The Fight Isn’t Over: Politically-Minded Queer Films For Pride

By Cody Dericks 
 
As the events of the past month have shown all of us, the struggle for equality in America is far from over. And in this month of Pride, rather than the outright celebration that’s often found in many American cities, I think this is a time that could instead be a period of introspection for the queer community; learning and engaging with both our history and our current moment. In that spirit, I’ve compiled a list of politically-minded queer films that encompass what I believe would be helpful to explore at this moment. Some of these films are outwardly political in their stories, while some challenge the status quo just by nature of whom and what they depict. I wanted to focus more on films that are slightly outside of the conversation, so although you won’t find films like “Carol” or “Moonlight” on here they are still worth watching, especially this time of year.

​A Fantastic Woman

The winner of the 2017 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Sebastián Lelio’s “A Fantastic Woman” is a deceptively simple study in humanity. It follows Marina, a trans-Chilean woman whose boyfriend suddenly and unexpectedly dies. In the wake of this loss, she must confront her boyfriend’s family to settle the remaining affairs. Marina is met with aggressions both micro and macro from the family and other people she’s forced to interact with across the course of the film. While it’s sometimes hard to watch, Marina is an unwavering exemplar of strength, and having the audience follow her point of view for nearly the entire story allows us to recognize and sympathize with her struggles and draw confidence from her power. “A Fantastic Woman” shows the bravery, both obvious and subtle, that is sometimes required to live one’s truth in a society that doesn’t always work in one’s favor.
 
Available to rent

And Then We Danced

This small, captivating drama was Sweden’s entry for Best International Feature at the most recent Academy Awards. "And Then We Danced" depicts the surreptitious romance between two male traditional Georgian dancers. While it excels as a film in the way it shows the intolerance towards same-sex relationships in modern-day Georgia, the events surrounding the film in real life are just as notable. Members of the crew received death threats while filming, the Georgian dance choreographer refused credit to protect their anonymity, and when the film itself opened in Georgia, it was met with nearly unending protests. For a film about the simple need for respect and understanding, the lack of respect and understanding it received from the country it depicts only serves to further deepen its themes in a metatextual way. While we still have a long path to equality in America, in other parts of the world queer people have it even worse, and this film is a surprisingly warmhearted and lovely depiction of that continuing struggle.
 
Available to rent

BPM (Beats Per Minute)

Sprawling and ambitious, “BPM” shows the passion and activism of the Paris chapter of ACT UP as they protest and demonstrate against government inaction in regards to HIV/AIDS in the early ‘90s. It serves as both a time capsule of protest and as a romantic look into the lives of two male activists as they fall in love. This simple and unadorned film is a testament to the power of political acts as large as invading pharmaceutical offices and as small as simply loving someone that society says you shouldn’t. 
 
Where to stream: Hulu & Kanopy

How To Survive A Plague

Covering similar ground as “BPM,” this documentary shows the political actions of the founding chapter of ACT UP in New York City across the 1980s and into the ‘90s. It shows the unapologetically aggressive tactics the group used and the actual change that was a direct result of their uncompromising protest style. Its archival footage is unendingly powerful, showing both the group’s public demonstrations and private meetings, including an earth-shattering moment where playwright Larry Kramer interrupts the group’s infighting by famously bellowing: “Plague!” This documentary is an important reminder of the history of a generation of queer people that was nearly wiped out due to the government’s intentional neglect.
 
Where to stream: Amazon Prime

​Pariah

Dee Rees’s stunning and polished feature debut, “Pariah,” follows a teen named Alike as she struggles to hide her same-sex attraction from her family, while also balancing friendships and budding romances. It’s an empathetic portrait of the double lives that queer folks are sometimes forced to lead. Alike is not only constantly walking a tightrope of expectation around her parents, but she must also face judgment from people she interacts with in her daily life concerning her gender presentation. “Pariah” shows that queerness isn’t only tied to sexual attraction, but it also often defies heteronormative expectations of gender-based fashion and behavior.
 
Available to rent

Pay It No Mind: Marsha P. Johnson

This short documentary is all about the legendary NYC activist, Marsha P. Johnson, who is most known for their connection to the Stonewall uprising. It’s almost exclusively made up of interviews with people who knew Marsha at the time and features a good number of clips from an interview conducted with Marsha mere days before their death. While the filmmaking on display may not be groundbreaking, the interview footage of the titular icon is an invaluable historical resource. The film shows Marsha as a person rather than just a cultural figure, but it also isn’t shy in showing numerous interview subjects refer to Marsha as a “saint”. This hagiography is an extremely useful resource for any LGBTQ+ folks who are looking to find the humanity in someone whose name is synonymous with queer activism.
 
Where to stream: Free on YouTube
 
Editor’s Note: I would stay away from the documentary, “The Dead and Life of Marsha P. Johnson” on Netflix. The director, David France, stole the basis for the documentary from transgender activist/filmmaker, Tourmaline. I would recommend watching the above or supporting Tourmaline and Sasha Wortzel’s short film, “Happy Birthday, Marsha!”

Pride

This charming little film tells the story of the unlikely alliance between gay activists and striking miners in 1980s Britain. It’s a tale not only about the rising movement for equality but also about the importance of solidarity. The surprising intertwined journeys of these two groups shows how essential it is to come together politically not just in your community, but also with communities of aligned political interests.
 
Where to stream: Amazon Prime & Hoopla

​Screaming Queens: The Riot At Compton’s Cafeteria

This short documentary is a delightful hidden gem. Through the voice of its co-director, a trans woman named Susan Stryker, the film explores a riot between San Franciscan trans women and the police that predates Stonewall by three years. It’s such an unknown historical flashpoint that even Stryker was unaware of it. She delves into the event by interviewing people who were there and who frequented the neighborhood, from a retired police sergeant to a pastor to the women who were actually there. It shows the struggle of these women at the time while never being bogged down by the moroseness or seriousness that is sometimes common in political documentaries. It’s informative yet joyful and full of life.
 
Where to stream: Amazon Prime

Stonewall Forever

“Stonewall Forever” is a micro-documentary which, by using interviews of people who were there, examines queer culture before and after the Stonewall uprising. It is most valuable as an important reminder that we still have a ways to go before all members of the LGBTQ+ community are equal, not just in the world in general, but amongst ourselves. Most interestingly and damningly, it features captivating footage of trans activist, Sylvia Rivera, only a few years after being booed off of a gay pride stage for demanding intersectional support from gay men and lesbians. The fight isn’t over, and “Stonewall Forever” serves as a quick and to the point reminder of that fact.
 
Where to stream: Free on YouTube

The Times Of Harvey Milk

A simple and straightforward biographical documentary, “The Times of Harvey Milk” begins by showing the famed politician’s slow and patient march towards elected office. We see how important even the smallest of elections and political actions can be in beginning the movements that affect great change. And as the film shows when we see the paltry sentence Milk’s murderer received, even when minority voices reach the heights of power, justice isn’t always guaranteed for them in the face of tragedy. But as the mere existence of this film shows, Milk’s legacy is one of great impact regardless of what our criminal justice system may say. Gus Van Sant’s 2008 dramatization, “Milk,” is a beautiful film that shows the legacy of the man, with the benefit of time and further equality that had been gained for the LGBTQ+ community by the time of its release, but “The Times of Harvey Milk” does a great job of showing his power, influence, and legacy to those around him in a much more personal way.
 
Where to stream: Criterion Channel, HBO Max, & Kanopy

Weekend

This intimate and sensual film by Andrew Haigh tells the story of two men who drunkenly hookup and then connect in ways that surprise both of them across the course of the subsequent weekend. Most of the film consists of frank and realistic conversations between the two of them, and a frequent talking point is the importance of queer visibility. The character of Glen’s favorite talking point is that straight romantic and sexual culture is constantly jammed down everyone’s throats, but the moment that a gay man talks about anything romantic or sexual he’s deemed a problem by society. This film shows the bravery it takes for queer people to just live their daily lives in public and preaches the importance of doing so.
 
Where to stream: Criterion Channel & Realey

​You can follow Cody and hear more of his thoughts on the Oscars and Film on Twitter at @codymonster91