The Women's Direction

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10 LGBTQIA+ Films To Watch This World Pride

All Directed By Women & Non-Binary Filmmakers

World Pride this year is a special one for me as it’s being hosted in my hometown of Sydney, Australia. As someone who only recently began peeling back the layers of their own sexuality slowing shifting from ally to community member, I figured this year was a great opportunity to brush up on LGBT cinema. There are a lot of great films about the LGBT experience directed by men. You may have seen or heard of Moonlight (2017) directed by Barry Jenkins, Call Me By Your Name (2017) directed by Luca Guadagnino, or Disclosure: Trans Lives On Screen (2020) directed by Sam Fender; all great films. But it is true that even in the LGBT film space female and non-binary (NB) directors are still heavily underrepresented. So I decided to look specifically for films directed by women and NB filmmakers and have collated my list to 10 films I recommend everyone should watch, but please feel free to offer more suggestions in the comments.

Firstly some honourable mentions:

I don’t think you can have an LGBT films list without mentioning The Matrix trilogy. Created by the Wachowski sisters this film franchise’s hidden context was actualised after Lilly and Lana came out publicly to the world as trans in 2016. When asked if The Matrix films were about the transgender experience co-director Lily Wachowski said, "That was the original intention but the world wasn't quite ready." [1] Now highly regarded as one of the best and most important sci-fi films of all time The Matrix trilogy is always a fun watch, but perhaps a more poignant viewing this World Pride.

Another quick honourable mention I want to include is Queen of the Desert directed by Alex Kelly. This short 30-minute documentary follows youth worker Starlady as she takes her hair-dressing prowess into the remote Aboriginal community of Areyonga in Central Australia. Presented in a typical documentary style the film provides an important insight into not only the exploration of gender but how the sharing of knowledge is a powerful way to bring communities together.

And now onto the list proper!

Portrait Of A Lady On Fire (2019) - Directed by Celine Sciamma (she/her)

Portrait of a Lady on Fire is the story of Marianne, a painter, who is commissioned to do the wedding portrait of Héloïse; the reluctant bride-to-be. The only catch is Marianne must paint her without her knowing. As she observes Héloïse day by day Marianne begins to paint secretly coming away with more than the portrait she was commissioned to paint.

This slow burn has Sciamma’s characteristic lack of soundtrack that forces the audience to sit in each moment with the characters feeling the tension in the room; sexual or otherwise. This silence also allows the sparse music to be used in a way that ignites key moments both diegetically for the characters and the audience simultaneously. The cinematography is also absolutely beautiful with the striking landscapes and ornate interiors setting the romantic tone long before we see any physical indications of romance on screen. The film manages to comment much on modern-day lesbian relationships as much as it presents the issues same-sex couples faced in the 1700s when the film is set. And there are equally enough moments that will make you smile and make your eyes glass over.

Paris Is Burning (1990) - Directed by Jennie Livingston (She/They)

An absolute staple of queer culture; you have probably heard Paris is Burning referenced before most notably in RuPaul’s Drag Race cause “reading is what?” This documentary directed by Jennie Livingston shines the spotlight on the underground Ball scene in New York during the 1980s. Structured through interviews with real people the subjects speak freely and are not afraid to be vulnerable or authentic on camera, which is a testament to Livingston’s filmmaking. There are also plenty of definitions for things that have since become a regular part of queer linguistics, so if you have ever wondered about the origin of words like Shade, Realness, or Passing this documentary is where to get your education. Paris is Burning showcases how Ball’s became a crucial safe space for the marginalised in a world where so much discrimination took place; even within the gay community in part due to the AIDS epidemic. One of the foundation pillars of gay cinema Paris is Burning is a must-watch.

Side note; If you’re looking for something that isn’t a documentary that explores the same culture then the TV Show Pose is an absolute must as it takes a lot of inspiration from real stories of the era.

Appropriate Behaviour (2014) - Directed by Desiree Akhavan (She/Her)

The ultimate mid-2010 indie vibes Appropriate Behaviour is the story of Shirin a bisexual Persian woman existing in New York who is trying to get her life back on track after breaking up with her girlfriend...oh and she hasn’t come out to her parents yet.

It’s pretty dry on the humour only eliciting a few chuckles from me in terms of witty lines. However, a lot of the comedy came from the relatability of the situations presented. You will often laugh because something happens that will remind you of a similar situation you may have been in personally. I would liken it to HBO’s Girls only the characters in Appropriate Behaviour are much more realistic. Inherently flawed as humans are, but not absolutely jerks like the cast of characters from Girls tend to be. Definitely a film of its era in that the costumes, sets, and general tone encapsulates the hipster 2010’s button-up shirts and drinking-out-of-jars vibes. Ultimately it’s a slice-of-life story about a real queer person just trying to do the best they can and is a pretty chill watch if you’re looking for something to do on a quiet night. 

Sidenote; if you enjoy Appropriate Behaviour Desiree Akhavan also created and stars in The Bisexual a TV show that came out in 2018 that examines the stigma against Bisexual people within the gay community particularly. It has Akhavan’s signature tone but is a little more recent in terms of style. She also directed The Miseducation of Cameron Post in the same year which we reviewed for Sydney Film Festival here.

Shiva Baby (2020) - Directed by Emma Seligman (She/They) 

OMG talk about awkward! When college student Danielle attends a shiva (Jewish wake) already expecting an awkward family social event it swiftly spirals out of control when her ex-girlfriend and her sugar daddy are also in attendance. The feature directorial debut from director Emma Seligman Shiva Baby is an uncomfy social nightmare from start to finish. Exceptionally well written with witty and sometimes forehead-slapping lines. The cast does an incredible job of guiding us through this wake from hell. The camera work is so complimentary to creating the claustrophobic anxiety-inducing atmosphere of this Shiva that all you want to do is run away from this situation that just keeps getting worse and worse. Yet we as the audience are stuck here with Danielle sometimes incredibly close almost as if we are seeing the world through her eyes. The score of this film also builds the atmosphere; the dissonant plucking of a violin heightening the tension of each awkward moment.

This could almost be too uncomfortable for some people, particularly those who struggle with anxiety, but some moments are just so relatable, the cast gives fantastic performances, and the style of the film is so uniquely executed I would say its 100% worth cringing your way through this dynamite of a debut.

Gayby Baby (2015) - Directed by Maya Newell

“Won’t somebody please think of the children?”

Well, Maya Newell’s documentary does just that presenting an intimate look at the day-to-day lives of four kids and their same-sex parents. Told through interviews with the children only and daily visual snippets of each of their lives Gayby Baby is a crucial piece of film that showcases the completely normal yet sometimes frustrating task of raising children as same-sex parents. Filmed during the lead-up to Australia’s vote on marriage equality the impact of this issue on the families is evident. However, the kids themselves all behave like regular 12-year-olds and the main struggles presented are those all families go through. Teaching them to read, transitioning to high school, and handling sibling rivalry. Watching the families walk in the Mardi Gras parade at the conclusion of the film also brought a tear to my eye.

It's a great slice-of-life documentary about a time of tension in Australia that we all know now ended in a triumph for LGBT families across the country.

Boys Don’t Cry (1999) - Directed by Kimberly Peirce (She/Her)

Released in a time when Trans rights were virtually unheard of and definitely not seen on screen (see The Matrix mentioned above) Boys Don’t Cry tells the true story of Brandon Teena a trans man who whilst running from his troubled past begins a relationship with Lana. It doesn’t last long however as the revelation of Brandon’s trans identity eventuates in his being assaulted and murdered in 1993. The film focuses on telling the story from Brandon’s perspective humanising him and ultimately challenging the world’s view of trans people at the time. It is harkened as one of the key pieces of New Queer Cinema but has recently come under a smattering of fire surrounding the decision to cast a cis-gendered person (Hillary Swank) in the role of Brandon. The film also includes graphic depictions of assault and the eventual murder, which could be triggering for some, and are quite uncomfortable and upsetting to watch. Director Kimberley Peirce gives an excellent interview with IndieWire explaining their three-year casting process and the decision behind including the assault in the film which you can read here.

It's an intense drama that will stick with you long after watching but such an important milestone in cinema’s progression toward including more representation of LGBT and specifically trans characters moving forward.

But I’m A Cheerleader (1999) - Directed By Jamie Babbit (She/Her)

A colourful comical look at conversation therapy that runs the risk of rubbing people the wrong way but is so obviously satirical it’s hard to really take it that seriously despite the issues the film touches on. The juxtaposition of the light jovial soundtrack and colour-blocked sets to the topics of discrimination against gay people and the serious nature of conversation camps makes the problem easier to swallow without losing any of the point. But I’m A Cheerleader showcases the ridiculousness of caring what anyone's sexuality is; taking place in one of the gayest conversion camps you’ve ever seen. The comedy makes fun of stereotypes and gender roles and honestly just seeing RuPaul in a ‘Straight is Great’ shirt at the start of film prepares you for the tone you can expect. It has the vibes of those quirky slightly dark and unhinged teen films of the same era such as Heathers or Jawbreaker. It’s a perfect movie night with friends film particularly if those friends happen to be queer. Also, it has a musical theatre adaptation and I can think of nothing gayer than that.

52 Tuesdays (2015) – Directed by Sophie Hyde (She/Her)

52 Tuesdays is the story of 16-year-old Billie. When her mum says she wants to become a man and limits their time together to Tuesday afternoons she begins down an accelerated path towards independence but not without a few bumps along the way. Filmed across an entire year on the Tuesday of each week the newcomer cast grows and changes across the film as they would naturally in a year. Hyde also never gave them more of the script than what they were shooting that week which allows each new Tuesday to play out fresh adding to the realness of the story. The style of the film’s camera work plays like a video diary with Billie speaking to the camera at points as well as filming some moments of her own. This plus the fact that the film ebbs and flows with the real year of filming gives important weight to the impact of someone’s decision to transition on the lives of not only that person but those closest to them.

It was a little hard to watch sometimes and I found myself flip-flopping between liking and not-liking Billie as a character, but I think that is testament to actress Tilda Cobham-Hervey portraying a realistic teenager in this situation. There are some pretty emotional and confrontational moments at times and I was a little drained by the end of it, but I had been watching drama films all day so I’d take that with a little grain of salt. Ultimately it felt like an important film and a great example of how far trans representation and discussion on screen has come since Boys Don’t Cry.

Kajillionaire (2020) - Miranda July (She/Her)

Kajillionaire belongs to a category of slightly off beat movies that made me fall in love with storytelling. When Old Dolio, the daughter of two scam artists, plots a new scheme to pay their rent her world is turned upside down as her parents invite a stranger, Melanie, to join in on their plan. With plenty of moments of physical and written comedy, this off-kilter tale of a young girl and her parents goes down a path you wouldn’t expect. I don’t actually want to talk too heavily about the plot here because I think the journey is a really nice one to go through blind but I will say there are plenty of strange and heartwarming moments throughout that really made me fall in love with this film. The cast give great performances particularly Evan Rachel Wood as Old Dolio, which is demonstrated I think best for me after a particular earthquake sequence I won’t say anything else about. Kajillionaire is very different to a lot of the other films on this list in that its “gay energy” is far more subtle. I do think that is a strength of the film however as it explores coming to terms with one’s sexuality in a much more internalised and less hypersexualised way. There’s a lot to love about Kajillionaire so I would recommend checking it out this World Pride.

Pariah (2011) – Directed by Dee Rees (She/Her)

Alike is a Brooklyn-based teenager growing up in a strict household. When she begins to live a double life in order to appease her parents and explore her sexual orientation things only end up spiralling out of her control. We’ve seen a lot of films on this list exploring the area of sexuality and teenagers but none from the perspective of the black community. Director Dee Rees has a way of bringing out the best in her cast and some of you may recognise her name from the Academy Award-nominated Mudbound from 2017. Whilst I would consider it a slow burn its moderate pacing is necessary to build the relationships between the characters in a way that allows us to get to know them properly; for their flaws and strengths to reveal themselves, and also for the climax to slap you in the face.

Another film from the 2010s it has that signature indie film vibe typical of the era. It is definitely a drama through and through with very little relief but it works in the films favour. Pariah spotlights the struggles of being gay without being graphic or overly confrontational yet still packs an emotional punch.

REFERENCES

[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-53692435

[2] https://www.indiewire.com/2019/12/kimberly-peirce-interview-boys-dont-cry-transgender-1202196536/