#POPCULTURE | Love wins in these 9 Celluloid-recommended LGBTQ+ films
Introduction by Kiko Angeles, Recommendations from Celluloid
When Pride Month came early to Pisay last March via a fan-frenzied drag show dished up by the Golden Gays — a group of gay older men who transform into Manila showgirls on weekends — a staunch message reverberated through the dimly-lit 3rd Floor Auditorium: LGBTQ+ stories deserve to be celebrated.
Fortunately for the tenacious Golden Gays, a lively portrait of their daily lives is captured in The Kaleidoscope, a Globe documentary film series spotlighting “talented individuals who have overcome challenges in the pursuit of excellence in their craft.” However, films like this that champion LGBTQ+ stories in a flattering and non-stereotypical light are still few and far between.
The Bygone Hays Code Era — which lasted from 1934 all the way to 1968 — eschewed portraying homosexual stories on the Hollywood silver screen. But even after the abolishment of these guidelines, LGBTQ+ characters largely remained fixtures for comedic relief or stinging tragedy.
Thankfully, this past decade has seen a surge of nuanced LGBTQ+ films that have steered clear of repetitive self-discovery narratives. In honor of Pride Month, here are nine essential ones worth watching, as recommended by Celluloid, Pisay’s official film club.
- The Handmaiden dir. Park Chan-wook (2016)
Rent/Buy on Google Play PH
Recommended by: Thandie Mavis C. Aliño
During the 1930s and set in Korea under Japanese colonial rule, this film follows a woman hired as a handmaiden to a rich Japanese heiress, a conniving swindler out to steal a fortune, and a twisty narrative that shocks at every twist and turn. Revealing as much as I have is oddly already a disservice, as it is undeniably best seen by eyes, ears, and a mind unknowing of what comes next.
It is best viewed as a cinematic labyrinth, wherein vindication is seen not in the center but in the journey and where retreading back into the fray reveals intricate details and symbolisms that add layers upon the story. Slickly directed and effortlessly written, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and an unexpectedly sound analysis of power and the way it can imprison women and ultimately free them.
2. Desert Hearts dir. Donna Deitch (1985)
Recommended by: Thandie Mavis C. Aliño
It’s 1959 and Reno, Nevada is the place to be if you want a quick divorce. The serious and intellectual literature professor Vivian travels there to go through with the process, but ends up stumbling on an unexpected connection with a fly-by-night and unconventional young woman named Cay, and subsequently, a sharper connection with her truer self. More than a love story, it is at its heart, a journey of self-discovery and an invitation to open up to new experiences.
The film itself was revolutionary for its time as it is often regarded as one of, if not the first film to show a positive portrayal of lesbians onscreen and reach a relatively wide audience (plus, spoiler alert, it does not end in tragedy). However, it is more than its external influence. Within itself, it functions as a deeply sensual and intimate character study infused with beautifully shot scenery, complex situations, and masterfully exercised artistic restraint and simplicity. It is a milestone of not just independent cinema, but also of queer representation onscreen that does not focus on how hard it’s going to be to have to hide from the world, but on how discovering your identity can open you up to so many more pieces of the world.
3. D.E.B.S. dir. Angela Robinson (2004)
Watch on Netflix PH
Anonymously recommended
If you’re into campy early 2000s movies with slightly gonzo humor, hilarious hijinks, and a cheesy but cute happy ending, this one might be for you.
Discipline, Energy, Beauty, Strength (D.E.B.S.) is a clandestine paramilitary academy composed of female students turned elite spies who are recruited based on how they score on a secret test embedded in the SATs. A team from the academy, including goody-two-shoes Amy (who got a perfect score), are tasked with surveilling the infamous criminal thief Lucy Diamond. The two girls’ inevitable meeting sparks an attraction that threatens to derail everything they believe in.
The movie was a breath of fresh air when I first watched it. I genuinely think not enough people know about it — which is a crime. Anyone would definitely be entranced by the twists and turns of D.E.B.S. I’ve personally watched it thrice and enjoyed each one like it was the first time. The movie is a nearly-two-decades-old gem, and it’s one of those movies that made me fall in love with romantic comedies from the 90s to 2000s. I’ll forever love how natural and light it made discovering your own sexuality is. To see Amy and Lucy’s story unfold the way it did in a movie from 2004 was truly refreshing — an understatement if ever there was one. I’ll never forget the way I screamed at 3 A.M. in the living room when I realized where the story was going. I can only hope you get this heartstopping and giddy feeling upon watching this movie too.
4. Your Name Engraved Herein dir. Kuang-Hui Liu (2020)
Watch on Netflix PH
Anonymously recommended
Without giving too much away, the movie is about these two male students in a strict and Christian Taiwanese school as Taiwan’s long period of martial law comes to an end in 1987. Despite the rather plain sounding set-up, the movie itself is an incredibly heartfelt, painful, and all too realistic depiction of many of the problems gay people have felt for so many years even up until today.
As a bisexual man myself, there are just many scenes that carry this relatable weight to them. There is this absolute feeling of claustrophobia as the two main leads try to somehow maintain that relationship they have while constantly trying to keep that and their sexuality a secret from everybody else, and it is this feeling that holds such relatability for me and for a lot of other queer people.
The movie also isn’t shy about tackling other sources of social pressure for queer people to conform other than the direct homophobia also explicitly shown in the film, like the expectation to “be fruitful and multiply.” It is a movie that handles these themes very seriously, and many of the scenes are definitely distressing and tense, but I would also say this movie and these scenes are so intertwined with what being a part of the LGBTQ+ community entails for many people. If you’re looking for a nice wholesome LGBTQ+ movie to watch casually, then this absolutely is not the film for you, but if you’re willing to spend some time fully engrossing yourself in the characters and their struggles, I think you would get something really meaningful and distinctly queer as well.
5. Brokeback Mountain dir. Ang Lee (2005)
Recommended by: Miguel Yshmael J. Hosillos
Many reduce Brokeback Mountain to the gay mountain cowboy movie, and while reductive and ignorant, if you want to see a young Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger kiss you have come to the right place.
Alternatively, if you like sweeping views of the Wyoming Bighorn mountains, intimate conversations about what it means to be a man and finding yourself, and to see real relationships be tested and rebuilt stronger time and time again, well do I have a movie for you.
Being set in the 1960s, it follows Jack Twist and Ennis del Mar as they, time and time again, fail to deny their love for each other despite having their lives as midwestern men cut out for them. It paints a believable portrait of two people equally scared and flawed running away to the mountains to try to make sense of their communities, their lives, and how they could possibly make things work with things being “the way that they are.”
It’s a movie about love as much as it is a movie about loyalty, regret, and honesty. Personally, I know many older people who said this movie challenged them, being raised conservative, and challenged their rhetoric on homosexuality and masculinity. Brokeback Mountain is my Titanic, and to waffle on about how it goes wouldn’t be half as impactful as watching it yourself.
6. Paris is Burning dir. Jennie Livingston (1990)
Recommended by: Quenso A. Tambalque
Paris is Burning is a captivating documentary that offers an intimate glimpse into the vibrant and complex world of New York City’s drag ball culture during the late 1980s. The film explores the lives of African American and Latino LGBTQ+ individuals who found solace and community in the fiercely competitive ballroom scene. Through mesmerizing dance performances, extravagant costumes, and unfiltered interviews, the film delves into themes of identity, self-expression, and the pursuit of acceptance and validation.
The documentary not only celebrates the artistry and resilience of its subjects but also sheds light on the social, racial, and economic challenges they faced, offering a poignant commentary on the intersections of gender, race, and sexuality. It highlights the importance of chosen families and showcases the creativity and ingenuity of the LGBTQ+ community in the face of adversity.
I recommend Paris is Burning this Pride Month because it serves as a powerful reminder of the struggles and triumphs of LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities. It provides an opportunity for viewers to deepen their understanding of the LGBTQ+ experience, fostering empathy and compassion. The film’s message of self-acceptance and the pursuit of one’s dreams is inspiring and timeless, making it a must-watch for anyone seeking to broaden their perspective and celebrate the diversity of the human experience.
7. Portrait of a Lady on Fire dir. Céline Sciamma (2019)
Recommended by: Amaris Laelle A. Tomas
Portrait of a Lady on Fire details of a relationship between an aristocrat and a painter who was hired to create her portrait. Marianne, the painter, secretly draws Heloise everyday to be familiarized with her most delicate features and eventually forms a profound connection with the very subject she’s interacting with. Primarily seen through the female gaze, the film is a brilliant portrayal of how one can find comfort and safety in people who are seemingly out of our reach.
I personally picked this film because as someone who does not know much about LGBTQ+ films, it felt like home. It felt comfortable seeing how women talk and love like it was their first and last time doing it. It felt as if the most mundane observations we could ever make in this lifetime would be the most memorable and hauntingly beautiful as well.
8. Everything Everywhere All at Once dir. Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan (2022)
Watch on HBO Go PH
Anonymously recommended
Everything Everywhere All at Once is a story centering around Evelyn, married to Waymond and mother of Joy. She goes through multiversal adventures to try and stop her daughter from another universe from making everything collapse in on itself — and causing the end of the multiverse.
I know you’re probably tired of hearing about this film, but if you haven’t done so yet, watch it. It’s a masterpiece of stunning cinematography, editing, and plot. The queer aspect of this film comes with her daughter Joy, her girlfriend, and her nihilism. As a queer child in an Asian household, it was very eerily relatable, from the mother–daughter fights to the underlying homophobia despite verbal acceptance. Queer people especially have a tendency to dive into nihilism after religion, family, and the whole world seem to reject us, and this movie is a wonderful watch for those who need a light at the end of the tunnel or a simple two-hour family movie night.
9. Fanfic dir. Marta Karwowska (2023)
Anonymously recommended
Tosiek is angry all the time, and he hates it. The only things that help are the fanfiction that he writes and his father’s medication. That all changes when he borrows clothes from a guy he likes at a party. The hoodie and pants are a welcome change from the skirts he used to wear. For once, he’s calm, and he feels like himself.
Fanfic is a movie that brings in much-needed positive transmasculine representation. Its fun, unique visuals beautifully capture the feeling of gender euphoria and also serve as an introduction to Tosiek’s inner world. The film also tackles the complications that arise when coming out as transgender to a parent. Tosiek learns to have a little more patience instead of resorting to anger, and his father learns to accept and support his transgender son. All in all, it’s a refreshing queer film with a heartwarming ending.
The Science Scholar would like to thank Celluloid for their contributions to this article.
