LGBTQ Movies to watch!
LGBTQ+ people have gradually, if inconsistently, been getting better representation in films in recent years. Pride 2020 is here, which means now is a good time for the LGBTQ community and allies alike to learn about and support queer artists. And while we still have a long way to go, thanks to streaming, we have more opportunities than ever to watch shows and LGBTQ movies that feature all different forms of love and identity.
Also, Read Movies That Will Skip Theatres And Come To Us Directly Online
To mark the Pride month in June, here is the WarPaint Journal edit of 8 LGBTQ+ movies that have paved the way for better representation in cinema.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire(2019)
Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a refreshingly feminist, richly textured film that explores love and desire with genuine emotion and profound insight.
At the center of the movie’s manifesto is the notion of the female gaze. There is no unwanted nudity; there is no objectification of bodies just for the sake of voyeuristic pleasure. There is sensuality, desire, passion, and consent. Celine Sciamma plays on the idea of consent, and how sexy it can be. Besides, the movie is a grand aesthetic treat; every frame is akin to an oil painting.
Adèle Haenel, an extraordinary actor, is hauntingly intense as Héloïse, and Noémie Merlant, an equally strong presence on screen is magnificent as Marianne. The other two actors Luàna Bajrami and Valeria Golino delivered equally convincing performances.
This is the kind of film that makes a lasting impact. It was a privilege to have watched this movie on a big screen, in all its glory. Ready to watch this LGBTQ movie? Available on Amazon Prime.
Moonlight (2016)
This film is absolutely stunning, in every possible way. The message, the simple yet powerful plot, the wonderful score, and the breathtaking cinematography. It’s not often that we have no critiques whatsoever about a film, but for us, this silver screen beauty absolutely nailed it.
Firstly, the plot of the film is moving and really important. A heartbreaking yet captivating story is presented to us through what was probably some of the most striking cinematography I have ever seen. Ever. This film is rich in symbolism and we actually watched it twice just to pick up again on some of the subtle (very clever) symbols weaved into this visual masterpiece. Every time we think about this movie we are again enthralled by it and just astonished at how one film could be so perfect. It is not too long or too short and it perfectly captures each and every character that we are intimately introduced to, which interestingly isn’t actually too many. But this seems to be a good thing. Are you ready to watch Moonlight? #LGBTQ Movies
Blue is the Warmest Colour(2013)
La Vie d’Adèle in French.
There is a vivid party scene in the middle of Abdellatif Kechiche’s sprawling Palme d’Or winner Blue Is the Warmest Color (aka, in France, La Vie d’Adèle: Chapitres 1 et 2) that encapsulates some of the film’s strengths and weaknesses. Adèle (Adèle Exarchopoulos), a young schoolteacher who is feeling her way through early adulthood and her first serious love affair, has earnestly prepared a meal in honor of her artist girlfriend, Emma (Léa Seydoux).
As the evening wears on, Exarchopoulos conveys Adèle’s loneliness and awkwardness among an unfamiliar and older upper-class crowd with painful subtlety. And yet the scene, which also marks a turning point in the central relationship, falters when some of Emma’s supposedly sophisticated friends make eager remarks about art and female sexuality that seem to mirror the director’s problematic approach toward the representation of women.
Blue is the Warmest Colour is another one of the most critically acclaimed LGBTQ Movies. The movie is currently available on Netflix.
Carol (2015)
In this adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s classic novel The Price of Salt, Carol Aird meets an aspiring photographer called Therese Belivet while shopping for her daughter during the Christmas season of 1952. Upon discovering that Carol ‘accidentally’ left her gloves behind in the department store, Therese returns them to her and also hands over her heart in the process — all at a time when the love they shared dared not speak its name.
Carol is a genuine work of art, drawing audiences in with a combination of exquisite visuals and two stars working at the top of their game. It’s also a queer movie directed by a queer filmmaker, something which is still even rarer than an out lesbian ever was in 1950s America. There are so many details to absorb here that one viewing simply isn’t enough, and the universal themes of love and desire explored in Carol remain as timely now as they were back when Highsmith had to use a pseudonym to write the novel that this film is based on.
Watch Carol on Netflix. #LGBTQ Movies
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The next four movies on the list for LGBTQ movies are movies touching hearts of Indian audience. They are highly critic rated and have seen some beautiful box-office grossing too. At WarPaint Journal we encourage you to watch and fall in love with your pride.
Fire (1996)
Best known for her ‘Elements Trilogy’, Deepa Mehta is largely responsible for mainlining ‘’questionable femininity’’ in the Indian shores. Starring versatile actors Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das, ‘Fire’ is loosely based on Ismat Chughtai’s 1942 story, Lihaaf (The Quilt). It revolves around two women in unhappy marriages who have sexual relationships. The movie unapologetically dissects topics like lesbianism and freedom of speech. When the film was released in India it faced ire of extremists, with Hindu hardliners attacking cinemas showing it.
Watch this Bollywood LGBTQ Movie on YouTube.
Aligarh (2015)
Aligarh is as gut-wrenching as it is heart-warming. Based on the life of Ramchandra Siras, a professor at Aligarh Muslim University who was filmed having sex with a rickshaw-puller at his house in a sting run by local media. As it happens, his life and reputation were in ruins post the incident until a journalist tried to give him his life back. The characters were beautifully portrayed by Manoj Bajpayee and Rajkummar Rao. The film received a standing ovation at the 20th Busan International Film Festival.
Margarita with a Straw(2014)
Kalki plays the role of Laila who is a teenager with cerebral palsy which is a movement disorder. She falls in love with a young activist named Khanum who is a blind girl with an independent personality. Laila gets confused about her sexual orientation as she is also attracted to a man named Jared. Kalki’s portrayal of a bisexual woman in the movie is not just praiseworthy but also shows her willingness as an artist. The sex scenes were also applauded for not being coy or uncanny.
Was Bollywood even ready for this film? We still wonder! Happy watching Laila discover her self in this beautiful LGBTQ movies.
Shubh Mangal Zyada Savadhan(2020)
A sequel of sorts to ‘Shubh Mangal Saavdhan’ (2017), a sleeper hit about a man battling erectile dysfunction. Starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Jitendra Kumar, the film underlines the topic of homosexuality via humor. Teetering on safe lines, we hope it kickstarts a rather powerful conversation around homosexuality in the 21st century India, where bias is still prevalent.
You’ve described the movies on point, being a movie buff myself I can actually relate to the the movies that I’ve seen and looking forward to watch those which I haven’t (Portrait of a Lady and blue is the warmest colour).
Wow, this is amazing! yesss do watch!