Corporate giants have returned to their standard routines now that Pride Month has concluded, shedding their vibrant, rainbow-clad facades. For such entities, Pride Month often represents nothing more than a trend to exploit fleetingly, a temporary gesture of tokenism. In contrast, there exists a heartening collection of exceptional queer films that, despite nearing the brink of widespread acclaim, have been undeservedly forgotten. These gems deserve our attention not just during a designated month, but year-round.
A shining example is Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s “Flee”, a unique animated documentary that parallels the poignant styles of “Persepolis” and “Waltz with Bashir”. The film chronicles the intensely moving journey of Amin Nawabi, a pseudonym for a gay Afghan refugee. What sets “Flee” apart is its use of animation to liberate Amin from his inhibitions, allowing him to express his evolving identities authentically. The film breaks barriers by being the first in history to be nominated in the categories of Animated Feature, Documentary Feature, and International Feature at the Academy Awards.
A still from Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s ‘Flee’
The intricacies of memory in shaping identity is a central theme in another notable film, “Monster” by Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda. This psychological thriller earned Kore-eda the Queer Palme at Cannes last year. The narrative follows a mother who observes her son Minato’s unsettling behavior and learns from him that he has been abused by his teacher. A tale rich with distortions and misunderstandings, “Monster” unfolds as a heartfelt journey of self-discovery, revealing that not all is as it seems.
Historically, the Queer Palme award has highlighted numerous masterful narratives, but its winners often face an unfortunate trend of being overlooked by the Academy Awards.
. A prime illustration is Celine Sciamma’s groundbreaking film, “Portrait of a Lady on Fire”. This evocative period romance, chronicling a forbidden lesbian love affair, was arguably the most visually stunning cinematic work of its year. Yet, the French Film Commission’s focus shifted to Ladj Ly’s “Les Miserables”, depriving Sciamma of a well-deserved Oscar contention.
A still from ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’
The pattern of Oscar snubbing continued with Pakistan’s 2023 official entry for the Academy Awards, Saim Sadiq’s “Joyland”. This daring film explores the life of Haider who becomes captivated by Biba, a transgender dancer, within the confines of a patriarchal society. It stands as a monumental piece of subversive storytelling from a debutant filmmaker, meriting a global platform like the Oscars for its innovative narrative.
A still from ‘Joyland’
More recently, the vibrant chemistry between Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal in Andrew Haigh’s “All Of Us Strangers”, a moving gay romance, faced similar disregard from the Academy. This film captures a haunting coming-out story and stands as one of 2023’s most powerful cinematic achievements.
A still from ‘All Of Us Strangers’
In the ongoing spirit of Pride, it is not only apt but necessary to shed light on these extraordinary films. These are narratives that transcend the narrow label of “queer cinema”. Rather, they represent remarkable tales of human experience that resonate on a universal scale, proving that true artistry cannot be confined by accolades alone.
From The Hindu cinema team, we offer this fortnightly column to recommend films and shows that resonate with a particular mood, theme, or cultural event. By doing so, we hope to provide a broader stage to truly inspiring storytelling, one that echoes beyond corporate tokenism and momentary trends, celebrating the diverse fabric of human experience in its many forms.
English cinema
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World cinema
