Directed by James Lewis and Lexi Powner, in June 2022, Friedel Dausab filed a lawsuit against his government, aiming to protect many other citizens like himself, who suffer under the yolk of anti-LGBTQIA+ laws. His journey takes him all the way to England and traces the history of homophobia in the Global South to Tudor-era laws and present-day US evangelism. Also featuring: Rosanna Flamer-Caldera and Raven Gill.
While many documentaries having explored the history of the LGBTQIA+ community, and the fight for equality, Out Laws surprisingly takes that a step further, by taking many steps back. It’s fascinating to see Friedel Dausab trace the origin of the laws that oppress gay citizens, unravelling what most probably assume to be simple bigotry, and exposing the true corruption and greed which lies at the heart of these laws. It brings an educational feel to the film, which is captivating and at times, eye-opening.
Another quality that James Lewis and Lexi Powner bring so strongly to Out Laws is a wholesomeness. The documentary takes on such a compellingly gentle tone, which is a stark contrast to the harsh reality its subjects are fighting against. Part of that is because these subjects are incredibly lovely people, they’re kind and passionate, each of them are fighting not just for themselves but for those who came before and those who will come after. Dausab is utterly sweet, Rosanna Flamer-Caldera is graceful yet grounded and Raven Gill is so confident and a little bit feisty, they all have big personalities which complement one another.
It’s interesting to see Lewis and Powner take such a sensitive and soft approach and impressive to see how they can do that while still highlighting what is truly at stake. They’re able to highlight that hate and violence which their subjects and countless others face, and how there is so much more progress to be made, without ever straying from Out Laws’ endearing personality.
As well as highlighting the weight that is put upon the shoulders, as well as the danger, of people like these subjects who find themselves the face of a movement. The strength and resilience that it takes for them to loudly and proudly stand at the front of these campaigns for equal rights is remarkable, and yet they make it seem almost effortless, because they truly understand what their success would mean for the community and its future.
Out Laws is charming, captivating and meaningful. It has a very thoughtful, gentle style that pays tribute to its subjects, and allows this story to be told in a surprisingly wholesome manner. It moves well, it has an endearing personality, and its subjects are incredibly enjoyable to watch as they’re such committed, compassionate people. Overall, it’s an educational, entertaining experience, tackling big issues in an incredibly considerate fashion and provides a strong reminder of how much progress there is still to be made across the world, especially with the tides of hate only rising in recent years.
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