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
The Sum Of Us should heaps be on that list.
I was astonished that nobody talked about Burnt Money, THE BEST.
C.R.A.Z.Y. is a great movie I was glad to see it on the list.
I also cried on the same part during Brokeback.
What about Longtime Companion?
ok…i dont know if some1 replied, but i had to say this…there IS a language in quebec, its not really french, in fact, most people in France (or maybe all europe) have trouble understanding us…and I would know, i’ve been there. (im from Quebec you see…)
Anyway, GREAT LIST!!!, i’ve seen a lot of these movies, and I’m glad you put Beautiful Thing, because unlike other gay movies about younger guys, like Edge Of Seventeen, it’s not so much about their struggle with society, or bad relationship, but it’s about 2 young men falling in love. And it IS beautiful.
I don’t know if you’ve considered it, but i thought, just like Rob, Longtime Companion might make the list…it’s a little bit more about AIDS, but its such a great and moving story, especially the scene at the beach in the end.
P.S. YEAH!!! GO C.R.A.Z.Y.!!! It’s such a great and REALISTIC movie. It really WAS like that in those time…wich is sad…but w/e!
P.P.S. (haha) and I’m kinda glad you didn’t put birdcage there…It’s good, but the characters are WAY to defined by a single characteristic…(the gay tans who is girly, the macho gay, the son that ain’t ashamed of his gay dad, but not really proud either, the sweet GF that doesn’t seem to really care, etc.)
Valerie (121) – I think that movie should be there to!
OH!! and also (sorry for 2 messages…) i don’t remmember the name, but you should DEFINITELY have put the bristish film…ummm… I never remmember the name, but it’s one of the only (or maybe THE only) movie about a guy, who just HAPPENS to be gay. The story is normal, exept the main char is gay. I think it was a FANTASTIC innovation in seeing gays as people NOT defined by their *****uality. I just wish I would find it again…I’ve seen it a long time ago…maybe it’s not even british…hahaha.
P.S. Brokeback sucked btw…good acting, yes…but the script was SO BAD. Way to narrow minded. Just my opinion!
Have anyone seen The Shelter? It should be on this list. Great movie
Umm, you havent corrected it still. It’s best kiss mtv award not oscar for brokeback mountain
What about But I’m a Cheerleader?
lol…KIDDING!!!
that. was. gay.
Dante – you think the list was gay? ***** mate, with a name like Dante i wouldnt be saying that
First, thank you for the bantering. I am looking for appropriate titles to use to educate my students.
I have just watched Bishonen (a Hongkong gay movie made in 1998). It was memorable compared to all the other gay movies I have seen. Its ending is bittersweet though. However, the movie (through the director’s telling) does not ever make us feel that being gay is bad. Gay people also need romance/love just like straight people.
I wouldn’t recommend “Bangkok Love Story” (Thai movie, 2006) though. It is too implausible and forced. I don’t like it when a gay person forces his affection on a straight man hoping for the latter to return his affection. As an educator advocating gay/lesbian awareness in my teenage/college students, I look for movies with positive or at least neutral attitude on gays and lesbians to show/recommend to these students.
skiluver: I don’t know what country you are in, but have you ever heard of PFLAG? http://community.pflag.org/Page.aspx?pid=194. They are all about education about the Gay and Lesbian community. I think they have chapters in the US and Canada. I don’t know about other counties. You can find more information about them at that link.
JwJwBean, thanks for your suggestion. However there is no PFLAG chapter here in Thailand. Besides, I try to sneak in mainstream movies with teen pop stars to get the kids interested.
Imagine Me and You is a 2005 film by Ol Parker about a young woman (Piper Perabo) who falls in love with a young woman (Lena Headey) she met at her wedding. I thought it was really adorable, though I haven’t seen it since it came out, so my opinion may be fuzzy.
What — what — no “But I’m a Cheerleader”?
Bent? Really? You’re going with Bent?
It was a terrible, terrible movie. Throughout the entire thing, all I could think was “This would be so much better as a play– I bet it was a play”. It’s all so forced and, instead of being avante garde and interesting, it comes off as rather silly. I was unable to connect with the characters for various and sundry reasons, not least of which the stone-faced, unshaven performance given by Owen. He took what would have otherwise been a very touching, sob-worthy ending and let it fall flat.
It was a terrible…. terrible movie.
Brokeback is the best. That Bent movie sucked!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the suggestion. I’ve not seen all the films but I recommand one : Shelter. Very, very good movie.
definitely agree with the list , accept like evryone i think , Brokeback Mountain, has not to be put in the same category than this others !!!! i mean so great !!
i add one film : “RED DIRT” a simple film but so good and so relaxing !
i must say
this list is FABULOUS
chaio
xxx
Ive recently seen the movie “Crazy” #5 and I highly recomend it.
I must say the movie “The Love of Siam” should have been here. It is one of the best movies in the world and it has affected everyone that I’ve known to have watched it, both gay and straight.
I don’t agree with Brokeback Mountain. It was a bad movie. Just face it people.
good list.
i havn’t actually seen either of these ( :/ ) but mysterious skin and better than chocolate were two i was kind of looking for.
o and now milk. that was a great movie, which i DID see.
i just kind of forgot it becaus i saw it recentley, know how that happens? 
I loved a beautiful thing. it was awesome. great list by the way.. ((:
thanks! thats a great list! many movies on my list now!!!
The Boys in the Band?
Angels?
“A love to hide”, “Mysterious skin” and “Love of Siam” (Raek haeng siam) are three movies that’s really missing on this list.. DON’T MISS THEM!
“Claire Over the Moon” is another one to add. I enjoyed that one as well.
As a side note, I am a total yaoi fangirl (boy-boy love in Japanese) and so is my daughter. I think that adult love (not with children) is fine no matter who it’s between and I want my child to know that it’s ok.
The greatest gay films are Here!
http://astore.amazon.com/the-greatest-gay-entertainment-store-20?%5Fencoding=UTF8&node=11
I used to see “Brokeback Mountain ” and it is really a emotional film. Especially, at the end of the film is the best scene when one of the main character found his shirt kept by his departed friend. Seeing the situation I really felt anguished for the character. I had thoughts retained longtime after the film ended. Maybe you will found some beautiful things in a objectionable issue.
planning.crumples?salting acrid dative wavefronts throughput – Tons of interesdting stuff!!!
@oouchan (151): I so wish you were my mom, yaoi is one of my favorite genres of manga/anime; my mom would be horrified if she saw me reading it
i recently seen shelter…its a great movie! should be number one. if anyone has the romantic sorta “gay” films can u email me thanks. or just leave a comment after me…
So very happy you added Maurice. I love it.
not a gay interest move i know but Top Gun must get a bonus. Officially the most iconic film for homo*****uals….fact!!
@Chelsea (137): you’re right, it was a great play!
Great list. iremember having watched Brokeback in theaters by myself bcause ‘m the only gay guy in the family. I thought it was aewsome and I admit, I did cry on that last scene.
Mystrious Skin was a good movie. very powerful acting, I thought. I was surprised not to see it on this list.
I wouldn’t mind seeing more gay movies but I don’t know that many. If anyone knows of some good ones, hit me up with a message @ uwcten12@yahoo.com
hai every body
the movie brokeback mountain is clear love with gay its an true love Stacie every on must be live
Milk (the movie about harvey milk) was a great gay movie.. i cried at the end of that
I loved ” JUST A QUESTION OF LOVE” originally French movie. It is great especially for the only son in the family whose parents are expecting grandchildren from him, but he is gay. There is family values in the movie and great simple but touching romantic story. I am thankfull to all the movie related people. The movie is worth seeing by Indians and south asians who live in joint families.even straight people should see the movie.
pls suggest me similar kind of movie list. thank you.
It is great list. I watched several of movies in the list.
I think ” Just a question of love” should be included in TOP 5. Shelter was excellent.
I like romantic gay movies which show two guys fall in love and live together happily ever after.
I was straight guy( or I thought)but now I am looking for my true love. If anybody knows any romantic good gay movies please let me know by responding to here.
Thanks.
Here are a few others worth watching. These movies have little or no ***** scenes, by the way.
The Wedding Banquet: Another must-see movie from Ang Lee (of Brokeback Mountain). Gay closeted relationship between a young Chinese and a young American, both in the US, family pressures on the Chinese to get married, faking marriage with a girl, and the complications that touch every one of them.
Spoken language: Mix of Chinese and English. Look for English subtitles.
“The Love of Siam”: A very nice gay themed movie based in Thailand, touching on gay childhood attraction and teen love between two Thai boys. Family, denial, societal compulsions and other issues figure here. Don’t want to give away the story. No gay ***** scenes.
Spoken language: Thai. Look for English subs.
Beautiful boxer: Another beautiful movie from Thailand, with transgender theme. Based on the real story of Nong Toom, a male kickboxer turned female model. A boy grows up knowing that he is really a girl; he gets into Thai kickboxing (more specifically, Muai Thai), and hopes that it will help him save up money for the desired ***** change…
Spoken language: mostly Thai, with some English. Look for English subs.
The Edge of Seventeen: A nice gay teen coming out story. Some muted ***** scenes.
Spoken language: English.
@blacksunshine (1):
Hey I have over four years trying to find a film I onced rented. The movie is about two guys (prostitutes) one gay and one straight. They are both into drugs (or something like I remember). The straight is into car races, thats his dream and in the end of the movie he makes it. But, he makes it because he was to get shot and the gay saves him and die in his arms on a bench of a street. It s a great movie, help me out.
I’ve seen Beautiful Thing and Ma Vie en Rose, and both movies were wonderful. This is my favorite list on the site!
I’m kind of heartbroken Gia isn’t on this list.
Yes, its not primarily about gay interest, but the love Gia shares with Linda was, to me, absolutely beautiful.
I wish I had the passion Angelia Jolie portrays in that movie, and the interest the actress of Linda has in her.
Altogether, a fantastic movie
Eternal Summer is a good movie. Look it up!
The ending is so sweet.
Bangok Love Story left me in tears!
I’ve seen “The Love of Siam” also. It’s a very long movie, but one of the main character’s name is Mew! How adorable is that?! I was hoping in the end the two main charcters would make out, but they didn’t. It’s a good movie though.
Another vote for Shelter. Besides being good to watch for several reasons, there is an enormous ideological value in that movie. Most gay movies are tragic, disturbing or far-fetched. Nothing really against that, but for those who have no idea of how being gay can be “normal”, I recommend Shelter. They might learn something.
Not a good list. No films from queer cinema. Or even ‘angry inch”…not to mention ‘shelter’ or even ‘gone but not forgotten’. Really guys do you love movies or just go to the movies.
-Kett- The movie you are thinking of is Speedway Junky.
One I thought was o.k., but not a favorite. I dislike movies where the likable gay characters die in the end. It’s like an insulting cliche that gay characters have to be tragic. There’s probably no more than a handful of movies where that doesn’t happen. On that note, Bent was disjointed, forced, and terrible. I watched it when it came out and felt robbed of those hours of my life. And am I the only person who thought Broke back SUCKED?! Aside from heath ledgers horribly awkward accent and lack of any discernible emotion, the two of them had NO chemistry. There’s no hints or side glances at each other. Hell one of them gets naked and the other doesn’t even try sneak a peak. Then they just spontaneously bone one night? I was like “are u f’ing kidding me?!”. I would have walked out of the theater halfway through the movie if I hadn’t had a bet going that it was gonna end tragically. I have a question for you. Can someone name me a movie (aside from bound)where the main characters are not stereotypically flamboyant, are actually comfortable with their *****uality enough so that’s its not THE major plot point, and that has an actual happy ending? Cuz I would like to see that =/
Thank you all for the great film suggestions… I would add here something like:
Shortbus by J. C. Mitchell (same director of Hedwig and the angry inch); 20 Centimetros by Ramon Salazar; Fat Girls by G. Colleton and T. Paxton; Go West by A. Imamovic; When I am 64 by Jon Jones; Kinky Boots by Julian Jarrold; O Fantasma by J. P. Rodrigues; Nine Dead Gay Gues by L. K. Mo; Boy Culture; Holding Trevor… there are lots of interesting gay movies being made. Simply great!!!
Qurelle shoudn’t be in this list. Yuk.
Where is Sheter? It should be #1. How about Just a question of Love. Actually that is my favorite.
Happy ending gay romantic movies are Shelter and Just a question of love.
I agree with Shikimi. “The love of Saiam” was very good. Highly recommend. I wish they get together again and forever.
I love the list, but I’m a little disappointed that ‘I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry’ wasn’t here – While it was a great comedy, it also highlights the problems that gay couples have in America with the government and with their friends and families.
I don’t know if any of you have heard of this movie, but it really touched me, it’s based on a true story. It’s called Prayers for Bobby. I actually cried..