Peccadillo Pictures have been doing wonderful things for LBGT cinema. They champion films such as Otto; or, Up With Dead People, an interesting zombie concept, by distributing them to a wider audience instead of remaining underground. Their latest offering of note is Reaching for the Moon, a film that has been scooping up awards at lesbian and gay film festivals.
Reaching for the Moon shows the relationship of American poet Elizabeth Bishop (Miranda Otto) and Brazilian architect Lota de Macedo Soares (Gloria Pires) from the discover of love to it’s inevitable conclusion.
When dealing with the 50’s and 60’s, there is an expectation from some of a certain fashion flair and style, and there is definitely a glamour to it’s costume and settings. Along with this, there are some flashes of wonderful cinematography and framing, though for the most part it remains functional.
Some have used the term love affair, but for me it sounds too fleeting. Though the film was just under 2 hours, they lived and loved together for over 15 years. It isn’t filled with unnecessary eroticism and it isn’t a perfect relationship. This is about two people in love, their own personal demons and both the good and the bad they bring out in each other.
The real strength of a dramatic love story like this is the chemistry of performances, and Otto and Pires are mesmerising. They perfectly capture the two women’s flaws and the madness of love; all of the petty jealousies, neuroses and fear instead of just the sweetness and idealised romance.
Despite all that is good with Reaching for the Moon, and while not having anything particularly bad to say about it, there isn’t anything exceptional either. It plateaus at good, but that is enough. This isn’t going to blow anyone’s minds or shatter any pre-conceptions, but why should it have to? It tells Bishop and Soares’ tragically romantic story, if not truthfully, honestly and that is exactly what a film based on truth needs to do.
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