Arts & Entertainment
Preview of coming attractions
Reel Affirmations returns, but multiplex options lackluster

‘Circumstance,’ a coming-of-age story set in modern-day Iran, opens at Landmark today. (Photo courtesy of Roadside Attractions and Participant Media).
The fall movie calendar highlights include something for Twi-Hards, Spanish-film buffs and the return of D.C.’s Reel Affirmations.
The winner of the Audience Award at the Sundance 2011 Film Festival, “Circumstance” promises to captivate American audiences with its suspenseful coming-of-age story set in underground Iranian culture. The fully subtitled film gives audiences an inside look at modern-day Iran. The film focuses on one woman’s controversial passions that could end up being dangerous. It opens at Landmark Theatre’s E Street Cinema today.
The AFI Latin American Film Festival 2011: “Good Morning Freedom! Spanish Cinema After Franco” comes to AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center and runs from today through the 22nd. With the death of Franco and his 40-year dictatorship, Spanish culture entered a period of cultural liberation and creative experimentation that is highlighted through this selection of films. Two entries into the festival feature gay themes. For more information go to afi.com/silver.
“Labyrinth of Passion,” a 1982 film by Pedro Almodóvar, is an outrageous comedy set in Madrid and follows the love story between a nymphomaniac pop star Sexilia (Cecilia Roth) and Riza (Imanol Arias), the gay son of the emperor of Tiran. The film features Antonio Banderas as a gay terrorist. It’s being shown Saturday at 9:45 p.m. and Sunday at 2:45 p.m.
“Confessions of a Congressman,” a 1978 film, features a rare-for-its-time look at homosexuality in Spain. The film focuses on politician José Sacristán’s (Roberto Orbea) public and personal lives. It’s being shown Sunday at 9:10 p.m. and Monday night at 9.
Part of the Reel Affirmations Extra series, “What Happens Next” is the story of recently retired Paul Greco (Jo Lindstrom), who’s entered a new chapter in his life and finds himself with plenty of time on his hands. His daily routine includes a walking his dog in the park. He soon encounters Andy Chance (Chris Murrah), who has a similar schedule. It’s being shown Sept. 22 at 7 and 9:15 p.m. at Landmark Theatre’s E Street Cinema.
Reel Affirmations (reelaffirmations.org) is slated to return Oct. 13-22 after a one-year hiatus. Highlights include the world premiere of “Into the Lion’s Den,” a new film from Breaking Glass Pictures that follows three close friends who have grown bored with the West Hollywood scene. The trio decides that a cross-country road trip from Los Angeles to New York City is the solution to getting out of their rut. On the final night of their journey, the boys decide to hang out at a secluded bar “The Lions Den.” Someone at the bar is watching them and planning an evening of unspeakable horrors. This unpredictable thriller features Jesse Archer and Ronnie Kroell, from Bravo’s “Make Me a Supermodel.” He’s scheduled to attend the Washington premiere.
“Hanna and the Hasbian,” an Australian movie, tells the story of a lesbian couple, one member of which is about to declare herself a “hasbian,” — no longer a lesbian. Breigh begins her search for “Mr. Right,” but discovers dating men is not as easy as she imagined.
As usual, LGBT content at the multiplex is spotty. A few films with gay appeal: Michelle Williams is the latest actress to tackle the role of Marilyn Monroe in “My Week with Marilyn,” which tells the tale of a week shared between Monroe and Colin Clark, a 23-year-old assistant on the set of “The Prince and the Showgirl.” It opens Nov. 4.
“Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn” opens Nov. 18, the first of a two-part finale to the series that continues to follow the love triangle between Bella, Edward and Jacob. It opens Nov. 18.
Some campy and fun DVDs to look for this fall inlcude “Bridesmaids,” “Scream 4” and “Green Lantern.” Also, don’t miss the “Looney Tunes Platinum Collection, Vol. 1,” the ultimate collection of 50-plus shorts from Looney Tunes. They’ve all been re-mastered. It’s out Nov. 15.
The 2026 World Pride March was held on Saturday, Aug. 8 in Amsterdam. Tens of thousands of participants marched from Martin Luther Kingpark to the grounds of the Pride Village at Museumplein.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)








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The weekly drag show “Daddy Issues” was held at Kiki on Wednesday, Aug. 5. Performers included Evry Pleasure, Indiana Bones and Tiara Missou-Sidora.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)









Books
Something’s off about Dad. When is it time to step in?
‘When Memory Fades’ can help when families face dementia
‘When Memory Fades’
By Nathaniel Chin, MD
c.2026, St. Martin’s Essentials
$30/422 pages
Mom called you in a panic the other day.
She’d lost her keys and by the time you arrived to help, she’d found them. In the refrigerator.
These kinds of things keep happening, not often but often enough, and you don’t know quite what to worry about. But in the new book “When Memory Fades” by Nathaniel Chin, MD, you’ll learn about the journey ahead, for both of you.
You can’t remember why you walked into a room. You got lost last week, going to the bank. Popular wisdom says that things like that are normal as we age, but Chin says that’s not true – although the answer may not be a worst-case scenario, either. Yes, memory problems could just be signs of stress, dehydration, or lack of sleep – or is it time to see a doctor?
Chin says maybe, yes.
He was working his way through medical residency when his father, a geriatrician in Madison, Wisc., was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Chin, now a geriatrician, was blindsided, but that diagnosis also changed his life.
Here, he writes about the brain, and how Alzheimer’s and dementia are diagnosed, explaining that dementia has many faces and, depending on a doctor’s evaluation, memory problems might be slowed or improved. He shares his father’s illness with readers, but he also writes about his mother, a steadfast, steady caretaker.
Her story reminds reader-guardians to care for themselves, too.
Know how to talk the talk, so that you can have “a more productive” conversation with your doctor. Understand that there’s nothing “normal” about dementia or Alzheimer’s. Know the statistics – African Americans are affected with dementia twice as much as whites – and know how to lower your risks. Learn here what questions to ask, how to break the news to everyone, and any legal matters that will be important soon. And know how to tend to you.
Says Chin, “The best action you can take is to educate yourself… The more you understand, the better equipped you are to make sound judgments.”
Something’s off about Dad, just a lot of little things that don’t add up. When is it time to step in? “When Memory Fades” can help you decide.
Wise, wide-spread, comprehensive, and compassionately helpful, this is a book you can read and then take it to the doctor with your loved one. It’s a book that makes sense when nothing else does, and its biggest feature is that it smoothly transitions from easy-to-grasp science and charts, to gentle coaching for caregivers. Author Nathaniel Chin, MD writes with storytelling, humility, grace, and experience from both sides of the Alzheimer’s/dementia issue, and his words are reassuring but also urgent. Learn, but don’t wait, he says. Know how to safeguard yourself. See your doctor, and don’t fear testing. Watch for signs of depression. And never, ever stop asking for help.
Read those last seven words, and find “When Memory Fades” now. It’s a book to have on your shelf, whether you’re 45 or 95 because, as you’ll see, dementia happens and knowledge is key.
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