As society has become more individualised, we seek further to see ourselves. People are wanting more and more to feel seen, not only for self-gratification, and entertainment, but also as a signal of social existence. Representation matters as it showcases that queer stories are both unique to the heteronormative experience, but also deeply normal and human at their core.
With the cultural shift toward self-love and authenticity, we shy away from societal expectations and in turn, create our own moral constructions of right and wrong. To establish a social belonging, within a culture that preaches authenticity, now more than ever are we seeking out good queer movies that feel genuine – rather than relying on the stereotypes that most of us grew up watching.
I’ve reviewed a handful of movies that excited me as a film fanatic, and by no means is this an exhaustive list (plenty of honourable mentions fell to the wayside on this occasion). So, without further ado, here are my recommendations for good movies to watch this pride month:
Moonlight (2016)
You can’t have a list of great queer movies without mentioning Moonlight. The dazzling Oscar-winning film is a bittersweet look at one man’s relationship with his sexuality and the obstacles of his circumstance. The intersections of poverty, drug epidemic and black identity are explored through the lens of Chiron (played by Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Saunders and Alex Hibbert) and are staged in three acts, from childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Chiron/Little is taken under the wing of Juan who guides him and offers advice on how to follow his own path in life, whilst Chiron/Little struggles with his relationship with his mother. As an adolescent, Chiron battles bullying in school and a worsening situation at home. He begins to explore his feelings for his childhood friend, Kevin, and they share a moment of intimacy on the beach. In the third act, Chiron/Black meets again with his mother and the first steps of reconciliation take place, whilst he also visits his old friend Kevin and confides in him that he was the only man he had ever been with.
Moonlight is a phenomenal piece of cinema which truly allows the audience to move with Chiron through his life as he searches for meaning in his identity. The heart aches for Chiron – this is not a film about pride or coming out, it is more about reckoning and wrestling with the inner self, with the truth, and with desires.
Under the beautiful blue and purple cinematography, the truth of desire and longing is discovered, and at the end of the movie, whilst the protagonist is not in the position he had hoped for in life, he is held in the embrace of the only man he has ever been able to be with. A rightfully acclaimed and dynamic film to watch this pride month.
But I’m a Cheerleader (1999)
But I’m a Cheerleader is the 1994 camp spectacle, which stars honorary lesbian, Natasha Lyonne and actual lesbian, Clare DuVall. The story follows Megan (Lyonne) who to her surprise, is sent to conversion therapy as everyone but her seems to fear that she is a lesbian. It is at ‘True Directions’ that surrounded by other gay youth, and forming a connection with Graham (DuVall), does Megan finally accept her sexuality.
Whilst the premise of the film seems bleak, like other more recent depictions of conversion therapy; see ‘The Miseducation of Cameron Post’ or ‘Boy Erased’, ‘But I'm a Cheerleader’ is more a satire of the laughableness of homophobia, and a lot more comical than the blurb invites you to suspect.
But I’m a Cheerleader dives head first into absurdity, between the ridiculous one-liners and camp imagining of what it is to be straight. What really sold this movie for me, was the perfect juxtaposition between the insane mise En scene, with pink and blue used like army uniforms to exercise conformity and the real and raw chemistry that pulsates between the two leading ladies. The love story is the only aspect of this movie that is given a shred of sincerity; the rest of the world seems crazy, but Megan and Graham’s relationship is the only thing that makes sense.
Mysterious Skin (2004)
TW – ABUSE
Mysterious Skin is a film that stings and ripples through your mind long after the first watch. The gripping and dark film centres around two young men whose lives split off in two different directions after being abused as children; Neil (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) ends up engaging in sex work from a young age, whereas Brian (Brady Corbet) begins to believe he was abducted.
Greg Araki’s adaptation of the novel is bold and provoking, but it is Gordon-Levitt's performance as an openly queer sex worker that feels like a breath of fresh air and a slow sucker punch to the teeth. His own relationship with sex and the abuse he suffered, are deeply involved with how his character navigates life. In his younger years, as Neil begins to discover his homosexuality, he is abused by his coach; Neil misconstrues his abuse for love and validation and continues to use his body as a vessel to feel wanted.
The film is set in the 80s when the AIDS crisis began to take hold, and when many queer people flocked to the cities in search of a more accepting community. Mysterious Skin is a story that allows the brutality of real-life to cut through any hope, and is a deep dive into how dealing with trauma looks different for many. This film is not for the faint of heart, but if you can watch it, I strongly suggest you do.
The Handmaiden (2016)
The Handmaiden falls into an equally loved and loathed category of Queer cinema; the period-piece lesbian drama. But do not be fooled – this film is no slow burn. The film is structured in three parts and unfolds itself in swells of tension, as the first hour of the tale leads with innocent romance. The film begins with the con man, known as ‘Count Fujiwara’ (Ha Jung-Woo) begins detailing his plans to gain the fortune of Lady Hideko (Kim Min-Hee) by marrying her and then sending her to an asylum to keep her inheritance. He enlists Sook-hee (Kim Tae-ri) to assist by being the handmaiden to Lady Hideko and sends her to work under the Lady before his plan begins. However, Sook-hee starts to fall for Lady Hideko.
Whilst their lust and love blossom, the viewer is left in anticipation of the true story of the scam. That is, until, the movie tilts in a different direction – meandering back and forth with deceit as its central focus. All hope is restored in the movie’s third act, as Sook-hee and Lady Hideko reunite and run off together, with Hideko dawning a moustache and pantsuit, disguised as a man. The triumph culminates with a sex scene involving Ben Wa balls previously used to punish Lady Hideko, now shown in a loving embrace with Sook-Hee.
The film is best grounded in its exploration of female autonomy and freedom; Sook-hee is trapped by circumstances and the promise of wealth and Lady Hideko is trapped by the loneliness and callousness of her uncle. Both women are free in each other’s company and freed of their burdens by their love for each other. This film thrills and excites as it stands out as more of a daring tale of love and freedom than most period pieces out there. It chooses not to rely on yearning, but takes a bold direction of incorporating the sexual intimacy and cunning of two women to play out their love story.
The thread that connects these four very different stories is of course their queer protagonists. Whilst some of these stories may exist a million miles away from any lived experience, we can connect with the characters through understanding their emotions and their struggles. Deception, pain, lust, anger, clarity – we can all understand these feelings. Film is a great medium through which to better explore and understand queer stories. Having gay characters on screen signifies that queer people are part of our larger society, but also allows for film-makers to show how their sexuality is only entangled in a larger web of all the intersections that make up any complex human being. Whether you’re hitting the parades, or just curling up on the sofa, these movies are a great reminder of the complexity and intersections that exist across the queer experience.
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