Films that have successfully captured and explored the complexity of queer relationships

Throughout film history, and history in general, queer people and their relationships have often been marginalized, while their representation in mainstream media was almost nonexistent. When it did appear, it was frequently portrayed in a mocking or distorted way, further reinforcing stereotypes and stigmatization. For instance, the film The Boys in the Band (1970), although pioneering in its depiction of queer characters, was often criticized for presenting the gay community through a lens of pathological stereotypes and negative bias. This kind of portrayal contributed to the perpetuation of harmful images and misunderstandings about queer experiences.

Fortunately, in the past few decades, there have been significant shifts in how queer people and their stories are portrayed on screen. The film Brokeback Mountain (2005), though not without its flaws and share of criticism, is genuinely one of my favorite films of all time. This moving story about the love between two men who, due to social constraints, are forced to live difficult and arguably false lives, marked a turning point in how the depth of queer love was represented in cinema.

Another film, Call Me by Your Name (2017), is one I turn to when I want to have a good cry while admiring the beautiful landscapes of northern Italy (though I still think Armie Hammer should stay canceled forever!).

However, not every film dealing with queer themes has managed to approach the subject appropriately. Blue Is the Warmest Color (2013), despite its initial acclaim, faced significant criticism for the way it was filmed and portrayed. Critics pointed out that the movie takes a problematic approach to intimate scenes and is largely exploitative toward its leading actresses. One of them, Léa Seydoux, later revealed that filming was extremely uncomfortable for her, saying that she experienced abusive behavior from the director and was pressured into shooting certain scenes. This example highlights how even films that aim to represent queer experiences can end up contributing to the problem if the creators are not properly educated on the subject—or are simply arrogant enough to attempt interpreting queer narratives despite that. Below are a few recommendations for films that explore queer themes and that, in my opinion, everyone should see.

My Own Private Idaho (1991)

Director: Gus Van Sant

The story follows two friends, Mike Waters and Scott Favor, played by River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves, as they embark on a journey of self-discovery that takes them from Portland, Oregon, to Mike’s hometown in Idaho, and later to Rome in search of Mike’s mother. The film is considered an important work within the New Queer Cinema movement, a wave of independent filmmaking with queer themes that emerged in the early 1990s. Since its release, it has gained widespread recognition and become a cult classic, especially among LGBT audiences. The film is notable for tackling what was then a taboo subject and for its avant-garde cinematic style.

My own private Idaho

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)

Director: Stephan Elliott

The film follows two drag queens, played by Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce, and a transgender woman portrayed by Terence Stamp, as they travel through the Australian desert from Sydney to Alice Springs in a tour bus they’ve named Priscilla. Along the way, they encounter various groups and individuals.

The film became a surprising worldwide hit, and its positive portrayal of LGBT characters helped bring queer themes into the mainstream. It received mostly positive reviews and won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design at the 67th Oscars. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival and went on to become a cult classic, both in Australia and around the world.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

All About My Mother (1999)

Director: Pedro Almodóvar

After the tragic death of her son, Manuela leaves Madrid for Barcelona to find his father—a trans woman she hasn’t seen in years. Along the way, she meets actresses, sex workers, and nuns—women on the margins who truly feel life and help her rediscover meaning and strength.

In his unmistakable style, Almodóvar celebrates female solidarity, pain, chaos, and tenderness, with vivid colors and raw emotion that ask for no permission. All About My Mother is a story about motherhood, identity, and survival, where melodrama turns into truth. A film that doesn’t shy away from either suffering or laughter—and that’s exactly why it remains unforgettable.

C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005)

Director: Jean-Marc Vallée

C.R.A.Z.Y. follows the story of Zac, a young man coming to terms with his sexuality while facing homophobia as he grows up with four brothers and a strict father in Quebec during the 1960s and 1970s. The film’s soundtrack features music by artists such as David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Patsy Cline, Charles Aznavour, and The Rolling Stones.

As a major work within Quebec cinema, C.R.A.Z.Y. became one of the most-watched films of the year in the province. It received numerous awards, including 11 Genie Awards, among them Best Motion Picture.

C.R.A.Z.Y

The Way He Looks (2014)

Director: Daniel Ribeiro

Leonardo is a blind teenager who longs for independence. His everyday life, his relationship with his best friend Giovana, and his entire view of the world change with the arrival of Gabriel. The film is based on the 2010 short Eu Não Quero Voltar Sozinho (I Don’t Want to Go Back Alone). It stars Ghilherme Lobo, Fábio Audi, and Tess Amorim, who also appeared in the original short.

The Way He Looks

Tangerine (2015)

Director: Sean Baker

One Christmas Day in Los Angeles, two trans friends take to the streets on a quest that’s anything but quiet. Sin-Dee, freshly out of jail, learns that her boyfriend has cheated on her. With her best friend Alexandra by her side, she races through Hollywood’s web of bright lies, fast streets, and moments of raw intimacy.

Shot on an iPhone, with no glamour and no filters, Tangerine breathes reality. Fast-paced, funny, brutal, and tender—it doesn’t try to be authentically raw, it simply is. Baker gives voice to those often silenced by the film industry, doing so with rhythm, humor, and heart.

Tangerine

Carol (2015)

Director: Todd Haynes

Carol is a historical romantic drama based on the 1952 novel The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith (later republished as Carol in 1990). The film stars Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson, Jake Lacy, and Kyle Chandler. Set in New York City in the early 1950s, it follows a forbidden affair between an aspiring photographer and an older woman going through a difficult divorce.

Moonlight (2016)

Director: Barry Jenkins

Widely regarded as one of the best films of the 21st century, Moonlight is based on Tarell Alvin McCraney’s unpublished semi-autobiographical play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue. The film stars Trevante Rhodes, André Holland, Janelle Monáe, Ashton Sanders, Jharrel Jerome, Naomie Harris, and Mahershala Ali.

The story follows three stages in the life of the main character—his childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. It explores the struggles he faces with his sexuality and identity, including the physical and emotional abuse he endures while growing up.

Moonlight

God’s Own Country (2017)

Director: Francis Lee

Spring. Yorkshire. Young farmer Johnny Saxby numbs his daily frustrations with alcohol and casual sex until the arrival of a Romanian migrant sparks an intense relationship that changes his life.

God’s Own Country

A Fantastic Woman (2017)

Director: Sebastián Lelio

This Spanish drama follows the story of Marina, a trans woman who faces immense challenges after the death of her partner. The film has been praised for its profound and empathetic exploration of sexual and gender identity, as well as for the outstanding performance of its lead actress, Daniela Vega.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

Director: Céline Sciamma

Also one of my all-time favorite films, it is set in late 18th-century France and follows the story of Marianne, a talented painter commissioned to create a portrait of Héloïse, a young aristocrat preparing for marriage. Héloïse resists the idea of marriage and refuses to be painted, so Marianne must secretly observe and paint her while posing as her companion. Sciamma uses the film to explore themes of love, freedom, and art within the constraints and expectations of the historical period. The cinematography has been especially praised for its visual beauty and its ability to capture the intimacy between the characters.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire

Transfinite (2019)

Director: Neelu Bhuman

Transfinite is a sci-fi anthology film composed of seven standalone short stories in which supernatural trans and queer people from diverse cultures use their powers to protect, love, teach, fight, and thrive. Each segment explores different genres and styles—from fantasy and science fiction to horror and drama—reflecting the varied experiences and cultural backgrounds of its characters.

Transfinite

All of Us Strangers (2023)

Director: Andrew Haigh

In contemporary London, Adam lives a solitary life in an almost empty apartment complex. His daily routine is disrupted when he meets his mysterious neighbor, Harry, setting off a chain of events that pulls him back into his past. Adam returns to his childhood home and reconnects with his long-deceased parents, confronting memories of loss and pain. The film blurs the line between the real and the surreal, the past and the present, as Adam searches for reconciliation and love.

I Saw the TV Glow (2024)

Director: Jane Schoenbrun

Set in the suburbs in 1996, the story follows twelve-year-old Owen who befriends Maddy, a girl obsessed with a mysterious TV show called The Pink Opaque. Their friendship deepens through their shared fascination with the series, which follows teenagers with psychic powers battling an evil force. Over the years, Owen and Maddy grow increasingly connected to the show’s world, blurring the line between reality and fiction. When the series is canceled, their sense of reality begins to unravel. Years later, an adult Owen encounters Maddy again, who claims she spent eight years living inside the world of the show. Their reunion forces them to question their memories.

The film explores themes of identity, transition, and the influence of media on youth, blending retro aesthetics with elements of horror. Director Jane Schoenbrun, a trans artist, draws on personal experience to craft a powerful narrative about growing up and self-acceptance.

A24

Love Lies Bleeding (2024)

Director: Rose Glass

Though a recent release, the film is set in 1989 in a remote town in New Mexico. Lou, a gym manager, leads a lonely life until she falls in love with Jackie (Katy O’Brian), an ambitious bodybuilder preparing for a competition in Las Vegas. Their passionate relationship soon spirals into chaos when they both become entangled in the criminal dealings of Lou’s father, a local mobster. The film explores the thin line between love and destruction, showing how ambition, violence, and family secrets can shape one’s destiny.

A24