I’ve been attending Chicago’s International LGBTQ+ Film Festival for many years now. Last season I burnt myself out watching 18 features. This year I settled for a modest 7.
Dreams in Nightmares (2025, US). Queer black friends go on a quest. Mellow Z, snarky Lauren and grumpy Tasha are searching for a fourth friend who ghosted them. A passionate dramedy about friendship and self-discovery. The performers have put their hearts into their roles. Lauren feels short-changed by the screenplay. But that’s my only quibble.
Drive Back Home (2024, Canada). An oafish straight man (Charlie Creed-Miles) takes a road trip with his prissy gay brother (Alan Cumming). Along the way they bond, bicker and encounter rural bigots. An odd mix of cartoon clowning and brutal violence. The gay brother suffers so the straight one can learn empathy. That’s a trope I can’t stand.
Lesbian Space Princess (2025, Australia). Animated comedy. A sheltered princess goes on a quest to save her callow ex-girlfriend. The simple plot is a vehicle for nonstop gags. They aren’t all gems. Some of the “edgier” material made me roll my eyes. But the film kept me smiling.
Plainclothes (2025, US). A closeted cop (Tom Blyth) is ordered to entrap gay men in a public restroom. He falls for one of his targets (Russell Tovey) and begins an affair. The strobing images and ominous soundtrack suggest a thriller. But the story is a hokey melodrama. Some third act plot twists inspired unintended laughter at my screening. The charismatic actors are asked to do the heavy lifting.
Psychonaut (2024, US). A woman explores her comatose girlfriend’s memories. The video game premise allows for Dutch angles, mood lighting and striking cinematography. Yet, the memories themselves aren’t interesting. The amateur actors are uncomfortable with the overwrought dialogue. The film’s best sequence is a wordless montage.
Really Happy Someday (2024, US). Z loves musical theater. But his voice has been cracking since starting testosterone. He begins taking singing lessons to build his new voice. He soon realizes he needs to rebuild other parts of his life as well. A gentle character study with a likable cast.
She’s the He (2025, US). Trans comedian Nico Carney plays a cis teen who pretends to be trans. His closeted trans friend (Misha Osherovich) gets tangled in the scheme. She’s the He wants to be a high concept satire and a sincere coming out story. The two films keep undercutting each other. The comic half tries so hard to mock transphobia that it sometimes plays as transphobic. I’m glad a trans teen comedy exists. But I wanted better jokes and less angst.
Festival Bingo
This year’s films include
- 2 protagonists named Z
- 2 abusive dads
- 1 abusive uncle
- 3 mean moms
- 3 redemption arcs for complicated moms
- 2 films where men are caught hooking up in restrooms.
- 4 films end with a queer protagonist in a happy relationship.
- 5 films inflict violence on their queer characters.
- 3 let the queer characters fight back.
You can read more of my reviews on The Avocado, Letterboxd and Serializd. My podcast, Rainbow Colored Glasses, can be found here.