Groundbreaking Gay Films

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 2:40am

From AfterElton (not a bad list, but there are a few glaring omissions -- and a couple of unworthy inclusions -- IMO):

"This list is not intended as the "Best" gay films ever, but the most groundbreaking. No doubt many will feel other, "better" movies have been omitted--movies that were more popular, more fun, or more succesful. But it is our belief that each movie we have included somehow pushed the boundaries of queer cinema in new and exciting ways.

The sheer scope of the material to choose from made it necessary to set certain clear boundaries at the outset. Because AfterElton.com covers gay and bisexual men, all female-driven narratives were excluded (for coverage of lesbians and bisexual women, visit AfterEllen.com). Dated portrayals of gays as pansies or villains were dropped from consideration as well. "


1. The Rocky Horror Picture Show

2. Teorema

3. Pink Flamingos

4. Brokeback Mountain

5. Paris is Burning

6. My Own Private Idaho

7. Fireworks

8. Tongues Untied

9. The complete works of Bruce LaBruce

10. Silverlake Life: The View From Here

11. Sunday Bloody Sunday

12. Law of Desire

13. Boys in the Band

14. Hedwig and the Angry Inch

15. Parting Glances

16. La Cage aux Folles

17. Beautiful Thing

18. The Living End

19. Victim

20. Querelle



http://www.afterelton.com/movies/2007/2/20films.html

Updated On: 2/20/07 at 02:40 AM

[Liverpool]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 2:42am

I feel kinda bad that i've only seen 3 of those.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 2:43am

I would certainly put FAR FROM HEAVEN on that list.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 3:10am

This is a list of "Groundbreaking" films, not "Best" films, and FAR FROM HEAVEN was hardly groundbreaking in any way (though it certainly is a very good film).

I find it unfortunate that they decided to eliminate all lesbian-themed films from consideration -- early films like Madchen in Uniform (1931) and later ones like The Children's Hour and The Killing of Sister George were landmarks in the history of films dealing with same sex relationships.

I've seen all the films listed and I personally wouldn't include Bruce La Bruce's films (which are basically amateurishly acted and directed pseudo-porn), The Living End, My Own Private Idaho or Hedwig (the latter two of which I do think are quite good films), over more groundbreaking choices such as Making Love (one of the first mainstream, wide release Hollywood films to attempt to deal honestly with gay subject matter), My Beautiful Launderette, Longtime Companion, or Maurice.

I am happy that they remembered several great landmark documentaries such as Tongue Untied, Silverlake Life (which is so powerful I simply can never watch it again), and Paris Is Burning, and early important works such as Kenneth Anger's Fireworks (though I personally might have chosen Scorpio Rising) and the early 60s British film Victim.

Updated On: 2/20/07 at 03:10 AM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 3:36am

Certainly glad to see Paris Is Burning, an incredibly fascinating documentary yet rather controversial within queer/race studies. I still can't erase Venus' face off my mind, it was so shocking for me at the time.
I agree with Margo about Hedwig, especially since I think that by including Rocky Horror and Hedwig they're being a bit redundant. I understand why Brokeback Mountain is on the list and yet I don't, I found the film to be as straight as Titanic.

[courtnyj]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 3:39am

I know it's probably lame or cliche, but I still remeber the impact The Rocky Horror Picture Show had on me when I saw it for the first time as a young teen in a semi-conservative suburban town.


PS No, I have never dressed up or attended one of those "special" showings of the movie. Updated On: 2/20/07 at 03:39 AM

[Craww]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 3:43am

Rocky Horror Picture Show never had the chance to have a real impact on me, considering I first saw it when I was 6 and then saw it another 20-30 times between ages 6 and 10. It was a (probably inappropriate, but really kind of awesome) personality forming influence, though.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 4:19am

Definitely miss "Maurice," and not sure if it was as groundbreaking in the US, but I do know that back home "Another Country" was one of the first semi-commercial gay movies to be widely successful.

[Urban]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 8:10am

Thanks for posting Margo.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 8:20am

I would have thought that Longtime Companion would have made the list.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 9:03am

I completely disagree with you Margo Channing, that THE LIVING END shouldn't be on that list. Araki has had such a profound impact on me and on so many other people I know as a filmmaker, and that film in my opinion is by far his best work. If you havn't seen it, I highly picking it up.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 9:06am

I agree with Margo that Silverlake Life is one of the most difficult films to watch but I would not have missed it for anything.

I am rather surprised that Cruising is not on the list.


(edited after my coffee, did not read the criteria carefully)

Updated On: 2/20/07 at 09:06 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 9:06am

Definitely "Making Love" should be there.

[DG]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 9:09am

I can't take seriously a list that includes Brokeback Mountain, and not Making Love.

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 9:21am

i think PARTING GLANCES meant the most to me when i saw it at the time. i might like to add donna deitch's DESERT HEARTS.

Vivian: Can I be honest with you, Frances?
Frances: It's a dyin' art, so be my guest.

Audra Lindley stole that film from some very hot actresses.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 9:26am

I don't know that Desert Hearts would be considered groundbreaking, but it certainly had quite an influence on me.

[avab802]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 9:28am

Is there a comparable list of lesbian films on AfterEllen.com? I would look myself but I can't visit that site on my work computer because of their idiotic Internet filter.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 9:32am

I've only seen 4...I feel like I am letting something down. However, much as I loved "Beautiful Thing," why did it make it?

[DG]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 9:35am

avab - I looked all around the AfterEllen site and didn't see an 'official' comparable list.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 9:42am

DESERT HEARTS is a definite oversight...Patricia Charboneau's performance is still one of the sexiest I've ever seen.

Also you forgot the legendary TAXI ZUM KLO and the wonderful SHOW ME LOVE, a truly brilliant Swedish film that didn't make much of a ripple here but is still the highest grossing film of all time in Sweden, outgrossing even TITANIC.

[mattonstage]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 9:48am

I agree that 'Longtime Companion' should have made the list, and if they would include TV movies, then I would put "An Early Frost" on it as well.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 9:51am

The sheer scope of the material to choose from made it necessary to set certain clear boundaries at the outset. Because AfterElton.com covers gay and bisexual men, all female-driven narratives were excluded (for coverage of lesbians and bisexual women, visit AfterEllen.com). Dated portrayals of gays as pansies or villains were dropped from consideration as well.

I guess I was not the only one to miss this little disclaimer. So let's stop moaning about the Lesbians being overlooked.

And Tazi Zum Klo? Wow, that is a blast from the past.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 9:54am

What about "Rope?"

[DG]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 10:03am

I must admit, their reasoning and thoughtfulness is pretty persuasive - there're some good reads in the what/why listings for each choice.

[robbiej]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 10:10am

Well...ROPE would be villians, no?

I am surprised both Longtime Companion and Early Frost are left off the list. Brokeback, however, must be on that list. I may not have liked it, but the stampede of critics and audiences trampling each other to proclaim just how much they GET what it is to be gay and why it's BAD to discriminate was huge. But yes...Making Love deserved to be there as well.

And I'm so pleased to see VICTIM listed here. A truly astonishing work, considering when and where it was made.

OH...and though I couldn't stand THE LIVING END, if Araki needed to make that to get to making the glorious MYSTERIOUS SKIN, then I say I'm ok with it being here.