Being that it is June and Pride month has commenced, it is the perfect time to get into Queer films. Here are four of my all time favorite queer films. A mix of contemporary and older films, that also have a mix of genres; Mystery, Romance, Drama. These are essential to queer cinema in my opinion! Keeping this intro short to get you the list of films, so they can be searched for and added to your watchlist!
Your Name Engraved Herein
Director: Kuang- Hui Hui
Country: Taiwan
Released: 2020
Genre: Romance/ Drama
The story of young budding love in a homophonic environment, with a yearning that never goes away. I first watched this film for the first time at 4 a.m. and I was boo hoo crying. I like a film that can get me emotional enough to cry. I think it reflects on how the viewer can not only connect, but also how the director and the actors were able to convey those emotions on the screen.
Not a spoiler, but this is based on the directors own life. It adds even more sentimental value, in my opinion. I also think it is one of those more cuter queer films where love is at the center, rather than lust.
This can be streamed on Netflix.
Querelle
Director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Realesed: 1982
Country: France
Genre: Erotic/ Drama
A tale of a handsome bisexual sailor, who’s a drug dealer, and asssasin. Sign me up! The statement of a film focusing on love rather than lust, does not apply here. Definitely lust, the genre is categorized as erotic/drama. I found this film and saw that it was a book, so I first read the book and then saw the film. The book is titled “Querelle of Brest.” I do believe that the film is quite more tame in how it interprets the story, which can easily be done because some parts of the story are SPICY. Nonetheless, both are good in their own ways. I would highly suggest checking both out if you can.
I do LOVE the way it is shot, the film stage look really gives into the mystery and suspense that surrounds the story. I liked the little ways in modernization they used throughout the film. One example, in the book Seblon keeps a diary where he writes about his feelings towards Querelle. In the film this is modernized by replacing the written diary to a tape recorder making it voice diary. This film does bring this handsome sailor to life and I think the other actors also fit their roles well. I do believe this would have been amazing if it would’ve been shot in black and white.
This can be streamed on HBO Max.
Lillies
Director: John Greyson
Released: 1997
Country: Canada
Genre: Fantasy/Romance
This is what I believe a film would look like during Shakespeare time if films existed. I say this because in the film all the characters are played by men, like the plays of that time. In the film an inmate calls a priest, who is then held against his will to watch a play that reenactments of both youth. This film truly captivates you from the start. The immersion of the story and then the flash backs to reality help ground the viewer into understanding the story and why it is being told as so. I have never seen a film like this and really loved it.
This can be streamed on Amazon Prime..
The Girl with The Hyacinths
Director: Hasse Ekman
Released: 1950
Country: Sweden
Genre: Mystery
A noir mystery. While watching you may not understanding, but when the understanding hits you… WOAH. I think this a test example of thinking outside of the norm will help broaden the understanding of things. I do not want to say much about this as to spoil it, just watch it!
This can be steamed on the Criterion Channel.
I hope that this list can help introduce you to some new queer films. This is a great mix of genres and time periods and can help show the story telling in queer films and its different iterations.
Have you seen any of these films? What are your thoughts on them?
What is your favorite queer films? Let me know in the comments!
J’s Journal 