Gay Cinema

Gay cinema is more than just films about gay men and women.

Gay cinema offers an insight in to the lives of homosexual people from all parts of the globe.

Whilst a lot of Gay Cinema may focus on the prejudice gay people face or the difficulties of living as a gay man or women in a society that may not be tollerant, it is also a celebration of diversity and individuality.

Many gay films are what we can consider 'mainstream' - they may follow all the same rules as traditional hetrosexual cinema but replace the female love interest with a male.

or

they may focus on areas of gay culture that mainstream films tend to ignore.

For example

Happy Together (Wong-Kar Wai)

"Yiu-Fai and Po-Wing arrive in Argentina from Hong Kong and take to the road for a holiday. Something is wrong and their relationship goes adrift. A disillusioned Yiu-Fai starts working at a tango bar to save up for his trip home. When a beaten and bruised Po-Wing reappears, Yiu-Fai is empathetic but is unable to enter a more intimate relationship. After all, Po-Wing is not ready to settle down. Yiu-Fai now works in a Chinese restaurant and meets the youthful Chang from Taiwan. Yiu-Fai's life takes on a new spin, while Po-Wing's life shatters continually in contrast"


The Birdcage

Other films (mainstream Hollywood) offer a differ representation of Homosexuality in film, such as 'The Bircage' starring Robin Williams.

Consider how this representation of homosexuality differs from the representations seen in Happy Together.

Watch the  clip below and consider -

• is this use of stereotype offensive?
• Is this in line with how you expect gay men to be represented in Hollywood cinema? 

The Best of Agador Spartacus

Opinions on Gay Cinema and it's development

"New generations of independent filmmakers have radically altered the way America chooses to be entertained, flooding the marketplace with thousands of Out, Outrageous, Proud, and highly worthwhile gay-themed films. This video describes what readers can expect from Blood Moon's newest book release, FIFTY YEARS OF QUEER CINEMA, 500 of the Best GLBTQ Films Ever Made. Narrated by Danforth Prince, President of Blood Moon Productions, with commentary about the spectacular diversity of queer films released worldwide since The Celluloid Closet was opened in 1960"

Use the websites below for more information on Gay Cinema and for inspiration when choosing texts to study:



Cinema Queer 

more to be added as they are unblocked!