This Pride Month, we are turning the spotlight to five international LGBTQ+ films that address the nuances and complexities of being a queer person. Cinema has always been a medium for individuals to express themselves and their experiences. It has also been a place where millions seek representation. From stories of forbidden love to those of resilience and perseverance, here are 5 films from across the globe, celebrating love that you need to check out!
1. Joyland
Joyland is a Pakistani film that explores the idea of how men and women are not born into their gender but rather how we grow into it. Directed by Saim Sadiq, the movie stars Ali Junejo, Rasti Farooq and Alina Khan in leading roles. The story follows the youngest son of a patriarchal family who starts working as a backup dancer for a Bollywood-esque bar and becomes infatuated with a trans woman who runs the show.
2. Monster (2023)
A movie that makes you think who the monster really is. Is it the stranger on the streets or the reluctant headmistress, or the naive kids who know no better? Monster is a Japanese queer film directed by Hirokazu Koreeda, the film stars child actors Sōya Kurokawa and Hinata Hiiragi in leading roles. When a single mother starts noticing her son behaving strangely, she confronts his school teacher. A fight at school reveals more heartwrenching secrets about those around her son.
3. Portrait Of A Lady On Fire
Considered a queer, feminist masterpiece film by many, Portrait Of A Lady On Fire is French film that portrays the relationship of two women through a female gaze. Directed by Céline Sciamma, the movie stars Adèle Haenel and Noémie Merlant in lead roles. The film revolves around a female painter living on an isolated island towards the end of the eighteenth century. She is commissioned to paint the portrait of an aristocratic woman and they end up falling in love with each other.
4. The Handmaiden
The Handmaiden is a visually stunning queer Korean film that explores themes of power dynamic, betrayals and gender roles. Directed by Park Chan Wook, the film stars an ensemble of talented cast including Kim Min Hee and Ha Jung Woo. The film follows a con girl who is hired as a handmaiden for a rich Japanese heiress. Her master plan is to seduce the heiress and steal her fortune.
Also Read: 5 Iconic Thai BLs To Watch As A Beginner
5. Funny Boy
Funny Boy is a coming-of-age queer Sri Lankan/Canadian film that received critical acclaim globally. Directed by Deepa Mehta, the film stars Arush Nand and Nimmi Harasgama in leading roles. The film follows a young boy who falls in love with his male classmate, just as political tensions escalate between the Sinhalese and Tamils in the years leading up to the 1983 uprisings.
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