June 16th : The Queer King Recommends
The Queer King recommends
THE DEATH AND LIFE OF MARSHA P. JOHNSON (2017)
No one knows what really happened to activist and trans pioneer Marsha P. Johnson the night she died. People still trying to understand.
Why do you need to see it ? Johnson is an icon and learning about her is learning about Stonewall and our culture.
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The Queer King recommends
FAGGOTS, Larry Kramer (1978)
Fred Lemish, looking for love, gravitates in a New York City full of glory holes, BDSM, orgies and becomes disillusioned along the way.
Why do you need to read it ? It’s Kramer’s first novel. It’s ruff. His writing doesn’t shy away from the reality of gay life and he does not take any prisoners alive. A must read.
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The Queer King recommends
TANGERINE, Sean Baker (2015)
On Christmas Eve, Sin-Dee discovers her pimp boyfriend has been cheating on her. With her friend Alexandra, she goes searching for him
Why do you need to see it ? Shot on an IPhone for a ridiculous amount of money, this dramedy puts trans women up front with incredible narrative audacity.
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The Queer King recommends
A LITTLE LIFE, Hanya Yanagihara (2015)
Jude, Willem, JB & Malcolm are best friends living in New York City. From college to middle-age, with most focus on Jude, you will learn to care for them like no other fictional characters before.
Why do you need to read it ? I can’t stress this enough. This novel is extraordinary. 18 months later, I’m still not over it. It will break your heart.
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The Queer King Recommends
PLEASE LIKE ME, Josh Thomas (2013–2016)
Josh discovers he’s gay, putting a spin in the lives of his girlfriend, his lazy best friend, his newly-wed dad and his depressed mother.
Why do you need to see it ? This Australian comedy achieves in tone and heart what Looking never could. And also, there’s Arnold. Oh, Arnold.
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The Queer King Recommends
HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, John Cameron Mitchell (2001)
Hedwig, an East German gender queer rock singer, is waiting for her operation that will get rid of the one-inch mound of flesh between her legs.
Why do you need to see it ? Poignant, full of incredible tunes and an extraordinary performance from writer-director JCM. Sugar Daddy, Bring it Home.
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The Queer King Recommends
THE PRINCE OF SALT/CAROL, Patricia Highsmith (1952)
Young Therese meets Carol, an rich older woman. The “friendship” that will follow will change her life forever.
Why do you need to read it ? An unprecedented feat in literature, a lesbian love story in which the protagonists are not punished in the end.
The movie adaptation by Todd Haynes is also a must-see.
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The Queer King Recommends
120 BATTEMENTS PAR MINUTE, Robin Campillo (2017)
France, 1990s. Act Up. The AIDS Epidemic. Love. Revolution.
Why do you need to see it ? To remember what happened. It’s earth-shattering. Silence = Death. What are you waiting for ? Go see it, now !
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The Queer King Recommends
ONE DAY AT A TIME
(2017–2019)
A family of hispanic descent tries to survive in today’s America.
Why do you need to see it ? For the greatest coming-out storyline on television. So perfect. Bring the show back!
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The Queer King Recommends
GIOVANNI’S ROOM, James Baldwin (1956)
David, a young american who lived in Paris, remembers his complex relationships with the men in his life, particularly a bartender named Giovanni.
Why do you need to read it ? Top-3 greatest gay novel of all-time. The first time I read it, I couldn’t finish it. I read the last 30 pages 4 years later. It’s THAT powerful.
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The Queer King Recommends
A VERY ENGLISH SCANDAL , Stephen Frears. (2018)
Three-part miniseries about the Jeremy Thorpe Scandal.
Why do you need to see it ? Three words. Whishaw. Davies. Frears.
Funny as fuck.
I’m starting a Ben Whishaw fanclub BTW.
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The Queer King recommends
THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, Stephan Elliott (1994)
Three drag queens take a road trip across Australia to get to a paid-job.
Why do you need to see it ? One of the rare 90s positive representation of LGBT+ people, it’s funny, gorgeous looking. A classic.
PS The soundtrack is
IN-CRE-DI-BLE.
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The Queer King recommends
JUST KIDS, Patti Smith (2010)
The chronicles of a love story beyond societal restrictions between Patti Smith and revolutionary artist Robert Mapplethorpe.
Why do you need to read it ? Aside from the historical accuracy of the 60/70s, you explore what it feels like to really love someone. And Mapplethorpe is a fascinating man.
I cried multiple times.
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The Queer King recommends
THE X PORTOFLIO , Robert Mapplethorpe (1978)
A series of photographs that shade a light on homosexual practices (most of them extremes).
Why do you need to see it ? A lot of Mapplethorpe’s work is great, but this is beyond. Not for the sensible soul. Hardcore.
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The Queer King recommends
SHORTBUS, John Cameron Mitchell (2006)
An extremely diverse group of people are desperately trying to connect in a vibrant New York City.
Why do you need to see it ? That little miracle isn’t shy about sex. ALL kinds of sex. It’s very much like a Robert Altman movie, if Robert Altman shot a lot of oral sex in his career.
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The Queer King recommends
LESS, Andrew Sean Greer (2018)
As his 50th birthday is coming up, writer Andrew Less is traveling around the world to avoid going to his ex’s wedding.
Why do you need to read it ? For the exploration of a gay man’s psyché while his youth and opportunities are behind him.
As a gay man, it made me sad. Then it gave me hope. Also now, I want a blue suit.
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The Queer King recommends
CLOSET MONSTER, Stephen Dunn (2015)
18-year old Oscar tries to figure out his sexuality and face his childhood demons
Why do you need to see it ? The Buffy references and great acting. Duh.
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The Queer King recommends
THE WAY HE LOOKS, Daniel Ribeiro (2014)
Blind high school student Leo meets new classmate Gabriel. He starts developing romantic feelings towards him.
Why do you need to see it ? Desires and self-realization are themes very well exploited in this movie. The two main actors are phenomenal. I almost wished I was 16 again (but not really).
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The Queer King recommends
WHEN WE RISE, Cleve Jones (2016)
A complete memoir about the journey of activist Cleve Jones, following into the path of Harvey Milk to keep fighting for LGBTQ+ rights and against the AIDS Epidemic.
Why do you need to read it ? An in depth look at life at the fore front of activism, with gorgeous interludes of romance, sex and heartbreaks.
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The Queer King recommends
KILLING EVE, Phoebe Waller-Bridge (2018-present)
MI:5 Eve Polastri’s pursuit of International killer Villanelle.
Why do you need to see it ? Because lesbian desires are still mostly unseen on mainstream, award-winning programs.
It’s very, very, very good.
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The Queer King recommends
ZIGGY, STARDUST & ME, James Brandon (2019)
1973. Jonathan meets Web. He’s not supposed to. He needs to change. Sweet Ziggy won’t help him now.
Why do you need to read it ? It’s not out until August (but I have a proof copy). It’s not great literature (it’s YA after all) but it did fill my heart with feelings of love and hope.
Everything Bowie is good for the soul anyway.
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The Queer King recommends
PRIDE, Stephen Boresford (2014)
1984, Brittain. A strike is breaking the country apart. Lesbians & Gays decide to give their support to the miners.
Why do you need to see it ? Because it’s still rare to see a funny movie about gay people which is not condescending.
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The Queer King recommends
ANGELS IN AMERICA, Tony Kushner (1991–1993)
A complex, metaphorical examination of American life, the AIDS epidemic and homosexuality in the 80s.
Why do you need to read it ?
The writing is glorious, full with incredible characters. A very sensitive approach of flaws in the human spirit.
It’s epic.
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The Queer King recommends
LE ROSE ET LE NOIR , Frédéric Martel (1996)
Everything that happened to the Queer community in France from 1968 until the arrival of the PACS.
Why do you need to read it ? Information is key. You won’t get a deeper source of information.
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The Queer King recommends
LILTING, Hong Khaou (2014)
A mother tries to understand who her son was after his death, co-existing with his grieving lover.
Why do you need to see it ? A story of death, acceptance and race, Lilting is a delicate piece of filmmaking. And again, Ben Whishaw. Goddamn Ben Whishaw.
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The Queer King recommends
MOONLIGHT, Barry Jenkins (2016)
The youth, teenage years and adult life of a black gay man struggling with his identity.
Why do you need to see it ? Black gay men are not a common subject. It won Best Picture at the Oscars. Fucking Amazing.
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The Queer King recommends
POSE (2018-present)
The tribulations of gay and transgender characters in the ball scene of the late 80s.
Why do you need to see it ? The first of its kind — where representation is limitless, it’s an homage to a fabulous and terrible time in LGBTQ+’s life.
As I said in a previous article, it’s essential.
