In an industry so globally driven by the English language, it’s often the case that international projects get overlooked by Western audiences. Whether it’s a lack of access to globally-produced cinema, language barriers, or, in more outlandish cases, an unwillingness to watch a movie with subtitles, it’s unfortunate that audiences in the West miss out on international movies. Of course, streaming platforms and digital methods of exhibition have, in the last handful of years, removed a lot of these roadblocks. Netflix in particular has proved successful in delivering some of the best international movies to millions of subscribers who, without it, would otherwise not have had the opportunity to watch them.
If international movies find it difficult to reach a larger audience, then this is particularly true for international movies that depict queer characters and LGBTQ+ stories. Which is a shame. In many ways, international cinema have been ahead of Western cinema when it comes to LGBTQ+ storytelling. As such, here’s a look at eight of the best international LGBTQ+ movies to watch.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
8 Law of Desire (1987)
El Deseo
Written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar, Law of Desire is considered to be his most successful LGBTQ+ movie to date. This Spanish comedy thriller focuses mainly on popular gay director Antonio and his relationship with the young Pablo, who stops at nothing from gaining the object of his desire. The lead men are played by Antonio Banderas and Eusebio Poncela, and Antonio’s transgender sister Tina, played by Carmen Maura, plays a huge deal in the storyline as well. The movie discusses themes of life as art, sexuality, gender, and many more. Law of Desire went on to inspire multiple other Almodóvar’s projects.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
7 BPM (Beats Per Minute) (2017)
Les Films de Pierre
BPM, also known as 120 Beats Per Minute, is a French drama film telling the story of AIDS activism of ACT UP Paris in 1990s. Directed by Robin Campillo and co-written by Philippe Mangeot, the plot is drawn from their own personal experiences participating in the ACT UP activism. The movie managed to gain huge critical acclaim at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. Watching the movie makes you realize just how necessary it is to spread HIV/AIDS awareness and the need to include it in our education systems.
6 Mädchen in Uniform (1931)
Deustche Film-Gemeinschaft
Forever an international cult classic, Mädchen in Uniform is a German feature-length film based on a play. The plot focuses on Manuela who was sent to an all-girls boarding school and strongly falls in love with Governess Fräulein von Bernburg, who takes care of them. It’s a rare depiction of sapphic love, especially considering the time of release. It’s one of those movies that leaves you craving for more, but you have no luck finding anything remotely similar to it, so you’re just left with rewatching all the scenes.
5 A Fantastic Woman (2017)
Fabula
The Chilean movie A Fantastic Woman is a drama film starring Daniela Vega in the lead role as a young transgender woman Marina, who works as a waitress and a nightclub singer. After her boyfriend dies of a brain aneurysm, Marina has to deal with the blatant discrimination both from the police and her boyfriend’s family. Each of them assume she is just a sex worker paid to keep her boyfriend Orlando, rather than being an actual girlfriend. Not only is the main character played by an actual transgender actress, but it also became the winner of Best International Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards.
4 Rafiki (2018)
Big World Cinema
Rafiki, which is Swahili for “friend,” is a Kenyan drama movie that centers around a romance between two girls amidst the pressure of Kenya’s anti-LGBTQ+ politics and the disapproval of their families. It was the first Kenyan film screened at the Cannes Film Festival. Although it was critically acclaimed around the world, according to Them, the movie got banned in the country of its origin. Throughout the movie, there’s a silent understanding and compassion among the queer characters, which feels like a warm hug. Rafiki is proof that it’s about time that Black LGBTQ+ movies about women finally get the recognition they deserve.
3 The Handmaiden (2016)
CJ Entertainment
Grossing over $38 million worldwide and winning in the category of Best Film Not in the English Language at the 71st British Academy Film Awards, The Handmaiden was a huge commercial success coming out of South Korea. And rightfully so: who wouldn’t want to watch a story about two women out-tricking all the men in the Japanese imperialistic-ruled Korea, stealing all their fortune and running away to start a new life together? Park Chan-Wook is a master director, and he definitely doesn’t miss with this one. The psychological erotic thriller basically tells you to “be gay and do crimes.”
2 Dance of the 41 (2020)
Canana Films
Dance of the 41 tells the story of a Mexican society scandal, when for the first time queerness was openly talked about back in 1901. The reason for the huge coverage was the involvement of upper class men, such as the gay son-in-law of then-President of Mexico Porfirio Díaz. Starring Alfonso Herrera and Mabel Cadena, the plot focuses on an important party of men whose house was raided by police due to them being dressed in drag. The movie is both gorgeous and brutal, a complexity that is rare in movies these days. More significantly, it depicts the intimacy of gay love in such a hopeful appreciative way that we definitely recommend you to watch it.
1 Happy Together (1997)
Golden Harvest Company
Last but not least, we have the Hong Kong beauty of a romance drama called Happy Together, starring Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung Chiu-wai in the lead roles as turbulent lovers. The gay couple go on a trip to Argentina together, where they’re forced to realize the true power of their relationship. The movie was regarded as one of the best LGBTQ+ movies of New Queer Cinema, as well as the third-greatest queer movie by the British Film Institute.
