10
(STREAMERS, from p. 9)
for Billy are traits we know. And,
straight or gay, you've got to love Billy
as the film moves on in its inexorable
rhythm. The attraction of his character
intensifies the strength of the conflict
waging within Richie. As we fall in love
with Billy, Richie's desperation becomes
our own, resonantly recalling our own past
in similar situations. You have to be gay
to appreciate Richie's dilemma. Not only
is what you want impossible, but the
thought of your love is disgusting to the
object of that devotion.
At the end Roger and Richie are alone in
the barracks, and Roger pins the blame on
Richie; Richie's answer is only, "I just
wanted to hold his hand," which sounds
manifestly senseless at first. Richie is
right though. Holding hands would be
enough—in a peculiar way—but it just
won't ever happen, which contributes to
the tragic nature of the movie.
The climax is unavoidable, and this
point evinces Altman's power. Nowhere can
you find an escape: "if they'd only done
this or if they'd done that...." Billy's
all-American upbringing, which makes it
impossible for him to leave and allow
Richie to have sex with Carlyle, is just
as responsible as Carlyle's knife.
Altman's movie is based on David Rabe's
play of the same name written in 1975.
The title refers to jumping from a plane
with a parachute and the parachute not
opening. The s3anbolism is not exact, but
it works. Our four characters jump hold
ing their prejudices (Carlyle), orienta
tions (Richie), expectations (Roger) and
the belief that what they've been taught
is right and good (Billy), and when they
don't open up when they need to, the
result is just as disastrous.
Don't miss Streamers. It was at the
Carolina in Durham in January and is
supposed to be a late show at the Varsity
in Chapel Hill sometime this spring. The
plot may sound like another homosexual
tragedy, but its telling is finely tuned,
taut, and grandly played with the inten
sity of a Greek epic. It's a movie you'll
remember, not only for the brilliance of
its execution but also for the questions
it raises and does not answer.
-Bill
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Awareness Week
Planning for Gay Awareness Week con
tinued on Feb. 27 with a meeting for
those people interested in helping. The
group scheduled the week for April 2-6 and
brainstormed ideas for programs. Program
topics such as lesbianism and feminism,
self-defense, gay marriage, religion and
homosexuality, third-world gays, and
coming out were discussed.
It was also decided that the week should
begin with a coffeehouse and end with
"blue jeans day" and a dance. The coffee
house is tentatively scheduled to be held
in the lounge of the Campus Y Building.
Each day of the week there will be a booth
in the pit. The committee is also looking
for people willing to perform at the
coffeehouse and to staff the booth.
One or more fi).ms may also be shown
during the week. Possibilities include:
Pink Triangles; Michael, a Gay Son; Women
Loving Women; and Boys in the Band.
Because our coordinator for GAW resigned
during February, a new coordinator is
badly needed. Anyone interested in
becoming coordinator or helping with any
aspect of the Week should contact Robert
between 3:15 and 4:00pm on Monday,
Wednesday or Thursday in the CGA office.
A sheet has been placed on the backside
of the office door for comments and sug
gestions about the week.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ Gay Quakers Meet
The Friends for Lesbian and Gay Concerns
(Quakers) held their annual midwinter
gathering over the Feb. 17-19 weekend at
the Philadelphia Friends Center. The
theme for the weekend was "Our Lives: Too
Precious to Hide Under a Bushel."
Speakers included topics of nurturing
friendships and lover relations. And the
teen-aged son of an FLGC member coordi
nated a workshop for children (minium age
of 10 years) of other FLGC members.
Saturday night the Friends enjoyed
contra dancing and held a talent sharing
with participants bringing musical instru
ments for the event called, "Out from the
Bushel, On to the Stage."