Reel Affirmations: The Nation's LGBT Film Festival 2008

Follow the lives of a group of young people living in Tel Aviv in this upbeat comedy of contemporary frolicking. Tagged as "the first Israeli queer romantic sexy comedy" Antarctica is a genre-blending romp through the foibles and follies of gay siblings Shirley and Omer. Omer is approaching his thirtieth birthday, yet still dreamily immersing himself in books at the local library, and half-heartedly trying to find himself - and the man of his dreams. A series of disastrous blind dates hasn't exactly helped, but Omer continues on his quest.

Shirley is a little younger, a lot more harried, and has already nabbed her dream woman, Michal, owner of the hippest café in town (and Shirley's boss). But the thought of settling down scares Shirley, who wonders if she's ready to give up her long-held plan of traveling to Antarctica. As the siblings sort through their feelings and prepare for adulthood, friends and relatives chime in with their advice and problems of their own. Directed in the style of Robert Altman, Antarctica features a quickly shifting cast of characters including buttoned up businessman by day and sex maniac by night Boaz, the shy Danny, and Miki, Omer's slutty friend. Throw in a journalist, an author (and alleged alien abductee) and you have the makings of one very bold and daring movie!

This masterfully directed gem commands your attention from the first hyper-sexually-charged frame to the audacious finale - always challenging the viewer and never wavering into contrivance or formulaic storytelling.