A Queer Review of the Austin Film Festival (2023)
Highlighting the many ways in which AFF 2023 illustrated that the queer experience is not a monolithic one.

XIII century. The villain seized power in the Murom principality. Only the brave warrior Peter goes out to fight the villain and defeats him. But the poisonous blood of the sorcerer poisons the savior of the principality. Healer Fevronia is ready to use her gift to save Peter. A real pure feeling breaks out between the young people, which they have to preserve despite many obstacles.
Highlighting the many ways in which AFF 2023 illustrated that the queer experience is not a monolithic one.
A strong representation of African Americans in this film features evil spirits and horror-themed elements.
White audiences saw Peola’s mixed-race passing as a Black woman’s struggle to be white. Black audiences saw it as the rebellion of a Black woman trying to gain privileges only given to white people.
America is the crux of the storyline: she is the only person in existence with the power to jump between universes. As central as America is to the Multiverse of Madness story, she somehow didn’t get that much to do.
This is a film that is going to leave some people bored, and some people thrilled.