Queer Cinema Challenge (Official, June 2023)

[Fergenaprido]

The Unapologetically Official Queer Cinema Challenge
It's Pride month in many places around the world, so dive in and explore some queer stories.

Goal:
Watch as many movies as you can that can be considered queer cinema. If you are in doubt whether a movie counts or not, just ask, but generally it's a film that centres around one or more LGBTQ individuals.

Rules:
- A feature film (over 40 minutes) counts as one entry.
- A total of 80 minutes of short films or miniseries/TV episodes counts as one entry.
- Rewatches are allowed and are good for the soul.

Challenge runs from 1 June 2023 to 30 June 2023 in your local timezone.

Official Lists/Films:
BFI Flare's The Best LGBTQ+ Films of All Time
Queer Films on Official Lists

Unofficial lists

Note: These lists are provided as guidelines and resources; just because a film is listed here doesn't mean it's eligible for this challenge (though it probably will be).
iCM Forum's Favorite LGBT movies (top 100)
LGBT List Cross-Reference
AfterElton.com's Top 100 Greatest Gay Movies
Autostraddle's 200 Best Lesbian, Queer, and Bisexual Movies of All Time (2021)
AfterEllen.com's 50 Best Lesbian Movies
The Backlot's Top 100 Greatest Gay Movies
The Advocate's Top 175 Essential Films of All Time for LGBT Viewers
Erik's Recommended GLBT Films
The Celluloid Closet: The Book
The Celluloid Closet: The Documentary
101 Must-See Movies for Gay Men
Huffington Post's LGBT Pride Films (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes 200 Best LGBT Movies of All Time
The Internet Film Club February 2014 - LGBT Cinema Watch List
Total Film's 50 Best Gay Movies
Indiewire: The 50 Most Important LGBT Films
Metro Weekly Gay Films Everyone Should See
Time Out's The 50 best gay movies: the best in LGBT film-making
Top 150 GLBT Films
Teddy Award at Berlin Film Festival
Queer Palm at Cannes Film Festival
Slant Magazine's 50 Essential LGBT Films

And my own passion project collecting Queer films on various lists (Google Spreadsheet)

and many more....

Bonus Challenge

I've decided to run a multi-faceted bonus challenge that will hopefully encourage participants to explore beyond the latest awards-bait-gay-film-for-straight-people™ created for straight actors to receive Oscar glory.

Bonus Challenge Breakdown

1. LGBTQ+ - 5 points - 1 for each of the first four letters of the acronym (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender), and 1 for the rest combined since they're less prevalent in cinema (Intersex, Pansexual, Asexual, etc.)
2. Decades - 8 points - 1 for each decade from 1960s-2020s, and 1 for all earlier decades combined
3. Regions - 25 points - 1 for each country from each region (North America, South America, Europe, Africa-Middle East*, Asia-Pacific*), up to 5 per region, excluding the 10 countries that were highlighted in the bonus challenge last time (USA, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, France, Spain, South Africa, Israel, Philippines, Thailand)
4. Personal - 35 points - 1 point for each Rainbow Mafia Recommended film, regardless of length (ICM List or see the second post in this thread)

After you complete one of the first three sections, only additional full cycles will count, i.e. if you watch an L, a G, a B, a T and a Q+ film and get 5 points, you'll need to watch another film from each category to get 10 points; watching 5 more lesbian films won't get you anything on their own). Is this a little complicated? Yes, but it's a bonus challenge and it's all just for fun, so just go with it.

*For the purposes of this bonus challenge Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Iran will be the northeast boundary of Africa-Middle East (with Cyprus in Europe), and all of Oceania is grouped with the rest of Asia to form Asia-Pacific. All of this is purely subjective and arbitrary, and I've done it to balance out the regions a bit and encourage exploration.

Bonus Challenge Scoreboard

Participant	LGBTQ+	Pts	Decades	Pts	Regions	Pts	Personal Recs	TOTAL
sol	LGBTQx10	50	pre,60s,70s,80s,90s,00s,10s,20sx3	24	na1,sa2,eu25,af5,ap2	35	10	119
jdidaco	LGBTQx9	45	pre,60s,70s,80s,90s,00s,10s,20sx2	16	na1,sa1,eu30,af2,ap2	36		97
Fergenaprido	LGBTQx3	15	pre,60s,70s,80s,90s,00s,10s,20sx1	8	na5,sa3,eu3,af2,ap4	17	4	44
Tngy	LGBTQx2	10	pre,70s,90s,00s,10s,20s	6	eu5	5	5	26
sacmersault	LGBTQx1	5	pre,60s,70s,80s,90s,00s,10s,20sx1	8	eu3,ap4	7	5	25
xianjiro	LGBTQx1	5	pre,60s,70s,80s,90s,00s,10s,20sx1	8	na1,sa1,eu3,af1,ap1	7	4	24
lineuphere	LGBTQx1	5	pre,60s,70s,00s,10s	5	sa1,eu2,ap1	4	5	19
beasterne	LGBTQx1	5	60s,70s,80s,90s,00s,10s,20s	7	eu2	2	2	16
blocho	LGTQ	4	60s,80s,00s,10s,20s	5	eu4	4	2	16
ororama	LGBQ	4	70s,80s,90s,00s,10s,20s	6	na1,eu1	2	4	16
Minkin	LGBTQx1	5	pre,60s,70s,80s,90s,00s	6	na1,eu3	4		15
Good_Will_Hunting	LGBTQx1	5	80s,90s,00s,20s	4	eu1,ap1	2	3	14
Melvelet	LGBT	4	70s,80s,90s,10s	4	eu3	3	1	12
PopperTheKungFu-Dragon	LGBT	4	60s,70s,90s,10s	4	na1,sa1,eu2	4		12
kongs_speech	LGT	3	60s,70s,80s,90s,10s,20s	6	eu1	1		10
magnusbernhardsen	LG	2	70s,90s,10s,20s	4	eu2	2		8
gunnar	LG	2	70s,00s	2	eu2	2		6
Mario Gaborović	LG	2	60s,10s20s	3			1	6
maxwelldeux	GT	2	10s,20s	2	eu1	1	1	6
flavo5000	LGQ	3	70s	1	eu1	1		5
AB537	L	1	70s	1	eu1	1	1	4
Lakigigar	BT	2	70s,20s	2				4

Participants

Rank	Participant	2023	2021	2018	2015
1	jdidaco	86	80	111
2	sol	62	59	26
3	Fergenaprido	32	34	28	27
4	xianjiro	26
5	beasterne	21	29
6	ororama	18	25		1
7	blocho	17	18	3
7	Tngy	17
9	Good_Will_Harding	15
10	kongs_speech	12	22
11	lineuphere	10	11	3
11	sacmersault	10
13	Minkin	9
14	Mario Gaborović	8
15	magnusbernhardsen	6
15	Melvelet	6
15	PopperTheKungFu-Dragon	6
18	flavo5000	3	27	3
18	maxwelldeux	3	25	22
20	gunnar	2
20	Lakigigar	2
22	AB537	1

Past Participants

Rank	Participant	2023	2021	2018	2015
-	3eyes		3	15	19
-	72aicm			20
-	albajos			111
-	allisoncm			14	8
-	Armoreska		114		8
-	Bing147		3
-	Cocoa			4
-	DudeLanez		9
-	hurluberlu		4	3
-	HVM				10
-	jvv				1
-	kingink				7
-	Lu-Chin		1
-	Mate_cosido			6
-	mfj314		11
-	nimimerkillinen			6
-	Nuclearplanet				19
-	OldAle1		11	14
-	Onderhond		1
-	peeptoad		17
-	pitchorneirda		2
-	Prat		129
-	psychotronicbeatnik			44
-	RogerTheMovieManiac88			47
-	ryebass		3
-	sebby			9
-	vortexsurfer		5
-	weirdboy			1

This official challenge has been run thrice before:
June 2015 Challenge Thread
October 2018 Challenge Thread
June 2021 Challenge Thread
There's also an unofficial challenge that's been running since October 2015, albeit with slightly different parameters than the official challenges.

[Fergenaprido]

Here is the list of recommended queer films from some of our queer forum users.
on ICM: https://www.icheckmovies.com/lists/icm+ ... genaprido/

The purpose of this bonus challenge was to amplify queer voices and let us share with you some of the queer films we love and feel deserve more recognition. Too often queer films that speak to queer audiences are ignored by straight/mainstream ones, either through differences in lived experiences, lack of awareness of queer films, or unwillingness to explore different facets of cinema. Whatever the reason(s), we hope you'll take the time to read what we've said and maybe explore some of these films or rewatch them through new eyes.

Each user I reached out to could pick up to 10 films to highlight for this challenge. There were no criteria beyond that. Some films are marginally queer, and may not normally be eligible for this challenge, but all of this films will count this year regardless of how much queer content there is.

Mulholland's Picks
Rope (1948)
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1956)
Xi yan [The Wedding Banquet] (1993)
The Celluloid Closet (1995)
Presque rien [Come Undone] (2000)
Running with Scissors (2006)
In a Heartbeat (2017 short)
Out (2020 short)
Luca (2021)
Strange World (2022)

Mulholland's Comments

I went on a more personal level with this given... growing up the amount of queer stuff available was a bit crap. I've tried to stay away from the mainstream stuff then realised I didn't have a lot left

So I've made a 10 based on more feelings, memories and how they meant to me at the time. I didn't include the entire series of Yuri On Ice... because I thought that would be a bit much.

Rope (1948) 'They were room mates'. Sure. Even without the queerness, this would still be one of my favourite Hitchcock movies.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1956) - Don't say gay. Never say gay. Just make coded films and go back into the closet. Also Elizabeth Taylor.

The Wedding Banquet (1993) - Questionable resolution aside and some early-1990s... stuff, this still works as a great film about cross-cultural issues with a gay relationship.

The Celluloid Closet (1995) - I saw this when I was 15 and it was on a cable channel. Still one of the best documentaries I've seen about representations of queerness in cinema.

Presque rien (2000) - First foreign language film I sought out as a kid because it had gay content. Thank you internet for helping out because it's not like you saw a lot of this on TV. Meant it was something to connect with.

Running with Scissors (2006) - First queer film I saw in the cinema and it's... a weird one. I think it was unfairly disliked at the time by critics, then again I was 16 and hadn't seen much better at the time.

In a Heartbeat (2017) - I'm a gay redhead. At this point, this is probably the only time I saw someone on screen that COULD have been me... if I stayed away from chocolate more when I was young.

Out (2020) - You never stop coming out, but to some people it is obviously harder than others. This short finds a way of showing this terror, but in a way that can find lightness in the pre-coming out catastrophising.

Luca (2021) - Any younger LGBT person would cling to this. It is so queer-coded that I am amazed people still refer to this in the same way of Victorian 'room mates'. Not Pixar's best, but in terms of representation this was us stepping in the right direction.

Strange World (2022) - The first out LGBT character in the Disney Animated Canon. Whilst not a queer film, it made me cry to finally someone like me onscreen.

DulceDoes's Picks
D.E.B.S. (2004)
Gun Hill Road (2011)
Sort Of (2021 tv series)
The Art of Edith Surreal (2023)
Coming Out (2020 short)

DulceDoes's Comments

My recs get a little out there, but I wanted to suggest things that would be less likely to already be on people's watchlists.

D.E.B.S. (2004) - D.E.B.S. is messy and the acting isn't the greatest and as someone on Letterboxd mentioned the cinematography looks like something from a Disney Channel movie, but it's campy and sincere and it fills my queer heart full of joy so that's what matters the most to me.

Gun Hill Road (2011) - I remember hearing about Gun Hill Road when it was just coming out, I was excited to see its lead actress, Harmony Santana, I still was a long way from accepting who I was, but seeing a trans story with a trans lead who wasn't that far away from me in age really drew me in. Harmony hasn't had many roles since, but I'm hoping someday she can be rediscovered and appreciated.

Sort Of (2021) - Sort Of is a comedy series co-created by Bilal Baig a non-binary actor who is also the lead. This has great representation in its character's journey throughout it.

The Art of Edith Surreal (2023) - I'm a big fan of independent pro wrestling and the Indies have a great number of LGBTQ wrestlers bringing change to the scene. Edith Surreal is one of my favorites and in this documentary, she shares some of her and life in how she went from being a graphic designer to a pro wrestler. It also touches a bit on the current Anti-LGBTQ crusade being led by the Right Wing currently and how that affects her being an entertainer who travels the country.


Coming Out (2020) - Coming Out is short, and sweet, and features Godzilla. What's not to love?

Minkin's Picks
Play for Today: Penda's Fen (1974)
Fellini - Satyricon (1969)
Desert Hearts (1985)
Antonia [Antonia's Line] (1995)
But I'm a Cheerleader (1999)
Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)
Eating Raoul (1982)
Daughters of Darkness (1971)
Anders als die Andern [Different from the Others] (1919)
Psycho Beach Party (2000)

Minkin's Comments

As I'm like 95% asexual at this point (due to meds, so idk if that "counts" enough), I'm hoping to make a somewhat focus on asexuality this month - which is fairly subjective, yes, but there are quite a few asexual icons that stick out to me that I'd like to promote somewhat.

No order here (unsure if they need to be??), but here are my 10 picks (mostly just plucked from my favorite's list..):

Play for Today: Penda's Fen (1974)
Deals with a mix of paganism and sexuality in a very introspective yet magickal way - it's superb!

Fellini - Satyricon (1969)
This just effuses queerness - from every corner, idk if anyone here is supposed to be straight

Desert Hearts (1985)
Beautiful film all around. There needs to be more gay ranches.

Antonia (1995)
Only one queer side character, but its all handled so lovingly - as I wish all parents and families were this accepting.

But I'm a Cheerleader (1999)
After I watched this, it made me feel so powerfully queer, that I came out to my sister a few days later, and that really started getting the ball rolling to this day - so I can't thank enough for this film - for completely changing my life, it's one of the best.

Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)
Asexuality as its most fun

Eating Raoul (1982)
Bartel's character is described as asexual, but then all that queer swinging also going on with everyone else, it fits in well.

Daughters of Darkness
Everyone loves lesbian vampires, right?

Anders als die Andern (1919)
It amazes me that any of this was covered over a hundred years ago, and that this is STILL an issue to this day is just absurd, but we have a good fight left to give.

Psycho Beach Party
This takes the 60s beach party movies to their natural campy gay conclusion - it's a lot of fun.

I'm having trouble finding quality asexual lists, so if anyone can find some list/film asexual recs, then that would be just ducky.

xianjiro's Picks
The Children's Hour (1961)
The Naked Civil Servant (1975)
Brother to Brother (2004)
Saving Face (2004)
Rent (2005)
Ha-Sodot (2007)
Patrik 1,5 (2008)
Call Me Kuchu (2012)
The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018)
Girl (2018)

xianjiro's Comments

I developed this list by combing LGBTQ+ lists for films I had seen and rated well. Focusing on films people might have missed, only two are official checks. My hope is my list, added to the films chosen by other LGBTQQIAAP forum members, will provide a diverse, inclusive, and varied look at the queer experience (through granted, my picks list heavily to the 21st Century). Usually before developing a list of this sort, my preference would be to rewatch anything I considered for the list, but time did not allow. My memory of any film suggested might be flawed.

Fergenaprido's Picks
Sommersturm [Summer Storm] (2004)
Théo et Hugo dans le même bateau [Paris 05:59: Théo and Hugo] (2016)
Contracorriente [Undertow] (2009)
The Killing of Sister George (1968)
Wang-ui namja [The King and the Clown] (2005)
Órói [Jitters] (2010)
Soldier's Girl (2003)
Emporte-moi [Set Me Free] (1999)
Maurice (1987)
Rih essed [Man of Ashes] (1986)

Fergenaprido's Comments

I've picked ten queer films that I adore that I wish other people would see, from longtime favourites to more recent discoveries. There are so many underappreciated queer films, so I tried to pick ones I hadn't previously promoted on the forum, and to spread them around geographically.

Summer Storm (2004) - A guilty pleasure for me that tells a sweet tale of coming out not just to others, but to yourself as well. Set at a summer training camp of sorts for a local rowing team, this film warmed my heart from the start and I really connected with the main character and his struggle to balance his personal feelings and sexuality with his sports life. I swam competitively in high school, but didn't come out until second year of uni, and never came out to my swim team, so a lot of this hits close to home.

Paris 05:59: Théo and Hugo (2016) - I wanted to rewatch this the moment it finished. It's gorgeously shot, taking place entirely in one night. You'll have to endure some sex and nudity at the start, but please don't let that put you off the film, as that's just the catalyst for the main story: an HIV scare after unprotected sex, and a nighttime search for post-exposure treatment. An AIDS film that doesn't feel like an AIDS film, doesn't shame anyone for being HIV-positive, and tells a modern tale of what it's like living with HIV nowadays (even though this film is already 7 years old), thanks to advances in medicine. It's also a "is this love at first sight or just a hook-up" tale, with parallels to the also excellent (and more widely seen and adored) Weekend (2011) from Andrew Haigh.

Undertow (2009) - A ghost tale whereby a fisherman finds a way to continue living his dual lives with his wife and with his lover. It made a splash when it was first released, but seems to have been largely forgotten since then, which is a shame. Peru's put out some great queer films over the years.

The Killing of Sister George (1968) - I was surprised to see a film talk so openly about lesbianism back in the 1960s, and not in a shameful way like The Children's Hour. The lead's a bitter old bitch, but she's a grand dame at the same time and her poisonous tongue brings both joy and malice. Don't be deceived by the title; it's not a murder mystery, as "Sister George" is a character on a tv show that the lead plays.

The King and the Clown (2005) - A Medieval Royal Korean love story, I saw this at TIFF when it first came out. I've been meaning to rewatch it for years, so maybe me adding it to this list is partially motivated by that desire. It's another gorgeously shot film taking a look at a period of time unfamiliar to most westerners (K-drama's recent explosion notwithstanding).

Jitters (2010) - A sweet coming of age/coming out drama from Iceland.

Soldier's Girl (2003) - A recent discovery for me, starring hunky Lee Pace as a transwoman and Jane Fonda's son as her military boyfriend. It's a tragedy, but a powerful one, and a shame that this was only able to be made as a TV film instead of getting a proper theatrical release. Society just wasn't ready to discuss this back then (and is still reluctant about it), but at least Don't Ask Don't Tell has been repealed in the meantime.

Set Me Free (1999) - Another coming of age tale that I don't remember much about plotwise, I just remember how I felt after watching it: conflicted yet still enthralled. I might rewatch this, though I think I should see Vivre sa Vie first since that film seems to have influenced this one (and is featured in it).

Maurice (1987) - Another rewatch candidate, this Merchant Ivory period piece featuring a young Hugh Grant is swoonworthy with it's cast of good-looking lads living repressed lives in Edwardian England almost feels like a gay version of a romance novel (it's based on E.M. Forster's Bildungsroman from just before WWI) and perhaps was the source of many young men's fantasies and dreams when it first came out, but there's so much more going on under the surface, and so much heartbreak it hurts. Makes me glad I didn't live a century ago.

Man of Ashes (1986) - An unexpected film from conservative Tunisia, this one looks at homosexuality and sexual abuse and the ways in which they are/may/could be connected, centering on the experiences of two boys as they grow up into young men. It's not an overtly queer film, but you can feel the thread of it flow throughout the film.

[sol]

Thanks for hosting, Ferg!

Beginning with the last film that I submitted a vote for in this year's DTC exercise:

1. My Summer of Love (2004) Lesbian Europe: UK



This was the film that announced Emily Blunt to the world and both Blunt and co-lead Natalie Press deliver well. As a narrative though, the film only feels like it really gets going in its final twentyish minutes. The first hour mostly just consists of the pair frolicking together, occasionally kissing and sometimes talking. By comparison, the final stretch of the film becomes really dynamic as the prejudices of Press's born-again Christian brother lead to some severe extremes, while Blunt lets on a few things that she was not letting on earlier. And as the brother, Paddy Considine has the most intriguing character.

[sol]

Spoiler

1. My Summer of Love (2004) Lesbian United Kingdom

2. The Retreat (2021) Lesbian Canada



The set-up of this horror film is decent with grisly traps as a lesbian couple discover that homophobes have rigged their holiday home (in a grueling part, one of the women helplessly watches through a window as her girlfriend is verbally and physically harassed). The whole middle section of the film though is far too dimly lit. Set at night, everything that occurs outdoors during this stretch is near impossible to make out, and even when the action turns indoors the interior lighting is far too low. Interesting final final half-hour though as the couple begin to fight back and as a curious social media angle crops up.

And yes, I am aware that Canada doesn't count for the Bonus Challenge but I have decided to include country listings with every film that I log this month to save Ferg the time it takes to look it up. And of course I'm going to watch some Canadian stuff this month.

[sacmersault]

I'm in!

I'm just a bit confused about the Bonus challenge: Do you have to do it in order (first the lgbtq+, then decades, then regions, then mafia)? Or does each film count as 1 point for each of the first 3 categories?

So for example, Patrik 1.5? Does it get you 4 points: 2000s, gay, Europe, and mafia? or you only get to pick one?

[Fergenaprido]

I'm in!

I'm just a bit confused about the Bonus challenge: Do you have to do it in order (first the lgbtq+, then decades, then regions, then mafia)? Or does each film count as 1 point for each of the first 3 categories?

So for example, Patrik 1.5? Does it get you 4 points: 2000s, gay, Europe, and mafia? or you only get to pick one?

No, you don't have to do it in order. Your assumption is correct, so Patrik 1.5 would indeed give you 4 bonus points (assuming you're on your first cycle of identities and decades and hadn't hit the max # of countries in Europe yet).

[sacmersault]

Great!

Also if you watch a film from these countries, you don't get a point for regions, right?:
(USA, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, France, Spain, South Africa, Israel, Philippines, Thailand)

[Fergenaprido]

Great!

Also if you watch a film from these countries, you don't get a point for regions, right?:
(USA, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, France, Spain, South Africa, Israel, Philippines, Thailand)

Correct.

[xianjiro]

Patrik 1.5

BTW, I also included a film about Uganda. Not sure how the game works, but IMDb lists the countries of origin as US/Uganda but it's about people in Uganda and the first round of anti-LGBT legislation that was being passed a decade ago. This latest law is even more atrocious (enough that even Ted Cruz said so ). Anyway ...

[Fergenaprido]

Patrik 1.5

BTW, I also included a film about Uganda. Not sure how the game works, but IMDb lists the countries of origin as US/Uganda but it's about people in Uganda and the first round of anti-LGBT legislation that was being passed a decade ago. This latest law is even more atrocious (enough that even Ted Cruz said so ). Anyway ...

I'm less strict in challenges than I am in polls. Though I'd prefer people went with the primary country of production (usually based on production companies), as long as there's there's a legitimate production company listed (and not just something like "with permission of this government" or "with funding from Hubert Bals Fund"), I think I've usually accepted that in the past.

I don't know about your specific film, if there's actual Ugandan involvement, or if it's just an American film about Uganda and someone added the country tag as a result.

[lineuphere]

Thanks for hosting, Ferg.

I'm in.

Happy Pride Month!

██████

[Fergenaprido]

1. Chuck & Buck (2000 B USA) - 7.5ish

I'm going to label this one bisexual for the challenge, since Buck's sexuality is presumably gay, but it's never fully explained, but Chuck's is fairly clearly bisexual based on the events of the film, though it's never put into words. This one started out bad, and the cringe humour had me grimacing, but after the initial awkwardness it settles in quite well and becomes a compelling character study, primarily about Buck but also about Chuck to a lesser extent. Unpacking one's childhood, and how two people can react differently to the same events, and also how some folks move on more quickly than others, is slowly explored in this. I haven't seen any of Mike White's newer work (notably White Lotus), but I'm happy he's getting his flowers after two decades of solid yet overlooked writing. The core cast does well with this, with Lupe Ontiveros as my MVP.

Recommended.

P.S. This film has my new favourite tongue-twister/theatre warm-up:

I'm the mother pheasant plucker I pluck mother pheasants.
I'm the most pleasant mother pheasant plucker to ever pluck a mother pheasant.
I'm not the pheasant plucker, I'm the pheasant plucker's mate
I'm only plucking pheasants cause the pheasant plucker's late.
I'm not the pheasant plucker, I'm the pheasant plucker's wife,
I've been plucking mother pheasants my whole pheasant plucking life.

[sol]

Spoiler

1. My Summer of Love (2004) Lesbian United Kingdom
2. The Retreat (2021) Lesbian Canada

3. The Triple Echo (1972) Trans United Kingdom REVISION



Lonely with her husband detained in a POW camp, a farmer's wife has an affair with a soldier who has deserted his platoon, but their simple relationship turns complex as she dresses him as her sister in this striking drama. While initially reluctant, the soldier gradually begins to like dressing as a woman - and then a gruff sergeant arrives and is immediately attracted to him. Glenda Jackson is solid in the lead female role with her unspoken jealousy well conveyed as she realises that Reed fancies her own lover, and the way Deacon allows Reed to get close to him works as both a bid for a freedom (with Jackson ironically confining him more than the army ever did) as well as a logical action of a biological male soldier discovering that he would rather be a woman.

[sol]

Spoiler

1. My Summer of Love (2004) Lesbian United Kingdom
2. The Retreat (2021) Lesbian Canada
3. The Triple Echo (1972) Trans United Kingdom REVISION

4. Death in Venice (1971) Gay Italy REVISION



This has attracted blacklash over the years because it revolves around a grown man falling in love with a teenager, but there is far more to the film than just that. Most notably, the composer's infatuation coincides with the outbreak of a deadly plague in Venice that all of the locals are trying to keep hushed up, with a potent parallel between the city's secret and his secret desires. Dirk Bogarde also makes his character delicious less straightforward than just a man with a secret. As flashbacks alert us to a child that he lost, questions arise of whether the boy merely reminds him of his deceased daughter. In fact, Bogarde never seems to focus on the boy in sexual terms, always concentrating on his face, hair and smile, deluding himself into a not-real connection.

[Good_Will_Harding]

Sure, I'll jump in and play along!

1. Desert Hearts (1985) #Lesbian #1980s #NorthAmerica #Personal

Re-watch, on the big screen and with director Donna Deitch in attendance, followed by a Q&A with her after the screening. I had first seen this I believe during a film class about a decade ago, while I saw still in college. I liked it plenty back then, but grew to appreciate it all the more on this current watch, and certainly the surrounding experience helped add to my overall impression of the film as well.

[beasterne]

I'm in for this challenge! Looking forward to exploring more queer cinema. Starting off with a few different shorts from The Criterion Channel:

1. Queersighted ep 8 - The Gay Best Friend (2023) (46 mins)
2a. Greetings from Washington, D.C. (1981) (28 mins)
2b. Pete (2022) (7 mins)
2c. Ife (1993) (5 mins)
= 40 mins of shorts holdover.

Edit: Hmm actually I forgot that "features" over 40 minutes count as a point by themselves. Okay, I've modified the above to reflect this.

[Fergenaprido]

Sure, I'll jump in and play along!

1. Desert Hearts (1985)

Re-watch, on the big screen and with director Donna Deitch in attendance, followed by a Q&A with her after the screening. I had first seen this I believe during a film class about a decade ago, while I saw still in college. I liked it plenty back then, but grew to appreciate it all the more on this current watch, and certainly the surrounding experience helped add to my overall impression of the film as well.

Very cool experience! I know she moved to television and was pretty active there up until last decade, but it's a pity she didn't get the opportunity to make more than a handful of films.

[Tngy]

1. Girl (2018) 6.5 - Transgender - - 2010s - xianjiro

Felt a bit repetitive from time to time and I didn't really liked the ending but overall it's a decent debut by Dhont.

[sol]

Spoiler

1. My Summer of Love (2004) Lesbian United Kingdom
2. The Retreat (2021) Lesbian Canada
3. The Triple Echo (1972) Trans United Kingdom REVISION
4. Death in Venice (1971) Gay Italy REVISION

5. Call Me Kuchu (2012) Gay Uganda [Rainbow Mafia]



Various queer Ugandans discuss how they are discriminated against in the media and the legal challenges that they face (with attempts to outlaw homosexuality - and make it punishable by death) in this insightful documentary. If a bit rambling, the murder of a key gay activist eventually grounds the project. And from haters preaching how the man deserved to die at his own funeral to an interviewee initially saying that the murder was all wrong, before stating that the man should have been tried and then hung instead, the second half of the film paints a downright eerie look at a very out-of-touch country.

[sol]

I'm in for this challenge! Looking forward to exploring more queer cinema. Starting off with a few different shorts from The Criterion Channel:

1. Queersighted ep 8 - The Gay Best Friend (2023) (46 mins)
2a. Greetings from Washington, D.C. (1981) (28 mins)
2b. Pete (2022) (7 mins)
2c. Ife (1993) (5 mins)
= 40 mins of shorts holdover.

Edit: Hmm actually I forgot that "features" over 40 minutes count as a point by themselves. Okay, I've modified the above to reflect this.

For features, yes: the 40 minute rule applies, but not television episodes; they still need to add up to 80mins.

[Fergenaprido]

I'm in for this challenge! Looking forward to exploring more queer cinema. Starting off with a few different shorts from The Criterion Channel:

1. Queersighted ep 8 - The Gay Best Friend (2023) (46 mins)
2a. Greetings from Washington, D.C. (1981) (28 mins)
2b. Pete (2022) (7 mins)
2c. Ife (1993) (5 mins)
= 40 mins of shorts holdover.

Edit: Hmm actually I forgot that "features" over 40 minutes count as a point by themselves. Okay, I've modified the above to reflect this.

For features, yes: the 40 minute rule applies, but not television episodes; they still need to add up to 80mins.

Correct. You had it right the first time beasterne

[sol]

Spoiler

1. My Summer of Love (2004) Lesbian United Kingdom
2. The Retreat (2021) Lesbian Canada
3. The Triple Echo (1972) Trans United Kingdom REVISION
4. Death in Venice (1971) Gay Italy REVISION
5. Call Me Kuchu (2012) Gay Uganda [Rainbow Mafia]

6. Eating Raoul (1982) Asexual United States [Rainbow Mafia] REVISION



Financially troubled and constantly annoyed by their loud and obnoxious "swinger" neigbours, a pompous asexual couple find a grisly solution to both their problems when a cashed-up rapist dies in their apartment in this cult comedy. Revisited after almost ten years, the implausible points (lethal frying pan; no police attention) feel less irksome since everything is so exaggerated as everyone, from bankers to nurses, seems to be a perverted swinger except for our self-described "good people" protagonists. There is also a hilarious aggressive adult shop worker and a crazy Minnie Mouse fetish costume (see above).

[sacmersault]

1. Patrik 1.5 (2008) Gay Sweden Rainbow Mafia



Really campy. A bit clichéd and dated, but very enjoyable.

[Fergenaprido]

2. Gun Hill Road (2011 T USA Personal) - 6.5ish
I like the base story and basic premise, but there's too much crammed into an 80-minute film to make even half of it carry some weight. If it had focused more on the teenager instead of the adults, I think I would have enjoyed it more. Also, some questionable behaviour that feels like it was written just for the film and doesn't mirror real life (like the scenes with the older transwoman or with the father and his fellow prisonmate). Reminds of Saturday Church, in that it's a film with heart and a good message, but very little artistic merit. MVP was Robin de Jesús for me.

Taste the Rainbow

1. Chuck & Buck (2000 B USA) - 7.5ish

[xianjiro]

Hate to have to ask, but what's the Rainbow Mafia and should I be offended (given the generally pejorative usage on this forum)?

[Fergenaprido]

Hate to have to ask, but what's the Rainbow Mafia and should I be offended (given the generally pejorative usage on this forum)?

I thought I saw the term in the Off-Topic thread (which is what I used to contact folks for the Personal Bonus challenge list), but now I can't find it. I might have picked it up from news sites, I don't recall.

I think the mafia term is only negative on the forum when it comes to imdb voting; the experimental mafia is a positive association, from my understanding.

I can remove the term if it's objectionable, but to answer your other question, no, you shouldn't be offended, and I'm offended that you might be offended by a term I decided to use to describe our mutual community. (j/k)

[xianjiro]

Hate to have to ask, but what's the Rainbow Mafia and should I be offended (given the generally pejorative usage on this forum)?

I thought I saw the term in the Off-Topic thread (which is what I used to contact folks for the Personal Bonus challenge list), but now I can't find it. I might have picked it up from news sites, I don't recall.

I think the mafia term is only negative on the forum when it comes to imdb voting; the experimental mafia is a positive association, from my understanding.

I can remove the term if it's objectionable, but to answer your other question, no, you shouldn't be offended, and I'm offended that you might be offended by a term I decided to use to describe our mutual community. (j/k)

Oh, don't worry, I was only trying to gauge if I should be offended, which should imply I wasn't.

Wasn't sure if it was meant as a reference to those of us who submitted titles for the challenge. I knew, with little doubt, that it wasn't being used to imply we'd managed to get movie after movie into the Top 250 -- Lawrence of Arabia, Brokeback Mountain, The Adventures of Priscilla..., etc -- just like Swades and those lovely Turkish comedies from the 70s that everyone around here simply adores. No, the Rainbow Mafia isn't an IMDb thing.



Guess I'd just not run across the term, and certainly not around here, but it could have been something special for challenges. BTW, I have read Pink Mafia or Lavender Mafia used in the media in reference to certain high powered Hollywood types who happen to be gay. Again, wasn't exactly the most complementary usage and no one has accused Ellen DeGeneres, Sandra Bernhard, or Ilene Chaiken of having any power in Tinsel Toes Town, but there was a remote possibility it was meant as an update to Pink/Lavender Mafia.

Now the one other question, meant seriously, is when people reference it in the challenge, if I understand correctly to score (another) point(s), where does that come from? Which movies are Rainbow Mafia checks?

[sol]

Now the one other question, meant seriously, is when people reference it in the challenge, if I understand correctly to score (another) point(s), where does that come from? Which movies are Rainbow Mafia checks?

All of the films listed in the second post on this thread:

Bonus Challenge

I've decided to run a multi-faceted bonus challenge that will hopefully encourage participants to explore beyond the latest awards-bait-gay-film-for-straight-people™ created for straight actors to receive Oscar glory.
[Bonus Challenge Breakdown]
1. LGBTQ+ - 5 points - 1 for each of the first four letters of the acronym (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender), and 1 for the rest combined since they're less prevalent in cinema (Intersex, Pansexual, Asexual, etc.)
2. Decades - 8 points - 1 for each decade from 1960s-2020s, and 1 for all earlier decades combined
3. Regions - 25 points - 1 for each country from each region (North America, South America, Europe, Africa-Middle East*, Asia-Pacific*), up to 5 per region, excluding the 10 countries that were highlighted in the bonus challenge last time (USA, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, France, Spain, South Africa, Israel, Philippines, Thailand)
4. Personal - 35 points - 1 point for each Rainbow Mafia Recommended film, regardless of length (ICM List or see the second post in this thread)

[sol]

Spoiler

1. My Summer of Love (2004) Lesbian United Kingdom
2. The Retreat (2021) Lesbian Canada
3. The Triple Echo (1972) Trans United Kingdom REVISION
4. Death in Venice (1971) Gay Italy REVISION
5. Call Me Kuchu (2012) Gay Uganda [Rainbow Mafia]
6. Eating Raoul (1982) Asexual United States [Rainbow Mafia] REVISION

7. Taxi zum Klo (1980) Gay Germany



This sounds a bit like Looking for Mr. Goodbar with a gay twist, but it is far more graphic than that with various sexual perversions not only shown but captured in vivid detail with close-ups frequently favoured. The film has a dynamic editing design too with black and white stock footage often inserted during conversations. As to what the whole film is meant to be about, some viewers have deemed it a tragic story of sex addict unable to hold a steady relationship, but much of the film simply feels more about shock value than capturing feelings and emotions given how long certain scenes drag out for.

[PopperTheKungFu-Dragon]

1. Una Mujer Fantástica / A Fantastic Woman (2017, Sebastián Lelio) FTV #Transgender #2010s #South America

Interesting story. I liked this one and Daniela Vega gives a good performance.

[Mario Gaborović]

01. The Children's Hour (1961)

[jdidaco]

Under the auspices of Ocaña (1947-1983) & Rita Lee (1947-2023), the essential Queer Challenge starts! Thank you for hosting it, Fergenaprido!

(Screenshots/Gif from 'Rara'/'Rosatigre', 'Ocaña, retrat intermitent', 'Wagamama sensêshon', and 'Homogeneous, Empty Time'),



1. Rara (Sylvano Bussotti, 1969) 9/10 (Q/G) (Italy)
2. Lock-Out (Antoni Padrós, 1973) 9/10 (Q/T) (Spain)
3. Miss O'Gynie et les hommes fleurs (Miss O'Gynie and the Flower Men, Samy Pavel, 1974) 7.5/10 (G/B) (Belgium)
4. Ocaña, retrat intermitent (Ocaña, an Intermittent Portrait, Ventura Pons, 1978) 9/10 (T/G) (Spain)



5. Casta Diva (Eric De Kuyper, 1982) 10/10 (G/Q) (Belgium)
6. Barâdo ni dakarete (Ballads, Naoyuki Tomomatsu, 1993) 7.5/10 (G) (Japan)
7. Wagamama sensêshon (Wagamama Sensation, Naoyuki Tomomatsu, 1995) 8/10 (G/B) (Japan)



8. Rosatigre (Tonino De Bernardi, 2000) 8/10 (T/G) (Italy)
9. Boriven nee yu pai tai karn kuk kun (This Area Is Under Quarantine, Thunska Pansittivorakul, 2009) 8/10 (G) (Thailand)
10. Homogeneous, Empty Time (Thunska Pansittivorakul & Harit Srikhao, 2017) 9/10 (Q/G/L) (Thailand)

[Good_Will_Harding]

Sure, I'll jump in and play along!

1. Desert Hearts (1985)

Re-watch, on the big screen and with director Donna Deitch in attendance, followed by a Q&A with her after the screening. I had first seen this I believe during a film class about a decade ago, while I saw still in college. I liked it plenty back then, but grew to appreciate it all the more on this current watch, and certainly the surrounding experience helped add to my overall impression of the film as well.

Very cool experience! I know she moved to television and was pretty active there up until last decade, but it's a pity she didn't get the opportunity to make more than a handful of films.

Agreed! This is I believe the only work of hers I've seen, apart from maybe bits and pieces of her TV work over the years, but I would also like to see her return to film. She did tease some upcoming projects, including a possible sequel to Desert Hearts set during the Women's Rights movement, but given the difficulties she had getting that first film financed, I'm not exactly holding my breath.

Also, I updated my first post with some hashtags for the bonus challenge.

[Mario Gaborović]

The most iconic LGBT film in Yugoslavian cinematography was Marble Ass, directed by Želimir Žilnik and it featured two real-life transvestites who play themselves (a cinema verite piece). Both protagonists died not long after, the main lead was strangled by two customers in a car, while the other one succumbed to AIDS just few years after the film came out.

Also very good and successful was Croatian flick Fine Dead Girls, which in turn offers lesbian side of the story.

All other examples were either films not good enough to recommend, or have just one or two gay characters and/or scenes.

Some local film history regarding the subject: the very first film with explicit, intentionally put gay scene or character only came in 1967, and that was The Rats Awoke directed by Živojin Pavlović. The very first film that shown lesbians, and not only one but two in bed(!), came in 1975 in a film called Backbone, directed by Vlatko Gilić. Both of these made the local canon list of 100 most important films, but they are hardly LGBT-themed movies.

[xianjiro]

Spoiler

1. My Summer of Love (2004) Lesbian United Kingdom
2. The Retreat (2021) Lesbian Canada
3. The Triple Echo (1972) Trans United Kingdom REVISION
4. Death in Venice (1971) Gay Italy REVISION
5. Call Me Kuchu (2012) Gay Uganda [Rainbow Mafia]
6. Eating Raoul (1982) Asexual United States [Rainbow Mafia] REVISION

7. Taxi zum Klo (1980) Gay Germany



This sounds a bit like Looking for Mr. Goodbar with a gay twist, but it is far more graphic than that with various sexual perversions not only shown but captured in vivid detail with close-ups frequently favoured. The film has a dynamic editing design too with black and white stock footage often inserted during conversations. As to what the whole film is meant to be about, some viewers have deemed it a tragic story of sex addict unable to hold a steady relationship, but much of the film simply feels more about shock value than capturing feelings and emotions given how long certain scenes drag out for.

Someday this is one I need to rewatch: it's simply been ages! However, I'm still of the mind that this plays much differently to a gay audience, especially for those of us over a certain age, or for men who "are on the down low." Not sure many talked about "sex addiction" in the 70s: I remember that being more of 90s introduction and especially pre-HIV, there was a very different mentality in the gay community related to hooking up. There was a time when casual and sex were often used together, even in the straight world! Again, for the time, not sure that out, 'active' gay men would have been shocked by the film -- that's not the memory I carry -- but then again, norms found Pride parades shocking throughout the 70s - 90s with local TV media guaranteed to highlight leatherpeople and drag while totally ignoring the way more average participants. So shock is in the eye ...

Will be honest though, not sure I'd recommend TZK to even my most supportive ally friends! You were exceptionally brave, Sol!

[Mulholland]

Hate to have to ask, but what's the Rainbow Mafia and should I be offended (given the generally pejorative usage on this forum)?

Hehe I'm not taking part in the challenge. But have to say the idea of being part of a rainbow mafia tickles me no end

[Fergenaprido]

The most iconic LGBT film in Yugoslavian cinematography was Marble Ass, directed by Želimir Žilnik and it featured two real-life transvestites who play themselves (a cinema verite piece). Both protagonists died not long after, the main lead was strangled by two customers in a car, while the other one succumbed to AIDS just few years after the film came out.

Also very good and successful was Croatian flick Fine Dead Girls, which in turn offers lesbian side of the story.

All other examples were either films not good enough to recommend, or have just one or two gay characters and/or scenes.

Some local film history regarding the subject: the very first film with explicit, intentionally put gay scene or character only came in 1967, and that was The Rats Awoke directed by Živojin Pavlović. The very first film that shown lesbians, and not only one but two in bed(!), came in 1975 in a film called Backbone, directed by Vlatko Gilić. Both of these made the local canon list of 100 most important films, but they are hardly LGBT-themed movies.

Agreed with the first two, wasn't aware of the other films but I'll seek them out.

Parade came out when I was living in Zagreb, and one of my straight local friends proactively brought it up in conversation and recommended I see it, which was a surprise since even though I was out while I was there, I didn't talk much about being queer with them. I had to wait for a few years for it to be available with English subtitles online, but it's also a good movie from the region, IMO.

[Fergenaprido]

I've updated the OP with the results so far. Glad to see that we've got such good participation after only 2 days, and already the Personal Recommendations are drawing in views, plus 5 first-time participants.

jdidaco bursting into the lead with 10 films in 2 days!
Looks like it's going to be a battle to the top this year.

[xianjiro]

Hate to have to ask, but what's the Rainbow Mafia and should I be offended (given the generally pejorative usage on this forum)?

Hehe I'm not taking part in the challenge. But have to say the idea of being part of a rainbow mafia tickles me no end

(hate that the rainbow can't be shifted 90° clockwise)

[sol]

Will be honest though, not sure I'd recommend TZK to even my most supportive ally friends! You were exceptionally brave, Sol!

To be honest, I had no idea what I was in for. I chose the film because it was German movie (thus getting me an extra bonus point) on the BFI Flare list, which I am looking at getting a Silver on this month. You can imagine my surprise with how graphic it turned out to be.