Across reboots, reimaginings and remakes, everything in movie-land feels…kind of familiar. From the million Marvel movies to the musical adaptations that we didn’t need (yes, we’re on about Mean Girls – even if we do stan Reneé Rapp as gay Regina George), we’re getting a serious case of cinema déjà-vu.
The only bright spot? Queer (or queer-adjacent) big-hitters like Drive Away Dolls, Love Lies Bleeding, Monica, Passages and Challengers which have lit up cinema screens with raunchy humour, abundant family drama, disastrous polycules and, er, homoeroetic churros. And, as it turns out, this year’s BFI London Film Festival is the perfect place to find gay, queer and trans stories to banish the bad movie blues. To mark its 68th edition, LFF is pulling out all the stops for LGBTQIA+ film-lovers: from a Bollywood romance with a twist, to a Eurovision-style sapphic saga and an outstanding exploration of sex work and self-discovery.
Below, we share five incredible queer films to impress everyone – from your best mate that was big on film Tumblr, to your ex that’s a niche Letterboxd influencer, or your Hinge match who keeps suggesting you “Mubi and chill”. Keep reading to find out the future-classic LFF movies to look out for.
A NICE INDIAN BOY
Roshan Sethi’s A Nice Indian Boy is all about “the bigness of love” – a line Jay (Jonathan Groff) uses in the movie’s opening. And if there’s one thing about Bollywood romances, it’s that they are grand, passionate and can stir even the coldest of hearts. Adapted from the original play written by Madhuri Shaker, A Nice Indian Boy opens us up to romance in all its shades – family, friendships and, of course, relationships. (It’s no surprise that weddings hold a big place in this new wave Indian rom-com)
A Nice Indian Boy is heartfelt and joyful, but there’s a complication in this sweet boy-meets-boy love story too. Jay, a white foster child adopted by Indian parents, tries to fit into Naveen’s (Karan Soni) life. They start dating after a meet-cute at a Hindu temple, get on seamlessly and even get engaged. But, as things quickly progress, can Naveen bring his family on board to love a “white orphan artist” while fully accepting his own identity at the same time?
Sethi pulls off Bollywood drama with a queer twist that everyone can relate to. If Naveen and Jay teach us anything, it’s that a strong foundation of love (or impromptu bursts of song) and trust can overcome almost anything.
EMILIA PÉREZ
This award-winning, Mexico-set, gangster movie-musical (yes, that’s a lot of words) is a story as complex and tender as it is bolshy. The plot follows Rita (Zoe Saldaña), an unfulfilled lawyer, who unexpectedly crosses paths with a trans cartel boss Emilia Pérez (Karla Sofía Gascón) seeking out gender-affirming treatment. Willing to fake her own death, Emilia bargains with Rita and offers an opportunity that would change both of their lives forever. However, as Emilia’s wife, Jessi (Selena Gomez), becomes swept up in the situation, the movie transforms into an empowering lesson on three women fighting for their own happiness.
Emilia Pérez is poignant, beautifully shot and could land Gascón in the history books. The actress and her co-stars (Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, and Adriana Paz) already jointly hold the Best Actress prize after the film showed at Cannes Film Festival. However, if nominated at the Academy Awards, Gascón would be the first openly trans person to receive the honour.
QUEER
Now we’ve just about got the electronic thrumming of the Challengers soundtrack out of our heads, Luca Guadagnino and Justin Kuritzkes are back with Queer.
It’s true, most of us will have seen the Daniel Craig memes and internet talk surrounding Queer – but what is it actually about? Well, it’s an erotic love story taking place in 1940s Mexico City and an adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ semi-autobiographical novel of the same which will see Daniel Craig’s William Lee, an American expat, become involved with a mysterious younger man.
It sounds good on paper but it’s even better IRL thanks to eccentric characters, sensual storytelling and an immersive score (by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross) that beautifully pairs with Sayombhu Mukdeeprom’s stunning cinematography. You can count us in.
SEBASTIAN
Sebastian follows the life of Max, a 25-year-old London-based writer working on his debut novel about, you guessed it, a sex worker called ‘Sebastian’. However, when inspiration doesn’t strike, he seeks out a solution: sex, as a way to get closer to art. So, in the name of literary research, he arranges to meet men through an escort platform around London.
A frank and compelling coming-of-age story, Sebastian challenges outdated notions of sex work. The film’s director, Mikko Mäkelä, has spoken out about his desire to destigmatise sex work on screen. “I really wanted to make a film that just approaches sex work in a much more positive way, in a sex positive way,” he says.
QUEENS OF DRAMA
Alexis Langlois’s debut film, Queens Of Drama, sounds like sapphic fanfiction fantasy come to life – and that’s exactly why you should go see it. It’s a nostalgic, queer romance packed with trashy pop tunes, and campy glittercore aesthetics (imagine Eurovision, but even more gay) that playfully unpacks the weight of queer pop fandom, fame and the consequences of a public fallout.
The ambitious French-language flick follows the intense love affair between lesbian punk icon Billie Kohler (Gio Ventura) and pop star Mimi Madamour (Louiza Aura) as they cross paths at a TV talent contest in 2005. From there, Queens of Drama delves into Billie and Mimi’s complex realities, a decade-spanning romance and an unforgiving music industry. Come for the lesbian drama, stay for the song about fisting.
The 68th BFI London Film Festival takes place from 9th-20th October in London and across the UK. Tickets are available to buy now. You can find more information at bfi.org.uk/lff.
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