A scene from Hirokazu Kore-eda’s film ‘Monster’
Now that Pride Month is over, the corporate giants have shed their Yasified rainbow exterior and returned to their standard-issue look. For them, Pride has always been just another trend used to make a quick buck, a fleeting symbolism. So, in the spirit of authenticity, I thought it would be appropriate to recommend some truly unforgettable gay films that seem to have been forgotten somewhere in the peak of Pride.
In many ways, Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s run away it seems as if Persepolis And Waltz with Bashir A brilliant, queer child was born. This is a unique animated documentary that tells the painful journey of Amin Nawabi, a pseudonym for a gay Afghan refugee. What was really special run away In Amin’s words, what was special was the ability of animation to break free from its constraints and stay true to its changing identity. The film made history as the first film to be nominated under the Animated Feature, Documentary Feature, as well as International Feature categories.
A scene from Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s film ‘Flea’
It’s most curious how memory plays such a vital role in shaping one’s identity; the very idea that earned Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda the Palme d’Or at Cannes last year for his psychological thriller Queer. DemonThe film revolves around a mother who notices her son Minato’s disturbing behavior and learns that he claims his teacher hit him. A story of misunderstandings and misconceptions, not everything is as it seems in Kore-eda’s poignant journey of self-discovery.
Historically, the Queer Palme has highlighted many beautiful pieces of storytelling Demon Following in the footsteps of. However, the winners of the award are neglected at the Academy Awards from time to time. Take, for example, Celine Sciamma’s seminal lesbian romance Portrait of a woman burning in fireThe forbidden period love story was arguably the most beautiful-looking work of cinema this year. Alas, the French film commission had its eyes set elsewhere (Ladd Ly’s Les Miserables) provided Sciamma with a much-deserved opportunity to win an Oscar award.
The pattern continued with Pakistan’s official submission to the Oscars 2023 – a phenomenal presentation by Sam Sadiq JoylandThe film tells the story of Haider, who falls in love with a trans dancer Biba amidst the grip of patriarchy. It is a daring example of subversive storytelling from the debut filmmaker, who definitely deserves a global platform like the Academy Awards.
Most recently, the Irish-British heartthrob couple starred in Andrew Haigh’s gay romance film, We are all strangersfell victim to the Academy’s oversight. Andrew Scott’s terrific on-screen chemistry with co-star Paul Mescal made this one of the scariest stories of 2023.
Here, in the spirit of pride, it’s only fair that these films get a moment in the sun, stepping out of the realm of not just “weird cinema,” but films that serve as reminders of some truly inspiring storytelling. And no amount of accolade could ever hope to achieve that, quite frankly.
From Hindu Cinema Team, a fortnightly column that recommends movies and shows tied to a mood, theme or pop cultural phenomenon.
