I’ve been searching for a way to organize 2019 as a year dedicated to queer cinema. It hasn’t been easy to find a pre-existing catalogue of queer film art, other than a one-at-a-time search and find.
So, in the spirit of randomness, I’ve decided this list from Time Out London, called The 50 Best Gay Movies: The best in LGBT+ filmmaking, shall be the primary principle. It’s structured as a countdown of “the best” in queer filmmaking, but as I have no real interest in pitting art against art, I’m approaching it instead only as a collection of sign posts through the history of LGBTQ cinema. It’s neither comprehensive, nor dictating.
Anyway, please tell me what’s missing.
Here is Time Out’s list. I reorganized the films alphabetically because I mean it: art making is not a competition.
120 Beats Per Minute – 2017 |
All About My Mother – 1999 |
Bad Education – 2004 |
Beautiful Thing – 1996 |
Blue is the Warmest Color – 2013 |
Bound – 1996 |
Boys Don’t Cry – 1999 |
Brokeback Mountain – 2005 |
But I’m A Cheerleader – 1999 |
By Hook or By Crook – 2001 |
Call Me By Your Name – 2017 |
Death In Venice – 1971 |
Edward II – 1991 |
Fellini-Satyricon – 1969 |
Fox and His Friends – 1975 |
God’s Own Country – 2017 |
Happy Together – 1997 |
Heavenly Creatures – 1994 |
Hedwig and the Angry Inch – 2001 |
High Art – 1998 |
Longtime Companion – 1989 |
Ma Vie en Rose – 1997 |
Maurice – 1987 |
Midnight Cowboy – 1969 |
Moonlight – 2016 |
My Beautiful Laundrette – 1985 |
My Own Private Idaho – 1991 |
Orlando – 1992 |
Pariah – 2011 |
Paris Is Burning – 1990 |
Parting Glances – 1986 |
Pink Flamingos – 1972 |
Pink Narcissus – 1971 |
Pride – 2014 |
Scorpio Rising – 1964 |
Show Me Love – 1998 |
Stranger Inside – 2001 |
The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert – 1994 |
The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant -1972 |
The Boys in the Band – 1970 |
The Children’s Hour – 1961 |
The Hours – 2002 |
The Kids Are All Right – 2010 |
The Killing of Sister George – 1968 |
The Terence Davies Trilogy – 1983 |
The Wizard of Oz – 1939 |
Theorem – 1968 |
Transamerica – 2005 |
Un Chang d’Amour – 1950 |
Weekend – 2011 |