … read more
Damn These Heels Film Review: Closet Monster
Like the title implies, Closet Monster is a film about the deep, dark fears that are born somewhere in our childhood. In the case of the film’s main character Oscar (Connor Jessup) however, these repressed anxieties are attached to his own homosexuality. It’s a well-illustrated look at the sexual confusion that many young people face, especially when negative stereotypes continue to perpetuate among those they care about. … read more
Nostalgia, It’s Not What You Think It Was: A Flashback to the Sounds of the ’90s Goth Scene
For the better part of a decade, Salt Lake City was home to a thriving underground goth scene. It was goth before goth was pigeonholed into being something defined by Hot Topic or mainstream media. … read more
Damn These Heels Film Review: Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four
Southwest of Salem tells a shockingly similar tale of a trial that took place in San Antonio back in 1994. Both cases involved four lesbian women of color, and both cases clearly demonstrate how conservative mob mentality can hijack the criminal justice system.
Damn These Heels Film Review: Out Run
Out Run illuminates the complexities of LGBTQ+ lives and identities and how they interact with political movements, cultural norms and global progress toward—or away from—LGBTQ+ equality. … read more
Damn These Heels Film Review: MAJOR!
In her biographical doc, MAJOR!, director Annalise Ophelian celebrates the immense life and history of Miss Major. … read more
Damn These Heels Film Review: AWOL
Star-crossed lovers in rural American towns is something that we’ve seen before, but Shoval’s portrayal of a potential army recruit named Joey and her illicit romance with local housewife Rayna manages to breathe new, melancholy life into the genre. … read more
2016 Damn These Heels Film Reviews
Featuring films like Desde Allá (Lorenzo Vigas), Southwest of Salem (Deborah Esquenazi) and more, the Utah Film Center’s 13th annual Damn These Heels Film Festival continues to celebrate LGBTQ films, filmmakers and narratives. … read more
Radical Feminism in Contemporary Art: An Interview with Artist Cori Redstone
Cori Redstone is an L.A. contemporary artist—but her roots are based right here in Utah. Like many Utah children, Redstone was raised in a conservative home that denied her the right to self-expression; however, Redstone did not let that stand in the way of finding her authentic self. … read more
Margaret Glaspy: Emotions and Craft
With a soulfully sweet voice and a songwriting structure that mimics poetry, singer-songwriter Margaret Glaspy considers herself somewhat of a craftsman. … read more
Flying High with The Falcon
In September 2006, Chicago punk rock supergroup The Falcon released their first full-length album, Unicornography. Featuring Brendan Kelly and Neil Hennessy of The Lawrence Arms and Dan Andriano of Alkaline Trio, it was a sometimes goofy, sometimes dark, always energetic album that united internet punks the world over. … read more
