Michael Fargo

A beautifully filmed adaptation of the Taich Yamada novel "Strangers," the intimacy and tendernss Andrew Haigh captures in this film is a rare thing. The film can put a receptive viewer in a suspended state of mournfulness and loss that is universal. It's a rare accomplishment for a filmmaker, here aided by the magnificent performances of his cast, Andrew Svcott, Paul Mescal, Jaimie Bell and the notable (though predictable) lovely performance by Claire Foy.

Finely observed details take on weight and a growing mystery that leads to...for me...a trite ending that isn't worthy of what we've watched. There is some obligation in a screenplay's adaptation that leaves little room wholesale change. But what works on a book's page may not work in a film. I wanted a greater resolution than what was offered, and that may be the result of how profound the 85% of the film achieved. And then it wasn't.

The history of the over-representation of LGBT Americans working as civil servants in the seat of power while publically being reviled. It's a story that deserves telling. "Fellow Traverlers" constantly veers it's focus to what homosexuals do sexually and not how they live their lives wthout exposing their sexual preference. The sexual acts depicted are so blunt and tinged with a dominance that appears predatory. The fear these individuals lived with seems like a passing throught rather than what must have been a crippling dread.

The integration of gay African Americans and their compounded challenges seems much more in line with how painful acceptance was, if only marginally achieved.

Yes, there is paranoia and fear, but in many sexual episodes portrayed no real fear infuses them. If someone's worried about their landlord hearing what's going on, what follows is anything but quiet. The San Francisco scenes seem like outakes from Al Pachino's "Cruising," and without any context seem like an excuse for the filmmaker to shock.

Midway through the series we need more of how these public servants managed to keep their jobs despite--what were at the time--criminal acts. Time would be better spent reading "Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington" by James Kirchick. So far, I find "Fellow Travelers" focus on depicting sex acts, well, a litle trashy.

However you've found your way to seeing a filmed version of a live performance of "Akram Khan's Giselle," the rewards are many. The performances are at the highest level where every ounce of their energy is required (the second act is performed entirely en pointe which is a staggering achievement.

Khan's choreography is a melding of classic ballet, modern dance and kathrank, one of India's classic dance forms.

The final pas de deux between Albrecht and the dead Giselle can reduce you to tears.

Purists may cry foul, but the conception stands on it's own with only suggestions of the original dramaturgy. But there's nothing in Khan's version that's any more or less clear in the original.