A French After School Special; the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Film Festival begins

We saw the first of what will be 6 films at the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. The first movie we saw,You'll Get Over It is a schockingly well acted coming out story. Vincent is a protegeé: the best high school swimmer (saving victory from the jaws of defeat) and a smart student that the other's (including his thug-ish brother) resent. So when an accident causes the other students to taunt him because he is gay. But he is!

It has all the normal supporting cast you would expect: the straight best friend who isn't phased one bit by the revelation, the hurt but nurturing girlfriend, the gruff but ultimately loving father who uses his son's admission to confess his own love of his children. But since this is a French after school special, there is some what graphic sex, boob and wiener.

The characters -- while predictable -- are surprisingly well acted and written with depth. The best friend is crushed when the Vincent's girlfriend turns him down, seeing this as an opportunity to finally be with the girl he loves. But she cuts Vincent out of her life because she can't be a friend and be so hurt at the same time. Believable characters.

Of course, there are added bonuses that most of the male leads are also swimmers, so they parade around in Speedos for a big chunk of the film. And the straight best friend is totally hot which also makes the time pass more quickly.