In recent years, gay and lesbian cinema has taken on new life. A wide assortment of films from notable directors, such as Ang Lee, have created opportunities to represent characters that can represent the LGBT community in a positive way, yet still appeal to mainstream society. Some of these notable films include:
Beautiful Thing
A tender love story based on a stageplay of the same name, Beautiful Thing focuses on Jamie and Ste, two teenagers in Southern England that develop and attraction for each other, and eventually fall in love. The film masterfully deals with coming of age, and finding oneself, as well as coming to terms with one’s sexuality in confusing times. It also features great comic relief given by Jamie’s mother, Sandra, and brassy neighbor, Sandra—plus a great soundtrack filled with Mama Cass.
Get Real
Also a high school drama and comedy, Get Real is a tender and humrous story about Steve, a young man in a British prep school, as he struggles with coming out and falling in love with the class jock, John. The two develop a secret love affair, which they struggle to keep to themselves, despite high school gossip. The film does a great job of shattering stereotypes associated with being gay.
Brokeback Mountain
Who can forget this raw, powerful story featuring outstanding performances by Jake Gyllenhaal and the late Heath Ledger about Wymoning ranch hands who unexpected fall in love, and share an unconventional romance while trying to live a conventional life. An Oscar winner for best director and best screenplay.
A Single Man
Stylishly directed by Tom Ford and featuring marvelous performances by Colin Firth and Matthew Goode, A Single Man is the emotional journey of an English professor grieving the death of his longtime boyfriend, and searching for something—anything—to get him through the day.
Transamerica
Laugh-out-loud funny and poignant, Transamerica is about Bree, a pre-operative, male-to-female transsexual who undergoes a cross-country road trip with the sun she didn’t realize she had. The film features an outstanding performance by Felicity Huffman of Desperate Housewives fame, who was also nominated for an Oscar.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Hedwig, born a boy named Hansel in East Berlin, fell in love with an American G.I. and underwent a sex-change operation in order to marry him and flee to the West. Unfortunately, nothing worked out quite as it was supposed to - years later, Hedwig is leading her rock band on a tour of the U.S., telling her life story through a series of concerts at Bilgewater Inn seafood restaurants. Her tour dates coincide with those of arena-rock star Tommy Gnosis, a wide-eyed boy who once loved Hedwig... but then left with all her songs. This is a sidesplitting musical comedy adventure from the masterful John Cameron Mitchell.
Mark Williams - I was born in the sunny hills of Yonkers, New York a little over thirty years ago. Writing has been a part of my life since I was five, ...
