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These volumes are the first in the new "Queer Film Classics" series. Editors Matthew Hays (The View from Here: Conversations with Gay and Lesbian Filmmakers) and Thomas Waugh (film studies & queer studies, Concordia Univ., Montreal) will release three books annually until 2015. Each title will focus on an individual film in depth, and the cumulative list will provide a significant contribution to the history and literature of gay cinema studies. In Law, Quiroga (Spanish & comparative literature, Emory Univ.) closely studies the triangularly structured relationship that is at the core of this 1987 film. He views the narrative within larger social, sexual, and cultural contexts, and his supporting analyses of specific scenes, cinematic elements, and dialog reflect his extensive research, as do his references to other works by director Pedro Almodovar. The 1970 film Trash achieved classic status not only through the efforts of director Paul Morrissey but also because of its famed producer, Andy Warhol. Davies (assistant curator of public programs, The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery) delves into the title theme on material and personal levels, considering their symbolic interplay. He also offers observations on the film's motif of redemption as seen through the lens of complex relationships. The third in this series is Tsika's (Ph.D. candidate in cinema studies, NYU) interpretation of Bill Condon's 1998 classic Gods and Monsters. An intriguing biographical foundation drawn from the life of gay film director James Whale, with its narrative containing a mix of fact and fiction, this traces Whale's journey personally and professionally through his conversations with a young gardener. In addition to his analysis of the film's story and treatment, Tsika draws on other films and literature, as well as on the history of early Hollywood with regard to gay themes, in order to provide a full cultural context. Photographs and movie stills complement all of these texts. Verdict This series will be a significant, valuable contribution to the history and literature of gay cinema. Each of these works will be valuable additions for academic and popular students of film and gay culture.-Carol J. Binkowski, Bloomfield, NJ Copyright 2009 Media Source Inc. Copyright 2009 Media Source Inc. ...Log In or Sign Up to Read More