Since then, the number of LGBT+ characters has increased, particularly in television. In film, however, the representation of LGBT+ characters often follows a certain narrative. The film is about a person who struggles with sexuality and feels the need to hide it.
Often, these films focus more on the homophobia that characters experience than the reality of queer relationships. (See, or better yet, don’t watch, 2015’s Jenny’s Wedding for example). is used to make fun of the idea that committed queer domesticity exists.
I am a researcher who is interested in identities, particularly marginalized and queer ones. As such, I have watched with interest as the film caught up with reality. There have been some productions which get it right. I have chosen three films that offer powerful representations of same-sex relationships ten years after legalisation.
Love is Strange (2014, Love is Strange)
It is a lovely film with tender moments between the two main characters. Ben (John Lithgow), and George (Alfred Molina), have been together 30 years, and finally decide to get married.
Trailer for Love is Strange (2014 film).
The wedding’s opening scene is beautifully understated. It gives us the impression that it was something they hadn’t done yet. George loses his employment after the wedding, and the couple is forced to separate for financial reasons.
The film views Marriage not as the start of a new life but as a bonus that can cause problems. The film doesn’t hide the difficulties that couples might face when it comes to gay Marriage. However, the unwavering faith the characters have in each other is evident.
Cloudburst 2011
It is good to see queer narratives in films and television that do not focus on young characters.
In Cloudburst, Stella (Olympia Dukakis) and Dotty are a lesbian pair living in Maine. Dotty’s granddaughter, who believes that the two women are “just good friends,” wants to put her in a nursing facility as her health is declining. Stella takes Dotty on a Thelma & Louise-style trip to Canada so that they can get married.
Trailer for Cloudburst (2011).
Cloudburst, like Love is Strange, gives us a sense of how long the two of them have been together. The film has some comedic moments, which can sometimes undermine the poignancy. However, the relationship between the couple is the main focus.
Marriage is portrayed as an extra and not the mark of a committed partnership. Dotty thought Marriage was “a crock of sh*t” because she could not have it. But now that it is possible, she wants it. The ending of Cloudburst, which I won’t spoil, may cause some people to disagree, but the marriage mission in the movie is something that you should see.
