Queer Duck—the Movie

Much to the consternation of his domestic partner and close friends, Queer Duck, America’s favorite gay nurse, wonders if life would be easier as a hetero, undergoes reparative therapy, and marries Broadway legend Lola Buzzard. Rather than routinely padding the popular animated shorts (which, at three minutes, seemed just long enough) into a feature, creator/writer Mike Reiss has more or less encapsulated the entire LGBT cultural experience into the direct-to-DVD Queer Duck—the Movie. Xeth Feinberg's intentionally primitive animation actually enhances the irreverent film, which skewers all that gays hold near and dear. The gags are rapid fire, and most are on target with send-ups ranging from Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? to Lady and the Tramp. Along the way, usual suspects like Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minnelli, Cher, and Michael Jackson show up, culminating in a diva ex machina appearance by Barbra Streisand who convinces our hero that he is indeed gay as a goose. Bonus features: All five original shorts and assorted featurettes offer a look at the genesis of the film. —Jeremy Kinser

An Early Frost

"They're doing beautifully this year," says Beatrice McKenna (Sylvia Sidney) as she admires the roses growing in the family garden in the film An Early Frost. "I only hope an early frost doesn't come along and nip them in the bud." Sadly, in 1981, an early frost did come along as the AIDS epidemic reached America's shores and began ravaging and destroying innumerable young lives. The first major film to deal with the AIDS crisis in America, An Early Frost, which originally aired in 1985 on NBC as a made-for-TV movie, helped put a human face on an illness that was otherwise obscured by panic, ignorance, and hatred. To commemorate the 25th anniversary of AIDS, the Emmy award-winning film is now available in a special collector's edition DVD. Aidan Quinn plays Michael Pierson, a young gay attorney who hides his boyfriend from his parents and colleagues. When he is diagnosed with AIDS, he can no longer live the double life he has so comfortably lead and is forced to confront his family and colleagues with the truth. Gena Rowlands and Ben Gazzara give commanding performances as Michael's parents, who must struggle to overcome their own prejudices to support their ailing son. Bonus Features: film trailer, a documentary called Living with AIDS, and a special commentary track featuring Quinn and writers Ron Cowen and Dan Lipman. —John Hobbs

Eighteen

Hailing from a middle-class family, Pip Anders (Paul Anthony) suddenly finds himself on the streets, begging for spare change, after running away from a home life marred by dysfunction and abuse. Pip's future looks bleak until, on his 18th birthday, the homeless youth is given a gift from his late grandfather. The gift, a tape-recorded message, recounts the tumultuous time Pip's grandfather spent behind enemy lines as an 18-year-old soldier in World War I. Listening to his grandfather's tale—and under the delicate guidance of a local priest (Alan Cumming)—Pip is able to begin mending his shattered life and become the man he's always hoped to be. A powerful coming of age film, Eighteen's story line is rife with emotional weight. Despite each character's flaws, they remain likeable and interesting. In fact, it is rewarding to watch each wrestle with his demons—both past and present—and emerge from the struggle an evolved individual. The acting, particularly of newcomer Paul Anthony, shows great range and depth. Bonus Features: film trailer, commentary with writer/director Richard Bell, and a making-of featurette. —JH

You Are Not Alone

The third—and most popular—in a trilogy of youth-oriented films by director Lasse Nielsen, You Are Not Alone is a whimsical coming-of-age tale that has enchanted legions of gay men for nearly three decades. The 1978 film takes place at a Danish boarding school, where a group of spirited boys are passing through the unsettling years of their adolescence, finding their sexuality, as well as their political voices along the way. Bo (Anders Agenso) is a 15-year-old boy who finds himself falling in love with Kim (Peter Bjerg), the 12-year-old son of the overbearing schoolmaster. The two forge a close friendship that effortlessly blossoms into a romantic love. When their school mate, Ole (Ole Meyer), faces expulsion for hanging pornography on the walls, the students band together and stage a protest until he is forgiven and allowed to stay at the boarding school. Despite the shaggy haircuts, short shorts, and striped socks that were de rigeuer in the 1970s, the film is a timeless tale that truly captures the magic of adolescence. Bonus Features: photo gallery. —JH