Delve yourself into LGBTQ+ History Month this film Friday,with these top 5 films that explore complicated queer relationships, along with the struggles and beauty of self-discovery. From sweet, uplifting romantic comedies to deeper and beautifully written dramas, experience the joys and struggles of grasping identity and sexuality, as well as the importance of community.
Call Me By Your Name
Set in 1980’s northern Italy, “Call Me By Your Name” depicts a blossoming romance between 17-year-old Elio and his father’s research assistant Oliver. Adapted from André Aciman’s novel of the same name, the beautyin this film isexerted by its simplistic and naturalistic direction, the gentle score,and James Ivory’s encapsulating screenplay. This movie explores all the emotional levels of first love in a beguiling Italian summer landscape, with Elio’s father reminding viewers of the privilege of feeling; all while posing the philosophical question, “Is it better to speak or die?”, allowing viewers to empathise with the feeling of unrequited love in discretion.
The Danish Girl
“The Danish Girl” takes place in 1920s Copenhagen, a love story loosely based on the lives of Danish artists Gerda Wegener and Lili Elbe (subsequently Einar Wegener) who after posing for theirwife for a portrait, soon discoverstheirtrue identity as a woman, later becoming one of the first known recipients of sex reassignment surgery in 1930. Eddie Redmayne’s performance of Lili beautifully showcases her voyage of self-discovery, as well as the intricacies of the relationship between Gerda and Lili, and the vitality of art and painting within their lives.
Red, White and Royal Blue
This enemies-to-lovers rom-com is also based on the novel of the same name. Taylor Zakhar Perez stars as Alex Clairmont-Diaz, the president’s son,and Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Henry of England, deliver a chemistry-filled dynamic to this gay romantic comedy, leaving out the typical cliché of prejudiced or bigoted antagonists, keeping them from being together. Resulting in a refreshingly fun and playful movie, with plenty of other charismatic characters to guarantee an easy and enjoyable watch.
Pride
“Pride” is a movie about a group of gay activists, under the name LGSM (Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners), set in England and Wales during the summer of 1984 during the infamous miner’s strikes. An empowering movie that also dabbles in social contexts at the time of the AIDs epidemic, as well as the prejudices LGBTQ+ people faced during the 80s. George Mackay shines as the timid Joe Bromley who is taken under the collective wing of gay men and lesbian Steph. We see him flourish as he follows the path of self-discovery. This uplifting film celebrates the good that unity can bring.
The Half of It
Director and writer Alice Wu highlights the importance of friendship in this coming-of-age story. Ellie Chu, a shy, straight-A student reluctantly agrees to help a sweet jock, Paul, articulate his emotions to his crush Aster, who Ellie also ultimately develops feelings for. Through this, an unlikely friendship is formed between Ellie and Paul, as we see the importance of repressed literary views on love, as Alice Wu incorporates ideologies of ancient Greek ideas over the unity of two souls, crafting a piece of beautiful, visualised poetry, straying away from an overly cliché storyline, which also incorporates debates on religion and existentialism. Thus, creating a heart-warming film with Asian representation and an unforced LGBTQ+ inclusion, leading to a more naturalistic story of human connection.
