One of the best

The American Cinematheque and Outfest’s annual “Queer Shorts” program includes the L.A. premiere of Alan Brown’s 29-minute “O beautiful,” one of the most eloquent, powerful offerings in the program’s seven-year history. It opens with a high school youth, Brad (Jay Gillespie), staggering through a field at night, a gash on his head and clad only in a sweatshirt. Appearing in the darkness is a classmate, Andy (David Rogers), who has come back to rescue Brad after observing the sexual assault on him. Clean-cut Andy is torn with guilt: He knows what happened was wrong but also believes “gay isn’t OK with God.” Brown and cinematographer and co-producer-director Sean Morrison effectively employ a split screen to express the separate worlds of Brad and Andy. Screening Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Egyptian. (323) 466-FILM.

-- Kevin Thomas