10 Great Queer Films to Add to Your Watchlist
By Danielle Earle
It's that time of the year again. Pride Month — a celebration of unity, self-love, identity, and all things Queer — is coming to a close.
But just because Pride is ending doesn’t mean that we should hit pause on celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community, so I put together a list of ten of my favorite Queer films to watch throughout the year. Whether you are part of the Queer community or want to become a better ally by watching more of the countless stories outside of the heteronormative experience, this list is for you.
Photo by Nate Isaac on Unsplash.
1. Watermelon Woman (1996) Directed and written by indie veteran Cheryl Dunye, starring herself, Guinevere Turner, and Valarie Walker. It’s considered the first feature film written and directed by a black lesbian. How cool is that? Watermelon Woman tells the story of a queer video store clerk / aspiring documentary director who is working on her passion project about a Black actress in the 1930s known for playing stereotypical “mammy” roles. If you are looking for some light humor and romance in documentary style, definitely check out this film.
2. Holding the Man (2015) Directed by Neil Armfield, starring Ryan Corr, Craig Stott, Anthony LaPaglia, Guy Pearce, Geoffrey Rush, Kerry Fox, and Sarah Snook. This movie has it all, and it’s shocking that it was never nominated for an Oscar. It’s Love Story meets The Way We Were. It’s a heartfelt, emotional rollercoaster of a feature film. It’s based on actor Timothy Conigrave’s bestselling memoir “Holding the Man,” about an intimate relationship with his longtime lover and companion John Caleo, which spanned 15 years during the AIDS epidemic. You’re going to need a lot of tissues to get through this movie.
3. Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks (2014) Based on a play by Richard Alfieri, directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman, starring Gena Rowlands, Cheyenne Jackson, Julian Sands, Jacki Weaver, Rita Moreno. It’s a comedy-drama set in South Florida about an older woman who hires a dance instructor to give her private dance lessons at her condo. What begins as a work relationship disaster between Lily (Gena Rowlands) and Michael (Cheyenne Jackson), slowly turns as the art of dancing sways them closer together as friends. The story quickly takes a turn where we discover that both hold a secret. I highly recommend this cute LGBTQ+ comedy for you if you’re in need of a quick pick-me-up.
4. Stage Mother (2020) Written and directed by Thom Fitzgerald, starring Jacki Weaver, Adrian Grenier, Lucy Liu, Mya Taylor, Anthony Skordi, and Allister MacDonald. This film was everything to me. It is definitely a relatable story for chosen mothers and their loved ones. In the queer community, the bonds of chosen families are so unique and heartwarming. After a Texas church choir director inherits her son’s drag queen Club in San Francisco, she is faced with her son’s past — his life’s work as a drag performer. She eventually forms a tight bond with his chosen family who was by his side at the time of his death.
What I love about this film is it features Black trans visibility in the drag world, and the beautiful oil and water relationship between Nathan (Adrian Grenier) and Maybelline (Jacki Weaver), as well as the unexpected love triangle between Maybelline, August (Anthony Skordi) and Jeb (Hugh Thompson). If you are looking for a nice, mellow fun comedy to watch, check out “Stage Mother.”
5. I Love You Both (2017) Written and directed by Doug Archibald, it tells the story of Krystal (Kristin Archibald) and her twin brother / gay roommate Donny (Doug Archibald). Their friendship eventually takes a downward spiral as they fall in love with the same man, Andy (Lucas Neff). This film is brilliant because I haven’t really seen anything like it since The Object of My Affection starring Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd. “I Love You Both,” is not your traditional love story. Actress Kristin Archibald is hilarious and I’m surprised that this was her first acting role in a motion picture. I can’t wait to see what she does next. The theme of the movie kind of reminds me of the line from When Harry Met Sally about how men and women can never be friends, as the same phrase can be applied to members of the LGBTQ+ community and straight people. Sometimes love stories may not have a happy ending but they do have a new beginning, and this film captures the beauty of it all and for all audiences to relate to. Doug Archibald did a fabulous job directing this indie flick. Oftentimes, gay men and lesbian characters are cast as the gay best friend, without the onscreen romance or leading role. It’s great that he created something for everyone, expressing gender fluidity as the norm. The way that it should always be.
6. Pariah (2011) Written and directed by Dee Rees, starring Adepero Oduye, Aasha Davis, Kim Wayans, and Pernell Walker. The film is about a closested lesbian teen who goes through hurtles toward self-love and self-discovery. It’s a heartbreaking film that I feel is important for everyone to watch. It’s a story that I’ve rarely seen told, where the Black lesbian character is the main focus in the film, as well as showing a love story between two black queer women, without it being stereotypical. I really appreciated the fact that Rees created characters that show the LGBTQ+ community in its truest form. Rees created a world of her own, but through a lens that is universal that people of many different experiences can relate to. Kim Wayans plays a religious mother who eventually comes to grips with accepting her daughter's sexuality. The film also sheds light on the pain and oppression that our POC LGBTQ+ youth go through every day. Not only are they often rejected by some religious organizations, but they also deal with homophobia. The concept and plot of Pariah deserve a lot more praise than it has gotten. If you are looking for a groundbreaking drama and coming-of-age story, definitely watch Pariah.
7. Ahead of the Curve (2020) This is an amazing documentary about the rise and fall of the #1 bestselling lesbian magazine, directed by Jen Rainin and Rivkah Beth Medow. I remember living in San Francisco as an Academy of Art student, ordering my latest copy of Curve Magazine and reading it in my dorm room. Magazines were my escape as a young adult at the time, before the driving force of the digital world. This film is a beautiful tribute to magazine owner Frances “Franco” Stevens, a woman who was forced out of her home after coming out as a lesbian, and later launched an empire for all queer women.
8. Giant Little Ones (2018) Written and directed by Keith Behrman, starring Josh Wiggins, Darren Mann, Kyle MacLachlan, Taylor Hickson, Maria Bello, and Peter Outerbridge. Giant Little One tells the story of two high school friends who experience one night of passion that shifts their lives forever, leading them to sexual discovery. Actress Maria Bello was the highlight for me for obvious reasons, because she is so talented and underrated. She plays the hip mother of Josh Wiggins’ character, Darren. I’ve loved Maria since watching The Sisters (2015).
9. A Fantastic Woman (2017) is directed by Sebastián Lelio, and stars Daniela Vega, Francisco Reyes, and Luis Gnecco. It tells the story of Marina, a transgender waitress, and singer, who is grieving after the death of her lover Orlando (Francisco Reyes). The cinematography in this film is breathtaking as well as the performances by Daniela Vega and Trinidad González. It’s an important film for the LGBTQ+ community and allies to watch.
10. The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017) I wanted to save the best for last. This documentary is directed by David France and stars Victoria Cruz. It’s about an ongoing investigation of the mysterious death of one of the leading Stonewall activists, the legendary Marsha P. Johnson.
This documentary will literally have you at the edge of your seat. It’s a murder mystery where you find yourself torn apart by the injustice and police brutality against the trans Community. The doc also captures the ongoing divide between trans women and the Gay community and the lack of acknowledgment that the founders of the Queer Liberation Movement were trans women of color. It’s a documentary that sheds light on the resolution that we have a lot more work to do in 2021.
Currently streaming on Netflix.
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