During Brendan Behan’s short life, he joined the Irish Republican Army, served multiple prison sentences and became a celebrated writer. Then he drank himself to death at 41. His 1958 novel Borstal Boy recounts the years he spent in borstal … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Borstal Boy (2000)

In 1890 Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde published the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. His star would rise quickly. In February of 1895 his play The Importance of Being Earnest opened in London. In May of that year, he … Continue reading LGBT Movies: The Trials of Oscar Wilde (1960)

James Whale directed Hollywood classics like Frankenstein, The Invisible Man and Show Boat. Now he’s retired and he wants to see his gardener naked. Gods and Monsters examines how artists process death. Whale channeled the traumas of the closet and … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Gods and Monsters (1998)

Jamie New, a gay teen, prepares for his drag debut in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. This joyous musical was adapted from a 2017 stage show and a 2011 documentary. On stage I found it fun but repetitive. The film trims … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

Wladziu Valentino Liberace was a talented musician. He was famous for his campy outfits and wicked sense of humor. Scandal derailed his attempts to keep his personal life private. His sexuality had been on a “don’t ask, don’t tell” basis. … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Liberace: Behind the Music (1988)

In Wild Reeds four French youths debate politics and suffer unrequited love. André Téchiné’s autobiographical film allows homosexuals, communists, the workers and the middle classes to interact. They find acceptance and learn survival skills. There’s little plot but the characters … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Wild Reeds (1994)

Joe Bell, a blue-collar man, hikes across America to lecture on the dangers of bullying. His gay son, Jadin, tags along and asks him to look at his own prejudice. Joe Bell touches on issues of mental health and systemic … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Joe Bell (2020)

A lieutenant falls in love with an officer on the eve of the American Civil War. The realization of his homosexuality drives him to despair. South aired on November 24, 1959 as part of ITV’s Play of the Week series. … Continue reading LGBT Movies: South (1959)

Stephen Fry invites Kenneth Branagh, Alphonsia Emmanuel, Hugh Laurie, Imelda Staunton and Emma Thompson to a miserable party. Branagh coaxes dreadful performances from his talented cast. Peter’s Friends wants to mix the angst of The Big Chill with the broad … Continue reading LGBT Movie: Peter’s Friends (1992)

Doña Herlinda has a successful son with a considerate boyfriend. But they live in a conservative community and need to keep up appearances. Can Doña find a solution? Doña Herlinda and Her Son blends family melodrama with camp farce. The … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Dona Herlinda and Her Son (1985)

M has always been handsome. He’s tired of the staring, the distrust and the propositions. Tired of the scorn he’s received for complaining about it. Before he leaves town, he’ll invite a select few to visit his drugged, unconscious body. … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Entropic (2019)

Channel 4 commissioned Kevin Elyot to write a screenplay celebrating gay pride. They should have read his plays first. He wrote cynical tales about cruel, self-loathing gay men. No surprise that the characters in Clapham Junction are a mix of … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Clapham Junction (2007)

Son’s gay. Dad’s gay. Mom’s mad as hell. The Lost Language of Cranes premiered at the UK film festival in 1991. It was broadcast on PBS and the BBC in 1992. The story follows a family as they cope with … Continue reading LGBT Movies: The Lost Language of Cranes (1991)