Laugh in the Dark

Laugh in the Dark is a Canadian documentary film, directed by Justine Pimlott and released in 1999.[1] The film profiles a group of gay men who, in response to the HIV/AIDS crisis of the early 1980s, moved to the faded resort town of Crystal Beach, Ontario with an eye to reviving it as a gay resort comparable to Provincetown or Fire Island;[2] spearheaded by Gary Colwell and Don Morden, the group launched a bed and breakfast, a restaurant and a drag cabaret.[3]

Laugh in the Dark
Directed byJustine Pimlott
Produced byJustine Pimlott
StarringGary Colwell
Don Morden
Doris Mehegan
Release date
  • 1999 (1999)
Running time
minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

The film's name is taken from a dark ride of the same name that operated at Crystal Beach Park.

In his book Romance of Transgression in Canada: Queering Sexualities, Nations, Cinemas, Thomas Waugh called the film "one of the most effective and affecting elegies in Canadian queer cinema."[1]

The film premiered at the Inside Out Film and Video Festival in 1999,[2] winning the award for Best Canadian Film. It was subsequently screened at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in 2000, winning the award for Best Film on Social Issues.[4]

References
  1. Thomas Waugh, Romance of Transgression in Canada: Queering Sexualities, Nations, Cinemas. McGill-Queen's University Press, 2006. ISBN 9780773576803. p. 288.
  2. Susan Walker, "Gay and lesbian fest shows how far they've come ; Films and filmmakers of Inside Out are gaining acceptance, at least here". Toronto Star, May 14, 1999.
  3. Gordon Bowness, "Steelworkers, miners & faggots. Oh my". Daily Xtra, May 19, 1999.
  4. Fiona MacDonald, "Ooh la la – Hot Docs wraps". Playback, May 15, 2000.


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