Among the many commemorative events celebrated in June, one of them takes the whole month to claim its importance: Pride Month.
The parades are taking the streets in numerous countries around the world, but the carry of the event is more than the hold of festivities for the LGBTQIA+ community – it’s a political act, to fight for the freedom to love and be yourself.
Cinema has played an important role in LGBTQIA+ visibility, evolving from decades of censorship and stereotypes to stories that place queer characters and experiences at the center of the narrative. To celebrate Pride Month, we selected five films that explore different perspectives of love, identity and resistance while highlighting the diversity of the community.
The Rainbow Month
On June 28, 1969, in New York City, thousands of people marched through the streets in response to police violence. The protest began at the famous gay bar, Stonewall Inn, where the police frequently assaulted members of the LGBTQIA+ community .
By the next year, the protest happened once again. Organized by Frank Kameny and documented by Lilli Vincenz, It became a symbol of the community´s fight for human rights and celebration of its identity. Later, June 28 was chosen to represent the International Pride Day.
In 1977, Gilbert Baker, was the first openly gay and drag queen man to be elected as an official member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Passionate about sewing he rejected the old gay symbol and created the Pride Flag we all know to this day. First raised in 1978, the eight stripes of the rainbow hold a significance of their own.
The fight for visibility extended beyond the streets and into popular culture. After decades of censorship, the LGBTQIA+ movies started to gain protagonism and more positive perspectives in the 1970s. The productions we have today are the result of risks taken to bring the community´s history, struggles and experiences to public view.
The following films are perfect choices to watch during Pride Month, celebrating stories of love, identity and belonging.
The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)
The documentary can be found on Netflix, was rated 97% on the Tomatometer, and won the Kaleidoscope LGBT Festival Award in 2017. The story revolves around one question: who killed Marsha P. Johnson?
In July, 1992, Marsha’s body was found, the police claimed it was suicide. However, Victoria Cruz didn’t believed that her friend would harm herself, so she decided to investigate.
Responsible for the creation of the Street Transvestites Action Revolutionaries (S.T.A.R), an organization that supported trans people across the country, Marsha was described as a loving and caring person. While trying to find out the real cause of her death, the documentary brings memories of Marsha as a celebration of her life.
The Handmaiden (2016)
Available on Prime Video and soon on Netflix, the Korean movie was rated 96% on the Tomatometer. Its official premiere took place at the 69th Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Vulcain Prize for the Technical Artist. The movie won 72 of the 108 awards for which it was nominated.
The narrative takes place in the 1930s, when Korea was under Japanese rule. Hideko, a Japanese heiress, lived in the countryside with her corrupt uncle, who planned to marry her in order to gain access to her fortune.
Sook-Hee, a Korean maid, was hired to work for Hideko. However, the maid was secretly part of a scheme to convince the heiress to marry Fujiwara, who intended to steal her wealth and send her to an asylum.
Neither woman expected to fall in love with the other.
iMAGINE mE & yOU (2005)
Available on Prime Video and Google Play, the movie has a 74% rating on the Popcomenter. Imagine Me & You is a lesbian rom-com that was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award in the category of Outstanding Film.
Rachel is about to marry her best friend Heck, they have a long-term relationship and really love each other. But, at the altar, the bride notices Luce, the florist at her wedding.
The two women soon become close friends, and as time passes, their friendship gradually blossoms into something more.
Rachel has to decide whether to continue her marriage with Heck or finally admit that she actually has feelings for Luce.
Brokeback mountain (2005)
The movie can be found on Prime Video and Apple TV, rated 88% on the Tomatometer, Brokeback Mountain was nominated for eight Oscar categories and won three: Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Music Written for Motion Picture. It also won four Golden Globes. Out of 104 nominations in total, the movie won 71 awards.
In the American West, Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist are two cowboys hired by rancher Joe Aguirre to herd sheep in the Wyoming mountains. During their time together, the pair form a deep connection that challenges the expectations placed on them by society.
As they struggle with their feelings for each other, the pair follow different paths in life, but continue to meet over the years, trying to maintain their relationship while dealing with guilt, fear, and pressure.
A moving story about love, identity, and sacrifice, Brokeback Mountain became one of the most acclaimed LGBTQIA+ films in cinema history.
Moolight (2016)
Available on Prime Video, Youtube and Google Play, the movie has a 98% rating on the Tomatometer. Nominated for eight Oscar categories, the film won three of them, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay. At the Golden Globes, it was nominated in six categories and won Best Motion Picture – Drama.
Set in Miami, the movie follows Chiron, a black man who was born and raised in a poor community, through different stages of his life. During childhood, he is known as “Little”, struggles with bullying, loneliness and a difficult relationship with his abusive, addicted mother.
As he gets older, Chiron begins to explore his identity and sexuality, facing challenges that shape the person he becomes. With a powerful and emotional story, Moonlight is a moving film about self-discovery, love, and finding your place in the world.
The Pride Month doesn’t represent the beginning or the end of a fight, it is a reminder that we still have a long way to go as a society. The stories told in these films are a reflection of that journey, portraying the struggles, achievements, and experiences of LGBTQIA+ people throughout history and today. More than a celebration for the community, Pride Month is an opportunity for everyone to reflect on the importance of respect, equality, and the freedom to be yourself. Happy Pride!
The article above was edited by Rafaela Mina.
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