In this documentary, out lesbian Reno, an oddball comedian and stream-of-consciousness performer, takes us on a search for her birth mother. Reno was adopted into a suburbanite all-American family, where she always knew she was different. The camera captures Reno's quest, complete with her ups, downs, and tantrums. Her journey is assisted by her loving friends. Included are depictions of Reno's fantasies and nightmares, featuring Lily Tomlin as her fairy godmother and Mary Tyler Moore as her mother. Reno herself gives the performance of her life as she uses her detective powers to solve the mystery of her birth. This is an adventure not to be missed.

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East by Shamiran Samano (1998, 9 min.) is a sensual, erotic depiction of Middle Eastern queer identity. Dance With Me by Cassandra Nicolau (Canada, 1997, 9 min.) brings us into a Macedonian dance between a lesbian daughter, her disabled mother, and her loving grandmother. In Meninas by Paula Alves (Brazil, 1997, 17 min.), two girls' feelings for each other are discovered in a small conservative Christian town in Brazil. Tomboy by Donna Carter (1998, 5 min.) documents an African American tomboy's childhood experiences. I/Yo by Adriana Pacheco (1997, 13 min) meditates on Pachecho's childhood growing up in Colombia. Sambal Belacan in San Francisco by Madeleine Lim (1997, 26 min.) takes a poetic look at three Singaporean lesbians' search for "home."

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Filmmaker Gigi Gaston and musician Sophie B. Hawkins ("Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover" and the popular album Whaler) have created a mov- ing and intriguing documentary that brings us further into both Hawkins's music and life. The Cream Will Rise is not only the record of a concert tour but also an exploration of the story behind this artist's rise to fame from an unhappy childhood to her present success. Unusually honest conversations with Hawkins, her mother, and her brother con- cerning their bouts with alcoholism, anorexia, and sexual abuse reveal an ongoing healing process as Hawkins revisits the sites of some of her most painful, as well as pleasurable, childhood memories. This film beautifully weaves and connects this troubled past with Hawkins's current life of achievement and fame. Throughout, Hawkins's music creates a mood that is not easily forgotten, and the viewer gains a deep respect for her honesty.

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