Mandy's Birthday (1999)

In 1983, V first debuted as a mini-series. It chronicled the story of alien visitors who arrive on Earth in motherships; they look like us, they talk like us, and they say they are of peace

The June episode of the Incluvie Movie Highlights provides 3 new and buzzworthy films presenting different types of love: Good Luck to You, Leo Grande with intimacy, Father of the Bride with familial love, and this month's feature - Fire Island, with intimate and romantic love. Movie Critic Melanie Ojwang joins us to discuss Emergency.

The social issues The Half of it takes on are handled well, between the antagonization brought on to Ellie for her race and the conflict that arises from her being gay. Both aspects of her character are built up over the course of the film and don’t seem abrupt or rushed. The film shows racism towards Ellie and her and father in varying levels, from having her schoolmates specifically address her as "Chinese girl” to the fore mentioned way her Dad is treated due to language barriers. The same can be said about Ellie being a lesbian. While she never truly “comes out” in the narrative, that does not undermine her journey of self-discovery from being meaningful. These ideas aren’t thrust upon the viewer in a preachy manor, the scenarios that occur feel believable given the rural setting. The film presents watchers with problems whom those like Ellie may face, and leaves us to sit with them and reflect.

Kate Winslet and Saorise Ronan deliver stellar performances in a film that doesn't live up to its potential.

"First Day" is a trans kid slice-of-life tv show that brings desperately needed diversity to coming-of-age stories in mainstream media. Here's a show that get's it right by having a trans actress in a story centered on trans girlhood.

This is a Spanish-speaking short film that contains English subtitles. The short film is produced in the United States.