HERE ARE MY TOP 20 FILMS WITH A GAY THEME |
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1. Clapham Junction (2007), British television film, written by Kevin Elyot. Directed by Adrian Shergold. The film centers on the experiences of several gay men during a 36 hour period in the Clapham area of London and the consequences when their lives collide.
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2. Yossi & Jagger (2002), Israeli romantic drama film directed by Eytan Fox about soldiers at the Israel – Lebanon border who try to find some peace and solace from the daily routine of war. |
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3. Patrik, Age 1.5 (Patrik 1,5) (2008), Swedish comedy–drama film directed by Ella Lemhagen in which a gay Swedish couple adopt what they at first believe to be a baby, Patrik, only to have him turn out to be a homophobic teenager. |
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4. Weekend (2011), British romantic drama film directed by Andrew Haigh. After a drunken house party with his straight mates, Russell heads out to a gay club. Just before closing time he picks up Glen but what's expected to be just a one-night stand becomes something else, something special. |
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5. Shortbus (2006), American comedy-drama film written and directed by John Cameron Mitchell. A group of New Yorkers get caught up in their romantic-sexual milieu converge at an underground salon infamous for its blend of art, music, politics, and carnality. |
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6. My Own Private Idaho (1991), American independent drama film written and directed by Gus Van Sant. Two best friends living on the streets of Portland as hustlers embark on a journey of self discovery and find their relationship stumbling along the way. |
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7. Beautiful Thing (1996), UK, directed by Hettie Mcdonald, written by Jonathan Harvey. In a suburb of London, young Jamie is escaping sport hours, to avoid being the victim of his comrades. Young Ste, his neighbor, is beaten by his father, and comes to sleep overnight. They discover new feelings, sleeping in the same bed. |
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8. Nico and Dani (Krámpack) (2000), Spanish film directed by Cesc Gay about the sexual awakening of two teenagers, as one comes to terms with his homosexuality and the other with his heterosexuality. The Spanish title refers to a form of mutual masturbation that the two practice. A Spanish coming of age story focusing on the antics of two 17 year olds, who have a posh beach house almost all to themselves one summer. This is also a summer of sexual awakenings. |
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9. Before Night Falls (2000), American drama film directed by Julian Schnabel. The screenplay is based on the autobiography of the same name of Reinaldo Arenas, which was published in English in 1993. Episodic look at the life of Cuban poet and novelist, Reinaldo Arenas (1943-1990), from his childhood in Oriente province to his death in New York City. |
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10. The Country Teacher (Venkovský ucitel) (2008), Czech drama film directed by Bohdan Sláma. Petr, youthful, quiet, and sensitive, comes from Prague to teach natural science in a country town. The gruff principal asks what he's running from and predicts he'll be gone in six months. Marie, a widow with a teen son, Lada, befriends Petr. We meet Petr's parents and understand some of why he left Prague, then Petr's friend Mihi pays a visit and we understand more. Mihi throws a wrench in things, and Lada comes to Petr for help. Has Petr found his place in the world, but what about his nature? |
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11. Mysterious Skin (2004), drama film directed by American filmmaker Gregg Araki, who also wrote the screenplay based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Scott Heim. A teenage hustler and a young man obsessed with alien abductions cross paths, together discovering a horrible, liberating truth. |
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12. Eyes Wide Open (2009) Israeli film written by Merav Doster and directed by Haim Tabakman. A married, Orthodox Jewish father of four falls in love with a twenty two year old male student. |
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13. Undertow (Contracorriente) (2009), Peruvian drama film directed by Javier Fuentes-León. An unusual ghost story set on the Peruvian seaside; a married fisherman struggles to reconcile his devotion to his male lover within his town's rigid traditions. |
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14. Borstal Boy (2000), British/Irish romantic drama film adaptation of the Brendan Behan autobiographical novel of the same name. The film is directed and written by Irish playwright Peter Sheridan. Irish writer and political activist Brendan Behan, is befriended as a teenager in a British labor camp by a liberal warden. |
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15. Shank (2009), British drama film written by Darren Flaxstone and Christian Martin, and directed by Simon Pearce. Teenage gang member Cal, hides his sexuality from the his fellow happy slapping gang members despite their often futile and violent dislike of anyone that isn't the same as them. Hooking up with a random stranger, Cal is unaware that this chance meeting will eventually provide him with choices and routes of escape from the tedium of his unambitious and depraved life. |
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16. Torch Song Trilogy (1988), comedy-drama film adapted by Harvey Fierstein from his play of the same title. The film was directed by Paul Bogart. A very personal story that is both funny and poignant, Torch Son Trilogy chronicles a New Yorker's search for love, respect and tradition in a world that seems not especially made for him. |
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17. Philadelphia (1993), American drama film and one of the first mainstream Hollywood films to acknowledge HIV/AIDS, homosexuality, and homophobia. It was written by Ron Nyswaner and directed by Jonathan Demme. When a man with AIDS is fired by a conservative law firm because of his condition, he hires a homophobic small time lawyer as the only willing advocate for a wrongful dismissal suit. |
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18. Antarctica (2008), Israeli romantic drama film directed by Yair Hochner. Facing down his quickly approaching 30th birthday, gay librarian Omer (Tomer Ilan) hasn't found his place in life or his ideal man, until fetching journalist Ronen (Guy Zoaretz) enters the scene. Meanwhile, Omer's sister Shirley (Lucy Dubinchik) struggles to decide between settling down with the woman of her dreams and indulging her long-held fantasy of traveling to Antarctica. (Netflix) |
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19. Raging Sun, Raging Sky (Rabioso Sol, Rabioso Cielo) (2009), Mexican film written and directed by Julián Hernández. A love story for the ages in this mythical gay romance that transcends death and time as it tells the story of two men -- Kieri (Jorge Becerra) and Ryo (Guillermo Villegas) -- for whom death is no deterrent to true love. Devoted lovers, the guys enjoy an almost perfect life until Ryo is abducted. As the lovers struggle to find one another, little do they suspect that their reunion might not come in this life. (Netflix) |
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20. The Mudge Boy (2003), American film directed by Michael Burke and based on his 1998 short film Fishbelly White. When 14-year-old Duncan Mudge's mother dies unexpectedly, he takes a bizarre interest in her clothing and starts to speak in her voice. Alienated from his impassive father, Duncan develops an unlikely bond with a volatile bully that leads to trouble. (Netflix) |