So many genres of film making have been covered on the site, but one certainly sticks out for its lack of representation – and this, finally, is it. These are films that are not designed to promote or condemn homosexuality, but films which mirror the “coming of age” films, the “romance” films, and just general life-stories that we see so often in mainstream cinema. The difference is that these films are based on same-sex situations. I have tried very hard to select films that I think appeal to ALL people – not just a homosexual audience. I have seen all of these films and I would easily recommend them as masterpieces of cinema or story telling. For those with biases, put them aside and check these films out – I am certain you won’t regret it.
I feel a bit guilty for adding this film – it is here for its art value only. The film itself is a little hard to watch unless you are particularly fond of avant garde French movies – it is not just a gay story, it is an art form – from the art of the author (Jean Genet) to the art of the director (Fassbinder). For many this might appear a B-grade film, but I assure you, it is not; it is true to the story, it is true to the life of the author, and it is a moving film. Perhaps even more moving is the fact that the main actor, Brad Davis, ultimately died of AIDS through drug use. This same actor was the brilliant star of Midnight Express.
Synopsis: French sailor Querelle arrives in Brest and starts frequenting a strange whorehouse. He discovers that his brother Robert is the lover of the lady owner, Lysiane. Here, you can play dice with Nono, Lysiane’s husband : if you win, you are allowed to make love with Lysiane, if you lose, you have to make love with Nono… Querelle loses on purpose…
This is our coming of age film for the list. But, obviously, it is a coming of age film with a twist – the twist being the angst of teenage life coupled with the angst of realizing, and learning to deal with homosexuality. The acting is superb and the film really does have moments of tears and laughter. The addition of a brilliant soundtrack including much music by Mama Cass really makes this an amusing and fun film. If you only watch one movie on this list – let it be this one.
Synopsis: A tender love story set during a hot summer on a South-East London housing estate. Jamie, a relatively unpopular lad who bunks off school to avoid football, lives next door to Ste, a more popular athletic lad but who is frequently beaten up by his father and older brother. Such an episode of violence brings Jamie and Ste together: Sandra (Jamie’s mum) offers refugee to Ste, who has to ‘top-and-tail’ with Jamie. Hence, the story tells of their growing attraction for one another, from initial lingering glances to their irrefutable love, which is so magnificently illustrated at the end of the film.
This is a film that I found a little harder to appreciate, but it is still an extremely highly regarded film for its genre. Not only do we deal with homosexuality here, we also deal with multi-racial relationships. This is, as far as I am aware, the only film which deals with both issues. Set in a launderette during the Thatcher years, this film is historically interesting and a bonus for those who love the 80s.
Synopsis: My Beautiful Laundrette is set within the Asian community in London, during the Thatcher years, and displays those values, of money but ‘anybody can make it.’ Omar gains the running of his Uncle Nasser’s laundrette. He is helped by his friend Johnny who is an outsider, white but not entirely accepted by either the white or Asian Londoners. There are many memorable characters: Tania, Omar’s cousin whom he might marry. Salim the manager of Nasser’s garage and sometime drug importer. Rachel, Nasser’s white mistress, who like Johnny seems to be another outsider.
This was the first film of this type that I have seen and I will be forever thankful as I have become a great fan of the director Gus Van Sant ever since. If you have not seen any of his films (which I am sure is not the case for most listverse readers), this is a good one to start with. It has the beautiful cinematography that all of his films seem to have, without the more avant garde style that much of his recent work has. Additionally, this film shows us an entirely different side to the now-dead River Phoenix, whose acting here really shows us what a tragic loss the film industry suffered when he died.
Synopsis: Surreal character study focusing on the friendship between two male hustlers, Mike and Scott, in Portland, Oregon. They live on the streets, do drugs, and sell themselves to men and women. Mike is quiet, gay and suffers from narcolepsy. Abandoned as a child, he is obsessed with finding his long-lost mother. Scott is the rebellious son of a high-ranking family, who lives this life mostly to embarrass his father. Mike is in love with Scott, who still maintains he is straight and insists that his wild lifestyle on the streets is only temporary. Together, they embark on a quest to find Mike’s mother, traveling from Portland to Idaho to Italy, with Scott picking up a beautiful girl along the way.
Completely in French, this lovely gentle film shows us the story of a little boy who wants to be a little girl. We see the difficulty suffered by his Catholic family and neighbors as he simply does not fit in. Best of all, this film is shown through the eyes of the young boy who is the object of the movie. A unique perspective.
Synopsis: Ludovic is a young boy who can’t wait to grow up to be a woman. When his family discovers the little girl blossoming in him they are forced to contend with their own discomfort and the lack of understanding from their new neighbors. Their anger and impatience cave and Ludovic is sent to see a psychiatrist in the hopes of fixing whatever is wrong with him. A movie that addresses trans-gender and gender issues in general through the eyes of a child.
This film is the one most likely to be known by ALL readers. It was a hit for Guy Pearce and is full of flamboyant “fabulous” costumes and acting. Here we get a behind the scenes view of the Australian world of drag – and what a world it is! Coupled with the color and pizazz are the lonely lives of the main characters who struggle to find themselves, and their families, and a place in society. This is, undoubtedly, one of the best drag films ever – so much so that I rate it higher than the Birdcage (which is not included in this list).
Synopsis: Two drag-queens (Anthony/Mitzi and Adam/Felicia) and a transexual (Bernadette) contract to perform a drag show at a resort in Alice Springs, a resort town in the remote Australian desert. They head west from Sydney aboard their lavender bus, Priscilla. En route, it is discovered that the woman they’ve contracted with is Anthony’s wife. Their bus breaks down, and is repaired by Bob, who travels on with them.
This lesser-known film is unlike any of the others on the list. In this film we see the struggle of the young man drawn to others of his own gender, but never able to truly accept himself. We see the incredible split in his family as his mother buys him the pram he always wanted, followed by the father forcing the mother to return it – a true struggle between morality and immorality all in one family. Add a drug addicted brother, a geeky brother, and music by Ziggy Stardust and you have one hell of an entertaining film. The film is in Quebecois but subtitles make it easy to follow. Highly recommended – perhaps the best Canadian film of the last decade.
Synopsis: It’s a story of two love affairs. A father’s love for his five sons. And one son’s love for his father, a love so strong it compels him to live a lie. That son is Zac Beaulieu, born on the 25th of December 1960, different from all his brothers, but desperate to fit in. During the next 20 years, life takes Zac on a surprising and unexpected journey that ultimately leads him to accept his true nature and, even more importantly, leads his father to love him for who he really is. A mystical fable about a modern-day Christ-like figure, “C.R.A.Z.Y” exudes the beauty, the poetry and the madness of the human spirit in all its contradictions.
The biggest surprise in this film is the appearance of Hugh Grant, playing the young English University student who falls in love, and out, and in, with another student. Unique in this film is the period – the early 1900s when homosexuality, or more specifically, sodomy, was illegal in the United Kingdom. Not only do we see the issue of gender dealt with, but the issue of class – when one of the main characters (a wealthy young man), falls in love with a servant. This film is produced by Merchant Ivory – renowned for their excellent work in period dramas. A must see for anyone interested in historical sexuality issues.
Synopsis: Two male English school chums find themselves falling in love at Cambridge. To regain his place in society, Clive gives up his forbidden love, Maurice (pronounced “Morris”) and marries. While staying with Clive and his shallow wife, Anne, Maurice finally discovers romance in the arms of Alec, the gamekeeper. Written from personal pain, it’s E.M. Forster’s story of coming to terms with sexuality in the Edwardian age.
This is a film that cuts to the bone with emotion. Here we see some of the best acting to grace the silver screen of late (courtesy of Hilary Swank). The tragic and disturbing events in this film are, sadly, based on a true story. You simply can’t help but feel every moment of suffering that the main characters experience. This film definitely contains some extremely violent scenes and is not appropriate for young viewers, but it is a film that undoubtedly should be seen by everyone.
Synopsis: Based on actual events. Brandon Teena is the popular new guy in a tiny Nebraska town. He hangs out with the guys, drinking, cussing, and bumper surfing, and he charms the young women, who’ve never met a more sensitive and considerate young man. Life is good for Brandon, now that he’s one of the guys and dating hometown beauty Lana. However, he’s forgotten to mention one important detail. It’s not that he’s wanted in another town for GTA and other assorted crimes, but that Brandon Teena was actually born a woman named Teena Brandon. When his best friends make this discovery, Brandon’s life is ripped apart.
Deciding where to rate this film was very tough – perhaps more so due to the recent death of Heath Ledger, but ultimately it had to be in the top 5. Here we see two of Hollywood’s greatest young actors playing roles we would never expect – and doing so outstandingly. No matter whether you are straight or gay, this is probably the romance film of the decade. In fact, the film won the best film kiss Oscar – the first between two men (both of whom are straight!) While I prefer to keep certain aspects of my private life to myself, I feel I must admit that I shed a tear at one of the final scenes in the film (the one in the parent’s house near the end – if you have seen the film you know what I mean). This film is an astonishing film production of a brilliant short story.
Synopsis: In the Summer of 1963 Wyoming, two young men, Ennis a ranch hand and Jack an aspiring rodeo bull rider, are sent to work together herding sheep on Brokeback Mountain, and what had otherwise been anticipated to be a rather uneventful venture, will soon turn into an affair of love, of lust, and complications that will span through 19 years of their lives. Through marriage, through children, and through the mighty grip of societal confines and the expectations of what it is to be a man.
I generally prefer not to leave a list on a depressing note, but this film has to rate as number one. It is a film adaptation of the play by x. In this film we see two gay German men who are forced in to a concentration camp for their sexual preference. Despite not knowing each other, the two manage to form a relationship which is entirely chaste – and yet more emotional and sexual (without sex) than a couple co-habitating. If you have not seen this film, watch it – the sex scenes (without sex) are completely unique to stage and screen. It will tie you up in knots, but it is definitely worth it.
Synopsis: Max is gay and as such is sent to Dachau concentration camp under the Nazi regime. He tries to deny he is gay and gets a yellow label (the one for Jews) instead of pink (the one for gays). In camp he falls in love with his fellow prisoner Horst, who wears his pink label with pride.
Source: Synopses courtesy of IMDB, the Internet Movie Database
Notable Omissions: The Birdcage, Even Cowgirls Get The Blues
AMAZING list Jamie!
What about Dog Day Afternoon?
Thanks
A little better than the one I just killed eh? 
wow, great list, I thought Brokeback mountain would be #1 but oh well.
Where is the Birdcage???
I agree “wow, great list”. I’ve seen several of these movies and will be looking for the ones I haven’t seen.
yay yay yay YAY!
i have WAITED for this list! lol
ok, have heard of or watched 7/11, and agreed with you on every point. great selection, considering how many films there are…
and re that final scene in BB….cried too:)
havent seen Boys Dont Cry – because i know its gonna be hard to watch…i love sad movies, but i know that ones just gonna break my heart..but now, of course, im gonna have to, cos you put it on the list.
behold the power of lists of listverse
btw what was the one you just killed?
Wow, I’ve seen a few of these. Might have to check out a few more. I also mourn the loss of River Phoenix. He was amazing in that movie. Great job Jamie.
Good list, I havnt heard of a lot of these movies
Great list
I’m ashamed I have yet to see ANY of these movies (your movie lists always seem to be lists of movies Tempyra hasn’t seen lol). Brokeback Mountain is one I’ll be watching in the near future. Seeing Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight earlier this evening reminded me of Brokeback Mountain and now that movie comes up on Listverse – it must be a sign lol.
What was wrong with the last list?
Csimmons: when you see Bent you will understand why it beats Brokeback
Colin: a superheroes one which got VERY bad feedback
Mike: in the notable omissions – watch the films on this list and you will see why Birdcage is not in the top 11
And thanks Cheeshy, NiMur90, blacksunshine, LemonKiwi, and Tempyra for the compliment – I enjoyed writing this one a lot
I’ve seen it and i *****in’ souldn’t stop crying loosing everything and loose another lover near the end and finally saying *****k it and trying to run, but is murdered. nazi concentration camp murdered lovers, and building up something that just crumbles to nothing…….I feel sad thiking about it.
Another movie you could add to the Notable Omissions would be Trick(1999)
Is there really a best kiss oscar? There’s a best kiss MTV award…
At any rate, I’m going to see about renting Bent and the French film. They sound interesting.
Callie: argh! You are right – my mistake – it was the MTV award – thanks for pointing that out – I will correct it when I wake up
It is 3am here and I am about to fall out of my chair!
Nice replacement list.
Haven’t seen any of these actually, but ‘Bent’ sounds quite good actually.
Great list,thank you.
BB mountain is number 1 for me.It is the most beautiful,emotional and sensual film ever…
I would have added The Birdcage (or La Cage Aux Folles, although I think The Birdcage is a better version,) if only because of its accessibility to those “weary” of homo*****uality as it isn’t strictly about a gay relationship.
Very nice list!
Sadly, I’ve only seen one of these, My Beautiful Launderette, for a UK history class in college. But I’m interested in seeing Brokeback Mountain whenever I get a chance, and Bent (which I hadn’t heard of before) sounds REALLY interesting, so I’ll be looking out for that one too.
PS. Only a single superhero list on the site (if you count the “significant moments in comic history” as one), plus a “your view” about superheroes (“who is the best superhero?”), and that’s about it for superheroes on Listverse so far. Now you decided to nuke “9 superheroes and their enemies who fail”. Was it really that bad? Or do you not like men in spandex?
dangor: the best thing about Bent is Clive Owen – he is a great actor and this lesser known work by him is one of his best IMHO.
Kreachure: it really was that bad – and I also do not like men in spandex
Has anyone seen The Mudge Boy-it would have been a good addition to the list.Love Emile Hirsch!
my girldfriend will enjoy this list
thank you!
Awesome list Jamie! Lots that I haven’t seen/heard of, but I’ll definitely make a point to see some of these now!
Very interesting and well written list jfrater. I was thinking The Philadelphia Story might be here but I guess that was more about the attitude about aids than it was about that the main character that happened to be gay.
I couldn’t help notice all the films are about relationships with two men and no movies about two women. It just seems that there should be at least one mainstream movie out there about a lesbian relationship. I can’t think of one myself but maybe another listverser can.
This is a pretty good list, (I love movie lists), and I hate to be nit picky and you can correct me if I’m wrong; but I don’t think Boys Don’t Cry should be on this list. Brandon Teena was a transgender, so technically he was not gay.
The movie was about a person of the the female ***** who dates other females, however, she’s a man on the inside.
I was sure Philadelphia would be on the list, but the focus was more on AIDs as the previous poster noted.
The only movie I can think of dealing with lesbianism is Grey Matters and it wasn’t good enough to make a top list.
I’m not surprised “Priest” with Linus Roache and Robert Carlyle isn’t on here but it’s one of my favorite gay theme movies. What “Brokeback Mountain” does for the tugging of the heartstrings, “Priest” does it tenfold and a million times better.
I’d have to say my faves are “Priest” and “The Birdcage”
Some movies that deal with lesbian relationships:
Better Than Chocolate
Personal Best
But I’m a Cheerleader(comedy)
I also liked the movie Gods and Monsters
“I couldn’t help notice all the films are about relationships with two men and no movies about two women. It just seems that there should be at least one mainstream movie out there about a lesbian relationship. I can’t think of one myself but maybe another listverser can.”
Blogball – May I suggest Desert Hearts, Bound, Tipping the Velvet, Better Than Chocolate, Nina’s Heavenly Delights, and If These Walls Could Talk 2
I’m not a homey*****sual or anything, but I second the inclusion of “Gods and Monsters” as a suitable addition within the perameters set here . Also “Happy Together” dir. by Wong Kar Wai or perhaps “Velvet Goldmine” and “Posion” with the short film within a film, based on a Jean Genet a storyl; both by Icantthinkofhisname. To be honest, I have always put of watching Querelle, because of what appears a to much of a home*****ual theme for my interest, but I’m a big fan of Fassbinder. “Fox and His Friends” and Icanthinkofitsname with Harry Baer.so maybe i’ll try.
One last thing. I recall hearing that Nightmare on Elm Street 2, for all the disaster it represents within the series, is now considered a cult homoerotic flic.
LemonKiwi an ChuChu353 I knew there had to be some out there. I do remember If These Walls Could Talk 2 . I think there were3 separate stories.
I remember watching a movie called The Children’s Hour when I was a kid. This was before any gay subject matter was ever shown or even mentioned. It stared Audrey Hepburn & Shirley MacLaine.
In the movie it is implied (through a child’s accusation) that Shirley MacLaine had *****ual feeling for Audrey Hepburn. That was huge deal back then. I think the film was made in the early 60s.
If anyone out there has not seen this film I would recommend it. It was groundbreaking at that time.
There are MANY “lesbian interest” films, and I’m sure many of those are good enough for a list:
Lesbian-related films: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Lesbian-related_films
Also see: Portrayal of lesbianism in cinema: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_portrayal_of_lesbianism#Cinema
I like this list, though I’m a bit confused on the addition of Boys Don’t Cry. It’s really a transgender interest movie. Did you mean for this list to be exclusively gay male?
I’d really love to see a lesbian interest movie list, since we’re excluded from this one. :\
Is the listverse web site having some issues or is it just me?
I loved My Own Private Idaho and the Adventures of Priscilla, and Brokeback Mountain just blew me away! Keep up the good work.
Maybe next time there will be a list of lesbian movies?
what about “Top Gun” ?!
For something a little lighter, I heartily recommend But I’m a Cheerleader. Really funny, really sweet, touching, and I love the cast. For another very funny (but also bittersweet) gay-centered movie, see The Heartbreak Club. It deals with a lot of aspects of the average gay person’s experience.
Blogball: it wasn’t just you – it is now resolved thankfully!
HAHA! zionred you just made me laugh out loud, what an obscure but good subject to do a list on next you will do top ten films with mullets in
please do actually
wonderful list.
I can’t believe no one’s mentioned Hedwig and the Angry Inch!
(I apologize if this comment appears more than once.)
I saw a British movie called Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit which was really good…
D’oh- I forgot to mention But, I’m a Cheerleader, I’m glad others recommended it as I really think Jamie Babbit has a huge future in filmmaking.
Great list. I have only seen Priscilla and LOVED it. My husband and I saw it in the movie theater. Someone in the seat in back of me kept tugging on my hair. I wonder if they thought it was a wig. lol. In fact I think I was pregnant at the time too.
The first one i’ve never heard of, but it sounds good. The thing is I don’t know if I can bring myself to watch it, just reading the synopsis made me teary-eyed…
Bent is definitely a great movie and very much deserves to be at the top of the list.
I was disappointed to see that my favorite gay movie wasn’t on the list. Edge of Seventeen is a great gay coming-of-age film. I enjoyed it a lot more than Beautiful Thing (which is good as well).
It occured to me that i don’t see any overzealous Shakespeare commentators attaching(or banging) their noggins together, in discussion of the merits of “My Own Private Idaho” within the stage or streets through these times of the more modern scope, which we call our own.
what sayeth thees?
Yeahhhhhh CRAZY someone outside Canada actually love this movie it’s amazing!!!!!! Yeahhhh again!!!!!
I have seen a few of these. They all touch me in a strange place in my heart. It’s not that I “get off” seeing 2 men together, it is the vulnerability they exhibit. Men in my world are always so big on solving problems, or trying to be the rescuer. To see 2 men be so emotionally fragile just gets to me. On of my favorite TV shows for a while was “Queer as Folk.” Loved those guys.
I will see the rest of the movies on this list.
Fascinating list, I’ve only seen Boys Don’t Cry and Brokeback Mountain so far, but some of those other ones definitely looked interesting. Just a few small quibbles:
1) There is technically no such thing as “Quebecois” language, they consider themselves to speak French (although us Ottawans know the real truth about “Franglais”
).
2) For lesbian movies, “Lost and Delirious” is one I’ve seen a couple of times, and it’s quite sad. Basically the American, lesbian version of Maurice I guess, concerning forbidden love in a boarding school environment, and one of them giving it up to save face within her family.
3) I absolutely CANNOT remember the name of this film right now (I’m sure it’ll come to me as I’m trying to fall asleep tonight), but it stars Russel Crowe in his younger years, as a young gay man living with his father in Australia, and basically how he lives and looks for love after his father (who’s very approving of his lifestyle) suffers a stroke and requires a high degree of care. Very sad subplot about Crowe’s lesbian grandmother and how she was forcibly separated from her lover so her family could “look after her better”.
Wow, sorry for the novel. Time for bed methinks.
Jessy, the Russell Crowe movie you’re thinking of is “The Sum of Us.”
“Heavenly Creatures” anyone? Anything from John Waters?! No? Sad, sad, sad.
Was this list written by an actual homo*****ual? Not trying to be a jerk, but I live with several homos, and none of them thought this list was any good, especially the gay-cowboys-eating-pudding movie that everyone seems to like so much…except homo*****ual men.
I am straight enough not to seek out movies with a homo*****ual theme, though I have seen My beautiful laundrette (and didn’t understand anything), Priscilla (I’m Australian – it’s compulsary) and Boys don’t cry. Also, of other movies mentioned, The sum of us. I don’t count any of them among my favourite movies.
There was another Australian movie about 5 years ago called Holding the man (a term from Australian football) which I believe had a gay theme to it.
When I saw Fried green tomatoes at the Whistle-stop cafe, I didn’t realise that the two younger characters were meant to be lesbians, and refused to believe it when I read an article stating that they were. Then I bought the book, which makes it clear that they are.
great list!
my own private idaho is a favorite. good example of river’s talent, van sant’s vision, and keanu reeves acting (wooden) style working for the character.
despite personal objections to terminology (gay=old skool and narrow, queer=queering norms and transcending homo/hetero labels)this list represents many facets of good cinema despite *****. note: didn’t like queen of desert but trannies ain’t my thing.
missing: mysterious skin (really good movie and great novel). alien abductions, *****, drugs, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. yay!
speaking of missing – when is “brick” film going to show up on modern hard boiled detective flicks list? and what about “bound” – i consider hard boiled crime > lesbian. but that’s just me
What About Star Trek?
Jamie – Great list, good to see some different content
JillW – I got the same thing, i had 2 gay house mates and they hadnt seen any of them except broke back mountain, but when i started to get into movies from non-english speaking countries, a lot of them were about Gay relationships, mainly middle european countries.
They had never seen anything like it, mabye because they were in their early 20′s, but it made it easier to except them selves as they were.
Agree with fili. Drag, costumes, crossdressing? We’re missing “Hedwig”. So much better than “Priscilla”.
Brokeback Mountain-ultimately it had to be in the top 5
Why? In terms of writing and acting, it isn’t a *****le on the a** of at least half the movies on this list. I wish I had a dollar for every one of the people I’ve heard say in one form or another that when all was said and done, that they were actually bored to tears by it. One guy(Who happens to be Gay), after raving about it like so many others, admitted he fell asleep during the movie.
As Jill W. inferred-”This should be re-titled Straight Peoples Best Gay Movies.”
excellent list! i’ve just updated my netflix list to include several of these.
I’m surprised that no one has yet mentioned “The Fluffer”, a 2001 indie film that takes a behind-the-scenes look at the world of gay *****.
Does any one remember the title of the movie starring patrick swayze, john liguizamo and wesley snipes it just like Priscila Queen of the Desert.
alucad – was it “Dirty Dancing Disco Biscuits”