Sunday
Jun032012
June is Gay Pride Month. Open Thread.
Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 11:45AM 
Show Me Love (1998)It occurred to me that despite all the series and theme weeks and whatnot that we do here at The Film Experience we've never really celebrated Pride Month. What movies or movie tropes with a queer bent or movie characters would you like to see discussed? We have so many things going on blog-wise but we'll try and squeeze a few in later this month.
Consider this an open thread. Go!
tagged LGBT
LGBT
Reader Comments (42)
Brokeback. Obviously.
I really have been meaning to see My Summer of Love for a while now. Maybe this will be the month.
Sally Potter's Orlando. Love that movie to pieces. Swinton, the production values, the music... (not to mention...y'know, the story/themes) agh...so damn good.
Mysterious Skin?
Beautiful Thing.
I think it would be interesting to discuss movies where there are well-written gay characters in movies that are not necessarily the main focus of the film. For example, one of my absolute all-time favourite is Cecil de France's performance in Russian Dolls with Romain Duris. That scene after having dinner with his dad is such a brilliant, captivating moment that moves you when you least expect it. its a flawed film, but worth watching for that performance alone.
Another vote for Sally Potter's Orlando.
Ooh boy. Fun LGBTQ films to discuss: All things Almodovar (success!), of course - maybe you could have readers vote on their favorite? There are very few of these films that haven't been discussed here actually, but a couple random films which may or may not have been given their due include The Opposite of Sex, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and Time To Leave. But really, Nathaniel, we are discussing these films year round anyway. :)
Swoon
Poison (really, anything Haynes)
Beau Travail (more homosocial than gay, perhaps)
Victim
My Own Private Idaho
Wild Reeds/The Witnesses (both Techine)
Mysterious Skin -- JGL's performance, wow.
I watched an Israeli movie called Eyes Wide Open in a LGTB Film Festival ago and I loved it. You should watch it. It's better than Brokeback Mountain IMO.
How about some queer asian films? Tropical Malady, Happy Together...
Almodovar transcends the trappings of what we know as queer cinema.
The Crying Game has yet to be challenged. Boringback Mountain can take a hike.
But I'm a Cheerleader
I think it'd be nicer to discuss gay movies that were released in a time that gay movies weren't this usual. Very early (before Midnight Cowboy or Stonewall or another landmark) gay movies, maybe, or gay parts in movies of that time. I think those brave people should be celebrated,
Mulholland Drive (My all-time favorite film)
Happy Together
Far From Heaven
The Hours
Mysterious Skin
Everything Almodóvar has made
'Show Me Love' (I approve of your choice of picture), 'Maurice', 'Summer Storm' and, speaking of German LGBT films, 'Romeos'. I haven't seen it yet, but I've heard great things about it.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1830792/
contracorriente (undertow) is beautiful film
Here are a few more films that should be in consideration:
Love Songs
Summerstorm
The Bubble (2006)
Beautiful Thing
Yossi & Jagger
C.R.A.Z.Y.
Shortbus
Trick
Were the World Mine
Shelter
@cal roth - I agree. It would be nice to hear some discussion about some of the 1960's gay-themed films, such as "A Taste of Honey," "Victim," "The Killing of Sister George."
Yes, there were negative stereotypes in abundance in these films. They were, however, groundbreaking in that some of the protagonists were portrayed sympathetically, no small step for gay cinema at the time.
Can anyone think of other pre "Boys in the Band" films that featured gay protagonists?
Montgomery Clift. I can never get enough of him.
Alejandro Amenábar (where is he?) and gay directors in general. Why do we want our stars to come out, but we don't care much about other professions?
Matthew Bomer via Magic Mike and out actors, alt. beefcake in movies as a wink to gay audiences?
Stereotypes: big lesbian women and skinny gay men. Sorry, that's not related to movies, even though it was thinking about Queen Latifah what took me there. It's just a personal obsession.
I agree with cal as well. Maybe you could do a post about 'Mädchen in Uniform' (1931) and its remake from 1958 (starring Romy Schneider).
SHELTER!!!!!
Every gay teen should watch "Beautiful Thing". It should be mandatory.
Here's another vote hoping you go in the direction cal roth raises. I think it's a great idea. Personally, I'd be fascinated to learn more about how the portrayal of gay characters shifted from the 1950s-1980s. I tend to assume/fear they were almost always negative or joke-y stereotypes prior to the 1990s, but I'd love to learn more about movies in which that wasn't true.
Definitely one vote for Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
Yeah, Asian queer films would be interesting...
Merchant-Ivory's "Maurice" if a favorite of mine.
My favorite LGBT-themed films are....
Mysterious Skin (JGL is a revelation)
Boys Don't Cry (though very depressing)
Weekend
I'm Canadian, so I'd be interested in an exploration of Canadian Gay Film: Outrageous, Le Confessional, I've heard the Mermaids Singing, Prom Queen, C.R.A.Z.Y., Heartbeats, I Killed my Mother, Zero Patience, The Hanging Garden, Set Me Free, Being at home with Claude, and of course the amazing documentary Forbidden Love. This is just a short list of a few my favorites, but it is certainly not exhaustive.
Any movie where the gay character:
1) is comfortably out;
2) does not die (especially from AIDS); and
3) isn't just there for camp value/one-liners.
Because seriously.
For example, I know Willem Dafoe in "Boondock Saints" and Val Kilmer in "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" are over the top but I love those performances because they're *strong* gay characters who don't take shit from anyone.
How did I forget about Kiss of the Spider Woman and Hedwig and the Angry Inch?
Any excuse to revisit WEEKEND or Tom Cullen sounds good to me.
I've always marveled at the idea that for so long we gay folk, ESPECIALLY LESBIANS, had to put up with *crappy* films in order to see any representation. The cinema snob in me was always more forgiving of stumbling actors, weak dialogue, and horrible production values in the 90's if there was an "at least I'm getting to see lesbians!" factor. The idea that I managed to see Go Fish as many times as I did blows my mind - yet, it's a masterpiece of subtlety compared to Bar Girls. Does anyone remember that era like I do? Thank god we've been creeping away from that ever since.
[Although, Ilene Chaiken has a lot to answer for. Boy oh boy, did she test our patient-tolerant-and-forgiving-of-lousy-plot-choices ways with The L Word. Television, I know. But no excuses for "Who Killed Jenny?"]
Somehow my earlier comment wasn't posted (I suspect because I included a link), so here I go again.
'Show Me Love' (I approve of your choice of picture), 'Maurice', 'Summer Storm' and, speaking of German LGBT films, 'Romeos' (2011). Have any of you seen it? I still haven't, but I've heard great things about it.
Criterion recently announced it will be releasing Weekend on DVD and Blu-Ray later this year. This made me insanely happy.
Being a freak for lists, I would LOVE to see a list of Nathaniel's favorite queer movies, or maybe just a highest-grossing list and thoughts on it?
Or maybe just a month of beefcake in honor of Magic Mike. That would do just fine.
How about the future of gay cinema? (Will it forever be just indies?)
Also curious to know, if they remade The Boys in the Band today, what actors we all think should be cast in the film.
Beautiful Thing and Were the World Mine.
So many good suggestions so far. I second 'Tropical Malady' and would add Maurice to the list... changed my life back when I was in college -- easily one of the key cinematic experiences that led directly to my realizing I was gay.
Also, I really need to watch Pariah still but I know it's amazing so maybe that too? haha
Oh! Gregg Araki's films. Nowhere is the one the made me realize I was gay.
Another vote for Hedwig and the Angry Inch. I know you've mentioned it before. But it was the first one I thought of.
There has always been a special place in my heart for the coming-of-age stories, so I have an acute affinity for such films as "A Beautiful Thing," "The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros," "Get Real," and "Wild Reeds."