There are many films featuring lesbians and bisexuals, but it can be challenging to find one with a story that goes beyond two women enjoying well-lit sex for an hour and ten minutes. Both homosexual characters and gay themes may be found in a tonne of films, but most of them are either poorly written, full of insulting stereotypes, performed poorly, or just plain lousy. Thankfully for all of the queer movie buffs, there are several critically acclaimed, gay-themed and lesbian themed films out there that are well worth seeing. Here are a few of the very best!
Violette: Violette is a 2013 French-Belgian biographical drama film written and directed by Martin Provost, about the French bisexual novelist Violette Leduc. It was screened in the Special Presentation section at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. The film stars Emmanuelle Devos as Leduc and Sandrine Kiberlain as Simone de Beauvoir, and follows Leduc from poverty to success with her autobiographical bestseller La Bâtarde.
Do I Sound Gay?: Dan Savage, David Sedaris, Tim Gunn, George Takei, and Margaret Cho are among the stars of David Thorpe's documentary, which was funded by a kickstarter campaign and examines the myths surrounding the speech patterns of gay males. The movie finished as the first runner-up for the People's Choice Award for Best Documentary at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.
Vic + Flo Saw a Bear: Canadian drama film Vic and Flo Saw a Bear, which was released in 2013, was made by Denis Côté. For its 63rd Berlin International Film Festival competition debut, the movie took up the Alfred Bauer Award. Vic and Flo, lesbian lovers and ex-convicts who move to the countryside of Quebec when Vic is freed from prison, are portrayed in the movie by Romane Bohringer and Pierrette Robitaille. Together with Vic, Marc-André Grondin portrays Guillaume, Vic's parole officer, who becomes involved in their love triangle as Vic starts to rebel against the restrictions of her newly steady home life.
Beyond the Hills: Beyond the Hills is a 2012 Romanian drama film directed by Cristian Mungiu, starring Cristina Flutur and Cosmina Stratan.The narrative follows two young women at an Eastern Orthodox convent in Romania. When Alina returns from Germany, she is reunited with Voichita in an Orthodox covenant. The women grew up together in an orphanage, and though Alina wants Voichita to run away with her, she discovers Voichita has become immersed in her faith. When Alina challenges the priest, they believe she is possessed. The film, based on the non-fiction of Tatiana Niculescu Bran and written and directed by Cristian Mungiu won Best Screenplay at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, and Cristina Flutur and Cosmina Stratan shared the award for Best Actress. Beyond the Hills was also selected as the Romanian entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards.
Beginners: Beginners is a 2010 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Mike Mills. It tells the story of a man reflecting on the life and death of his father, while trying to forge a new romantic relationship with a woman dealing with father-issues of her own. The film is based on the coming out of Mills' own father at the age of 75, five years before his death. After its premiere at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival, the Los Angeles Times heralded Beginners as a "heady, heartfelt film" with a cast who have "a strong sense of responsibility to their real-world counterparts". Christopher Plummer received numerous accolades for his performance in the film, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Beginners also won the 2011 Gotham Award for Best Feature, and Christopher Plumber won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor.
A Single Man: A Single Man, the Tom Ford drama based on the Christopher Isherwood novel of the same name, stars Colin Firth as George Falconer, a gay British university professor living in Los Angeles in 1962 and mourning the loss of his partner. Julianne Moore plays Charley, his best friend. Firth received Golden Globe, Academy Award, and Screen Actors Guild nominations for best Actor, while Moore was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. A Single Man also won Outstanding Film at the 21st GLAAD Media Awards. The film premiered on September 11, 2009, at the 66th Venice International Film Festival, and went on the film festival circuit. After it screened at the 34th Toronto International Film Festival, The Weinstein Company picked it up for distribution in the United States and Germany. An initial limited run in the United States commenced on December 11, 2009, to qualify it for the 82nd Academy Awards with a wider release in early 2010.
Margarita, with a Straw: In this 2014 Indian drama, Laila, a young woman with cerebral palsy, embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Along the way, she falls in love, accepts her bisexuality, and comes out to her mother. The film won the NETPAC award at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival, and Kalki Koechlin won Best Actress at the 2014 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.
The Duke of Burgundy: The Duke of Burgundy is a 2014 British erotic romance drama film written and directed by Peter Strickland, and starring Sidse Babett Knudsen as Cynthia and Chiara D'Anna as Evelyn. This British Drama follows Evelyn, who studies moths and butterflies, while working as a maid in Cynthia’s home. Cynthia and Evelyn begin an erotic relationship, orchestrated by Evelyn.
The film was screened at various film festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival, the London Film Festival, and the International Film Festival Rotterdam, to positive critical reviews. This was Monica Swinn's first film role in over 30 years (she had previously retired in 1982). The film won the Grand Jury Prize at the 23rd Philadelphia Film Festival.
Eastern Boys: Eastern Boys is a 2013 French drama film written and directed by Robin Campillo. It premiered at the 70th Venice International Film Festival in the Orizzonti section and was later screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. This drama follows Marek, a Ukrainian immigrant in Paris who works the street with his friends. Daniel, a businessman in his fifties, approaches Marek. The solicitation turns into a home invasion, and then an unexpected relationship. The film explores themes of sexuality, immigration, and power dynamics with a sensitivity that earned it a 89 per cent score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
Pariah: Pariah is a 2011 American drama film written and directed by Dee Rees. It tells the story of Alike (Adepero Oduye), a 17-year-old Black teenager embracing her identity as a lesbian. It premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and was awarded the Excellence in Cinematography Award. In 2022, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant." It is currently the most recent film chosen to be in the registry.
How to Win at Checkers (Every Time): How to Win at Checkers (Every Time) is a 2015 internationally co-produced drama film directed by Josh Kim. It was screened in the Panorama section of the 65th Berlin International Film Festival, and was selected as the Thai entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.The film is based on the short stories "At the Café Lovely" and "Draft Day" by Rattawut Lapcharoensap.The film follows Oat, an 11-year-old orphan who has an older gay brother facing Thailand’s annual military draft lottery.