Using your Image&Nation by MATTHEW HAYS The final days of Montreal's Image&Nation gay and lesbian film fest unreels this weekend and, if you haven't managed to take anything in yet, there's still plenty to catch in the fest's closing hours. Hey, Happy! is one of those truly strange feature-film debuts that doesn't quite always work, but still commands our attention. It comes from the city of Winnipeg, where an impending flood means the characters in the film are preparing for the Apocalypse. Filmmaker Noam Gonick's imagination runs wild as our protagonist, DJ Sabu, tries desperately to sleep with 2,000 people before the world ends. Turns out he saves the world inadvertently in the process. Extremely odd, but worth seeing just for its sheer audacity. Screens tonite, Thursday, Sept. 27 at 9 p.m. at the Parisien and Friday, Sept. 28, 9 p.m. at the Eaton. Claes Lilja doesn't show any mercy for the queasy with the feature-length doc Beyond Vanilla. The film explores a whole bunch of kinky sexual practices, many of which our innocent readership may not be familiar with. Interviewees discuss the ins and outs of bondage, golden showers, flogging, fisting and knife play. Bring your first date to this movie. Friday, Sept. 28, 7:15 p.m. at the Parisien. Lili Taylor stars in Julie Johnson, director Bob Gosse's film about a frustrated housewife who decides what she's always really wanted to do is study theoretical physics. As her scientific curiosity is tweaked, so too is her budding sexuality. And suddenly, her best friend (Courtney Love) becomes more than just a buddy. Taylor is always in fine form, but I'm more intrigued to see a movie that pits her and Love as lovers. Screens Saturday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. at the Imperial. As well as the movies, Image&Nation is also hosting a photo exhibit, Queers at the Margins of Society, in the lobby of the Parisien which must be recommended. The photos, taken by Babak Salari, are an excellent reflection of gay life in Cuba, a place known to many gays primarily as a vacation spot. Salari's photos are both poignant and beautiful, and accent the film fest perfectly. As reported earlier in the Mirror, local disabled activist Nora Bednarski is continuing her protests against the Image&Nation fest for continuing to screen the bulk of their films at the Parisien, a venue inaccessible to wheelchairs. Last week, the Quebec Human Rights Commission agreed to champion her cause in a legal action against both Image&Nation and Famous Players, the owners of Parisien, for refusing to renovate the cinema and make it wheelchair accessible. Finally, the talented documentary filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin will be presenting her exceptional feature Rocks at Whiskey Trench at the McCord Museum this Monday, Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. Obomsawin will then discuss the film after the final credits roll. The event is free, but seating is limited, so book your spot by calling 398-7100 ext. 500. : COMMENTS: mhays@mtl-mirror.com