5 Movies to Discover During Pride Month

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For a few days, we have entered Pride Month, LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, an international event celebrated throughout June to highlight the importance of fighting for rights and perpetuate the pride of the queer community. And on this occasion, we have prepared a selection five films to be able to discover or rediscover during this month.

The following titles have not only contributed to a queer representation free from stereotypes and prejudices on the big screen, which, unfortunately, is not yet taken for granted, but have also become – in a certain sense – cult. . And not just in the LGBTQIA+ community.

These are films that have left a mark on the hearts of cinephiles and the general public in recent years.

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carol precious movie

Based on the novel of the same name Patricia Highsmith (“The Talented Mr. Ripley”) and adapted for the big screen by the director Todd Haynes in 2015 starring Cate Blanchett AND Rooney Mara. Respectively as Carol Aird and Teresa Belivet.

The film is set in 1953 New York. The film tells the story of love that blossoms between the two main characters. Forced to hide and challenge their male counterparts on a journey that will excite anyone.
The relationship between Carol and Teresa is born slowly, at first sight. And throughout the film, their relationship will mature with the naturalness typical of true love stories.

The right setting, in which homosexual relationships were clearly taboo, will become the stage for a dance of encounters, first casual and then desired, encounters in which even the most intimate silences and desires can scream. .

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What makes the film precious and versatile also makes it special: the relationship between Carol and Teresa, which, before becoming a relationship, is a meeting of two women who respect each other. In fact, the two have completely different lives, ages and goals, but which will never become an obstacle to their longed-for happiness.

Portrait of a girl on fire, unforgettable

The film is signed by the director Celine Siamma starring in 2019 Noemi Merlan AND Adele Haenel gives an intimate and powerful picture that, with its warm colors, tells about unforgettable love.

In this film, there was no desire to tell or show a real relationship, but rather a chance meeting that will never be forgotten. The story of Marianne and Heloise is already written from the beginning: France in the 1700s does not allow two women to be independent, much less in a relationship. The film and the characters themselves understand this perfectly, and this is their strength.

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Every scene, every word, every look is filled with meaning from the very first frame. The camera follows Marianne and Eloise along the beach to the bedroom in a gentle and intimate direction.

Attention to detail is one of the most important elements of the film. Delicately scattered throughout the story, they sprout and are caught in the last minutes, giving the finale an emotionally destructive force. It’s hard to forget, as are entire sequences that remain impressed as if they were animated pictures.

Call me by your name, iconic

This film director Luca Guadagnino (I am Love) managed to create an absolutely international work, also thanks to the bright technical composition, which very quickly captivated the public.
Based on one of the most popular queer novels of recent years, Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman, the story is about Elio (Timothy Chalamet) and Oliver (Armie Hammer).

The film touches on one of the most important and central topics in the life of each of us: sexual discoveries and desires. But in this case, moving away from the normalization of heterosexual relations, we are talking about homosexual attraction. Giving additional value and meaning to the story.

The love story of Elio and Oliver was born in an almost typical Italian summer, in a stunning, irresistible and extremely natural way. And more than that, it’s the real beating heart of the film. This is the beginning, middle and end. It’s a slow dive into a relationship born of spontaneity, so much so that you can tune in to both characters.

The great reflection that the film carries on its shoulders is the assertion of identity. Elio is young but knows how to define everything except himself and his relationship with Oliver. And it is in silence, after the emotional monologue of his father, in the iconic and poignant final scene, that perhaps he succeeds.

Adele’s life, between reality and imagination

Screen adaptation of the comic book “Blue is a warm color” by the author Julie Maroit is a much-loved film in the world of cinephiles, which at the time won the 66th Cannes Film Festival with the Palme d’Or.

It’s also one of the most loved films in the queer community thanks to the brilliant performances of its two main characters, Adele (Adele Exarchopoulos) and Emma (Lea Seydoux), and deep writing, sometimes poetic, that manages to go beyond mere gestures.

The whole film is surrounded by this almost mystical aura, which allows you to see on the screen the feelings, fears and dreams of the characters. Also thanks to the perfect balance between images, scenery and music.
In the relationship between Adele and Emma, ​​the film follows two different and tragically different paths.

On the one hand, we have Adele, who is coming out of her teens and discovering her sexuality, but still living in a traditional environment. The family that does not understand her, the school she attends, is not ready to accept those who are considered “other”. Adele throughout the film cannot find the courage to live in the light of the sun. Prior to meeting Emma, ​​she struggles to be with a boy even though she already has a passion for girls.

On the other hand, with Emma, ​​what should be Adele’s starting point is presented: a person who is self-aware and self-confident, openly lives her homosexuality, which at times flaunts (hence the characteristic blue hair) to emphasize her being different from the mass, as in family — through the privilege of receiving support — and at work.
Emma is an accomplished person who has found her balance through acceptance by others and by herself.

The film constantly plays on this contrast, a true representation of the real world, where sometimes the ability to be yourself is a real privilege.

Brokeback Mountain, the progenitor film

Oscar-winning film Ang Lee he is considered the progenitor, one of the first to give a fair idea of ​​homosexual love. Based on the short story “Brokeback Mountain” also known as “The People of Wyoming”, written in 1997. Annie Proulxremembered for its delicate history and poignant and eternal love story.

Main characters – Ennis del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twists (Jake Gyllenhaal), two cowboys who take on a job together. Forced to spend the summer together, they will come to terms with their characteristic differences: the first is deeply introverted, preferring silence to conversation, the second is extroverted and noisy.
With us as the only witnesses, these two will begin to open up, share secrets and passions that will turn friendship into great love.

The life they built before meeting, the rigid mentality of the society, are the real antagonists of the story, causing the film to turn into a somewhat more “classic” story than previous titles.

The relationship between man and nature is fundamental, easily explained by the relationship between two men and their true nature – romantic and sexual. He is also strong in symbolism, where Ennis’ shirt becomes Jack’s element of pain and emotion.

Despite the classic plot, the value of the film lies precisely in its writing, thanks to which you have the opportunity to meet two real characters, between perfection and imperfection, tenderness and anger, fear and happiness, which transport anyone into a touching story.

Finally

It is certainly one of the most significant and successful films for the queer community and has given the world of cinematic stories, imaginary images and characters a huge meaning. In the hope that this is only the beginning of a series of unforgettable performances.

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