Over the past decades, several LGBTQ movies have been released. Whether inspired by true events or fictional, these movies have represented the community. Here are some of the best LGBTQ movies to catch up on during Pride Month.
Your Heart Engraved Herein
Set in a period when martial law in Taiwan ended is this LGBTQ movie called Your Heart Engraved Herein. The protagonists A-han and Birdy are studying in a Catholic all-boys school where the two fall in love with each other. However, given the homophobia and stigma surrounding them, they are unable to explore their feelings freely. It is one of the highest-grossing LGBTQ movies in the Taiwanese film industry.
The Half Of It
An introverted school student Ellie Chu makes money by writing essays for her classmates. When she begins helping Paul Munsky by writing love letters for him to give to Aster Flores, Ellie finds herself falling in love with Aster. Assuming that Paul is the one writing the letter, Aster becomes interested in him. The movie perfectly touches upon friendship and romance.
Call Me By Your Name
Elio’s father invites his assistant Oliver to stay in his home for the summer as he helps him with his paperwork. Initially, Elio who is shy feels cannot relate to Oliver who is carefree. After spending some time together, the two develop feelings for one another. Although the romance depicted in the movie is short-lived, their love seems to be eternal.
The Adventures of Priscilla, The Queen of the Desert
When a transgender woman and two drag queens tour the Australian desert as they perform their act, they come across both people who accept them and others who are homophobic. Spending time together on their bus named Priscilla, they form a strong bond with one another. They support each other during the ups and downs of the gig.
Elisa and Marcela
Based on Spain’s very first same-sex marriage in 1901 is this Spanish LGBTQ movie titled Elisa and Marcela. Elisa and Marcela get married at a church pretending to be a heterosexual couple with Elisa posing as a man. When the truth comes to light, it is just them against everyone else and they are convinced that prison might be better than the outside world.
Love, Simon
Following a public post from an anonymous person – who goes by the pen name Blue – in which he comes out as gay, Simon starts writing to Blue. In their emails to each other, Simon shares his long kept secret that he is gay too. This coming-off age film focuses on Simon’s efforts to come out to his family and friends and also find Blue whom he loves.
Boy Erased
Jared is outed to his parents after which he confesses to them that he is gay. His father, who is a preacher, takes some pastors’ advice and sends Jared to a conversion therapy camp. Based on the memoir Boy Erased: A Memoir, this movie chronicles the illicit practices that go about in these conversion therapy camps. Simultaneously, the movie also shows Jared’s path to self-love. The movie features Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Lucas Hedges and a guest appearance by Troye Sivan.
The Boys in the Band
When a group of friends get together for a birthday party, they play a game where they earn points by calling and confessing to someone they truly love. Through this game started by the host, their deeply buried secrets and emotions are unravelled. Set in the late 1960s New York, the movie is an adaptation of the play The Boys in the Band by Mart Crowley.
The Prom
Following a school board’s refusal to allow a young girl to attend prom with her girlfriend, a Broadway troop helps the two teens to live that dream. With a star-studded cast featuring Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and James Corden and more, The Prom is an extravaganza full of love, music and emotions. Similar to the LGBTQ movies set in contemporary society, The Prom speaks to today’s teens.
The Danish Girl
Adding to the LGBTQ movies that are inspired by true lives is The Danish Girl. Gerda asks her husband Einar to dress up as a woman to paint a portrait. Einar, who is also an artist, gets into character and takes up a new identity as Lili. What started as a one-time thing results in an unpredicted turn of events. Einar discovers their inner-self and realises that they are in fact, Lili.
Feature Image Courtesy: Focus Features.
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