Film challenge, February.

Gay and Queer cinema. 

In total, seven full-length films: 

- Dreamboat (Germany, 2017). 

- Te prometo anarquía (Mexico, 2015). 

- Contracorriente (aka Undertow) (Peru, 2010). 

- Kinky Boots (UK, 2005). 

- La región salvaje (Mexico, 2016). 

- No se lo digas a nadie (Peru, 1998). 

- Cuatro lunas (Mexico, 2014). 

And two shorts: 

- Gulabi Aaina (aka The pink mirror) (India, 2002). 

- In a heartbeat (USA, 2017). 

Almost all from the current decade (it wasn’t planned that way). There are a lot more out there, but this constitutes a brief sample of the current film panorama on this subject. And what is that panorama? 

For starters, an optimism that rarely appeared in previous decades (especially the 90’s). Not because the world is more tolerant now. Quite the opposite! In several ways today’s world society is even less tolerant, just in subtler ways. What has changed is the confidence of the actual narrators (here, screenwriters and directors). Generally this subject is now presented with less hesitance, with less shyness. Something that has definitely contributed to this is the arrival of digital cinema and a larger amount of distribution options (for example, online). With better tools to clear obstacles such as censorship and repression, there is a bigger freedom of speech. 

(Presumably we’ll see this in the following monthly challenges… or perhaps we won’t. We’ll see)

Interestingly, none of the movies listed here is a tragedy, though two or three of them are certainly dramatic. But the subject of homosexuality is not automatically linked to death (or at least bitterness) in any of them. All show a wider amount of possibilities, and a stronger sense of kinship. They also break down the notion that homosexuality is an “adults only” subject. Between these movies, the protagonists’ age ranges from eleven to seventy. 

Now, granted: I wanted to cover a wider spectrum (hence the term “queer”), but in truth virtually all these movies are specifically about male homosexuality. Partly because of availability (and time), partly due to personal taste. 

Nevertheless, I think the results were quite interesting, sometimes pleasantly surprising. 

Several movies couldn’t be included this time, but hopefully in a latter date. Maybe even as part of the next challenges.