As
you may have guessed from other posts on my blog, I’m a big film fan and this
is especially true when it comes to queer cinema. Although my list of films to
watch is never shorter than a mile long, if I get wind that a film is gay, then
it’s heading straight (no pun intended) to the top of my to-watch list.
What
can I say? I know what I like.
So,
while I had many ambitious plans for LGBT+ History Month which may or may not
have become totally derailed, what I am delivering this week is a list of (just
some of) my favourite queer films.
Although
February is coming to an end, you don’t need the excuse of LGBT+ History Month
to treat yourself to some beautifully made queer stories, so here are my
recommendations:
Moonlight
Moonlight
is an absolutely beautiful film. The cinematography is flawless, the story is
captivating, the dialogue (and lack of it) is powerful and it’s up there as one
of my favourite queer films. It follows main character, Chiron and is separated
into three sections where it depicts his childhood, teenage years and early
adulthood and his struggles coming to terms with his sexuality. Beyond how good
the actual film is, Moonlight will always hold a special place in my heart
because I watched it in a cinema in Munich with one of my best friends and it
was all we talked about for the rest of the evening. It explores difficult
themes but has a hopeful ending, which is more than a lot of queer films end up
with.
Call Me By Your Name
I
have to include this on the list because it’s one of the best films I’ve ever
seen but I’ve already a whole post declaring my love for it, so you can clickhere to read that for yourself.
Boys
This
is a Dutch film that I think I found on Tumblr (that good old queer haven).
It’s a lovely film that demonstrates the tentative boundary between forming a
friendship and pushing it into something more. There isn’t a lot of dialogue
but the soundtrack fits perfectly and so much is said without words.
The Way He Looks
I
think I heard about this because it was Brazil’s entry for the Oscar’s in 2015
but unfortunately it wasn’t nominated. I think it’s also the only queer film
I’ve seen where one of the love interests has a disability, as Leo is blind.
It’s sweet, touching, heart-warming and one I’ve watched countless times.
Love, Simon
I
had so many thoughts upon watching Love, Simon that I wrote a whole blog post
about how important coming out narratives are for young audiences that you can
read here.
120 BPM
This
is such an important French film that I wish more people had got a chance to
see as it didn’t get a very wide release in the UK. Based on true events and set
in Paris in the early 1990s, it follows HIV and AIDS activists involved with
the Paris branch of ACT UP, showing both the political and personal storylines
of the group. It’s funny, heart-breaking and infuriating but essential viewing to
inform yourself of all the battles that have been fought to get us to where we
are today.
Imagine Me and You
It’s
a ridiculous film but that’s why you have to watch it. Terrible jokes and a
very morally questionable storyline, but Lena Headey is playing a queer woman so
that should be at least some incentive. It’s pretty much everything you could
think to expect from a British lesbian romcom and that’s all you really need to
know.
Pride
And
how could you have a list of queer films without Pride? Another one based on a
true story and therefore a great entry for LGBT+ History Month, Pride focuses
on the formation and actions of LGSM – Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners –
and their support for a small mining town in Wales during the 1984 miner’s
strike. It’s hilarious, sad and incredibly uplifting and introduced me to the
Gay’s The Word bookshop which is the meeting place for the group in the film
and still standing today. Give it a visit and buy a book or two next time you’re
in London’s Kings Cross because it really is a magical place and it deserves
all the support it can get.
There
are so many more I could include but I hope there’s at least one in this list
you will be tempted to watch! If you have any recommendations for films to add
to me to-watch list then please let me know with a comment below!
And
while this is my last post during LGBT+ History Month, I have many more plans
for more content like this on my blog. So stay tuned and there’ll be a new post
up next Wednesday.
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