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We probably all know Brokeback Mountain, a film that touched our hearts and was loved and celebrated by millions of heterosexuals as well. Gay love had long been a marginal topic in films and was rarely addressed. But today, more and more films and TV series are bringing LGBTQ+ topics into the spotlight. Here, we present eight queer movies you definitely shouldn’t miss.
1. Moonlight (2016)
The central focus of this film is on homosexuality and a Black man who has to discover his queer identity. Everything revolves around the life of Chiron, shown in three segments. As a child, his empathy causes him to fail in the poor neighborhood where he lives. In his teenage years, he falls in love for the first time with a man, but because he works as a hard drug dealer, it is impossible for him to express this. Even as an adult, he hides his queer identity until an encounter changes everything. Socially critical, authentic, and empathetic, this film will touch your heart. It also won an Oscar, and rightly so, in our opinion.
2. Boy Erased (2018)
Another film that goes under your skin, focusing on the gay identity of a man forced into conversion therapy. Jared is the son of a Baptist preacher and comes out to his parents as gay. He is not accepted; instead, his identity is to be suppressed through therapy. The drama shows Jared’s inner conflicts and his brave path not to deny himself. The film is based on true events and strongly shakes the hope for more understanding.
3. Tangerine (2015)
This energetic film grabs you. Tangerine is about the lives of trans women Sin-Dee and Alexandra, who walk through LA in a single day to confront infidelity, friendship, and their dreams. Filmed with an iPhone, the movie captures queer street life with raw realism. Despite tough themes like sex work and discrimination, it’s full of humor and heart. An impressive portrayal of queerness that feels approachable and honest without the Hollywood effect. If you want to see a true indie milestone, this is it.
4. Milk (2008)
The story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician to hold public office in the US, is told in this film. It takes you on his journey from a simple store owner in San Francisco to an influential activist who fought for LGBTQ+ equality. Sean Penn convinces in the lead role, bringing Milk to life with acting courage, passion, and plenty of credibility. The political struggles of the 70s are impressively captured, but Milk’s personal hurdles are also moving and intensely told.
Spoiler: If you don’t want to cry, don’t watch it because there’s no happy ending in Milk. Despite its tragic ending, however, the film remains a timeless reminder to fight more for justice, acceptance, and Gay Pride.
5. My Own Private Idaho (1991)
In this old road movie, everything revolves around love, identity, and friendship. It’s a cinematic gem, as the early 1990s were even more challenging than today. River Phoenix plays Mike, a sexually fluid street hustler who suffers from narcolepsy. Emotional chaos arises from his love for his best friend Scott. The two travel across the United States searching for Mike’s mother.
During this poetic, melancholic, and intense journey, the two young men find themselves. Honest, timeless, and yet complex and subtle, this cultural classic goes deep under the skin.
6. The Danish Girl (2015)
This drama tells the true story of Lili Elbe, one of the first people to undergo gender-affirming surgery. The film takes you alongside Lili, showing her path from self-realization to transition. The complex and challenging relationship with her wife, Gerda, plays an important role.
Played by Eddie Redmayne, the lead character spectacularly captures Lili’s inner struggle and courage. Not only the personal steps but also the societal challenges are shown without taboo. Sensitive imagery and emotional depth deliver a clear message: Be yourself, even if the world is against it.
7. Paris is Burning (1990)
This documentary takes you into the queer ball scene of 1980s New York. Paris is Burning focuses on the lives of predominantly Latinx and Black drag queens and trans people who create a space for identity and creativity in a hostile world. Themes such as social oppression, family, and gender roles touch on the issues and give the community a voice.
At the same time, the film is also a tribute to the fashion, dance, and pride that this subculture has shaped. Paris is Burning continues to inspire and is considered a milestone for the queer community.
8. Call Me by Your Name (2017)
This film is a delicate and poetic coming-of-age story that deals with themes like first love, self-discovery, and impermanence. In the hot summer of the 1980s in Italy, an intense connection develops between 17-year-old Elio and the older Oliver.
What starts as a friendship turns into a bittersweet love story. The film plays with the picturesque backdrop and the feeling of longing. The young Elio is tortured by desire and uncertainty. An impressive work where beauty, pain, and life itself take center stage.
Conclusion: Many films are changing the presence of LGBTQ+ in visual representation
In the past 50 years, the cinematic portrayal of the LGBTQ+ community has changed significantly. In the past, topics like being gay or simply being “different” were strictly banned from cinema or overshadowed by stereotypes. While the change is still progressing slowly, there are some masterpieces that support the visibility of LGBTQ+.
One reason for the past was the Hays Code, which governed Hollywood from 1934 to 1968. It didn’t explicitly ban homosexual themes but avoided suggestive nudity, realistic violence, sexual innuendos, and obscenity in any form. Back then, it was considered immoral to promote or even depict the LGBTQ+ community, meaning the Hays Code essentially banned gay and alternative love in films.
Queer cinema really boomed in the 1990s, with films like Paris is Burning and My Own Private Idaho providing deeper insights into the lives of queer people. In the mainstream, the topic was only really acknowledged through classics like Brokeback Mountain and Milk. Much work remains before LGBTQ+ relationships have the same normal status as heteronormative ones, but we are on the right path. And now, have fun with these remarkable queer movies!
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