El abuelo (): VIDEOS

Shot on location in San Antonio, Texas, El Abuelo is an intimate portrait of local educator and poet, Joe Jimenez. Through the meditative process of ironing his clothes (a duty often identified as "women's work"), we experience Joe in that familiar goal of finding the perfect crease. Of all domestic chores, ironing is the only one a "homeboy" is more than happy to master, as masterful ironing is the key to reaching an appearance of perfection; perfect creases work hand in hand with the power of attraction. In voiceover, Joe reads the lines from his poem "El Abuelo," as we learn the potency these perfect creases possess in capturing the attention of his "first vato" -- his first love of another man. This film was commissioned by the 2008 London Fashion in Film Festival. El Abuelo premiered at the TATE Modern, London, on May 10, 2008. Dino Dinco 2008 4 min. USA Founded in 1977, Frameline is the nation's only nonprofit organization solely dedicated to the funding, exhibition, distribution and promotion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender media arts. Frameline Voices is a new digital initiative that showcases diverse LGBT stories and expands access to films by and about people of color, transgender people, youth, and elders. More information: http://www.frameline.org. Click here to download Frameline and Youth in Motion's classroom curriculum and discussion materials to accompany this film: http://frameline.org/youth-motion/films/arts-action