One of the unique stories that depict a homosexual man living his everyday life in a heterosexual life. Michael Grandage, an acclaimed filmmaker, directed the movie “My Policeman” with inspiration from the eponymous novel from 2012 authored by Bethan Roberts. It can be classified as a periodic romance film as it is set in 1950s Britain with the essence of a love triangle in it. This movie was first released on the 11th of September at the Toronto International Film Festival, which was followed by a huge success. This movie had made an astonishing amount of fanbase due to the presence of Harry Styles, a prominent face and voice of pop culture.
The story of this movie revolves around Tom Burgess, a police officer depicted by Harry Styles, who marries Marion Taylor, a school teacher portrayed by Emma Corin in England. However, when Tom begins a homosexual relationship with artist Patrick, acted by David Dawson, he tries to keep his sexuality a secret from the public, which strains his relationship with Patrick and his wife. However, as the truth comes out of the cave, things take a drastic turn when Marion learns about the entire scenario. The story, however, has a very interesting end to it. To explore more about it, watch it online on Amazon Prime.
Jules and Jim (1962)
“Jules and Jim” is a French film released in 1962, directed by François Truffaut, who not only wrote but also produced it alongside. Following a sequence of events happening during the first World War, the story follows the adventures of friends named Jules, played by Oskar Werner, Jim depicted by Henri Serre, and Catherine portrayed by Jeanne Moreau. The three guys bond through their love of something like the bohemian lifestyle, and both men fall in love with Catherine, a lady who would go to any extent to acquire what she wants. This film is only available to watch online with HBO Max to date.
Maurice (1987)
Maurice is one of the famous British romantic dramas directed by James Ivory in 1987, and it was said to be loosely based on E. M. Forster’s 1971 novel called Maurice. The movie features James Wilby in the role of Maurice, whereas Hugh Grant is Clive, and Rupert Graves is Alec as the central character, and the story revolves around Maurice’s sexual reawakening as a gay man in early twentieth-century Britain. All across the film, Clive Durham and Alec Scudder are introduced as two prominent love interests of Maurice. To learn more about Maurice’s life, watch it on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Google Play, Tubi, and Vudu.
Another Country (1984)
British filmmaker Julian Mitchell’s directed a romantic period piece, Another Country, based on his play of the same name. The movie featured Marek Kanievska in the role of Guy Bennett and stars Rupert Everett as well as Colin Firth as Tommy Judd in his feature acting debut as the protagonist of the story. The story follows Guy Bennett, one of his public school’s only openly homosexual students, as well as Tommy Judd, an outcast owing to his Marxist convictions. Bennett begins to come to grips with his homosexuality after a school crackdown spurred by the suicide of a pupil who was found in a sexual connection with another boy while also recognizing how he may be obliged to keep that aspect of his identity locked away. The Another Country is available to watch on Roku Channel, Tubi – Free Movies & TV, PlutoTV, Plex, and Shout.
Jeffrey(1995)
The 1995 film “Jeffrey,” inspired by Paul Rudnick’s drama of the same name and adapted by Rudnick, is a narrative of hardship and love during the AIDS pandemic. The story follows Jeffrey, a gay guy residing in New York City who is afraid of falling in love since he risks losing those he worries about due to the virus. That is until he encounters and develops feelings of love with a guy called Steve. As his love for Steve become stronger, Jeffrey must tackle his concerns to completely embrace their moment together or run the risk of losing everything. Steven Weber stars as Jeffrey, while the ensemble also includes Patrick Stewart, Michael T. Weiss, Bryan Batt, and Sigourney Weaver. This movie is available to watch on the app called Peacock.
Beautiful Thing (1996)
Hettie MacDonald and Channel 4 Films presented the British rom-com Beautiful Thing, released in 1996. Jonathan Harvey created the screenplay centered on his original play of the same name. Teenage lads who live close to one another in the British projects are quiet Jamie, played by Glen Berry, and athletic Ste, portrayed by Scott Neal. When Ste is set to remain at Jamie’s house following an event involving his abusive father, both boys begin to explore their attraction for one another and believe they might be gay. Hence after the boys grow close and open themselves up in a unique way, to explore more of it, you might consider watching this movie on Amazon Video, Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, or YouTube by buying or renting.
Chasing Amy (1997)
Kevin Smith made his experimental romantic drama debut in 1997 with the release of “Chasing Amy,” a comedy-drama featuring prominent actors like Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, and Jason Lee. The movie revolves around Holden and Banky, two close friends and comic artists who meet fellow cartoonist Alyssa at a convention. Holden is in love with her right away, but things become more tricky when he discovers she’s a lesbian. The interplay between the three main characters only becomes more difficult from there, culminating in several significant conflicts. When Banky discovers some critical facts about Alyssa’s history, the situation worsens. This film’s queer depiction is unlike any other, and if you want to learn more about it, watch it on Hulu.
Boys Don’t Cry (1999)
A depiction of the real-life story of Brandon Teena, who is portrayed by Hilary Swank, an American trans man who strives to discover himself and love in Nebraska but is the victim of a vicious hate crime committed by two male acquaintances is told in the 1999 American biopic Boys Don’t Cry, directed by Hilary Swank. Chloe Sevigny co-stars in the movie as Lana Tisdel, Teena’s girlfriend. Everyone in society should view this movie; thus, you should think about watching it on Disney+ Hotstar.
The Dreamers (2003)
In 2003, renowned filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci directed the romantic drama film The Dreamers. Gilbert Adair wrote the script, which is adapted from his 1988 novella The Holy Innocents. Matthew, played by Michael Pitt, is an American exchange student who comes to Paris and instantly makes friends with twins Isabelle and Théo, portrayed by Eva Green and Louis Garrel, respectively. His connection with both of his brothers rapidly develops into an intimate one, resulting in a convoluted romantic triangle and a bunch of physical intimacy. As Matthew’s connection with Isabelle develops, Théo grows envious, resulting in more issues and arguments regarding what the three desire. This movie is available to watch on the platform named Hulu.
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Ang Lee directed one of the masterpieces in the 2005 Western romantic film “Brokeback Mountain,” which starred Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead roles. The film, based on Annie Proulx’s short story, was eminently influential in bringing LGBT+ cinema into the mainstream. The narrative revolves around two cowboys, played by notable actors such as Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, who fall in love while working on the namesake Brokeback Mountain herding sheep. However, the duo will never be able to live blissfully together since life interferes with each guy getting settled by marrying and having children. While they still have affection for each other, their feeling toward each other continues to be strained. If you want to explore more about this movie, watch it on STARZ, Apple TV, Prime Video, Vudu, or Redbox online.
A Single Man (2009)
A Single Man is an American historical romantic film released in 2009, based on Christopher Isherwood’s 1964 book of the same title. The film marks the debut film of Tom Ford as a director and stars Colin Firth as George Falconer, a melancholy gay British professor at the university residing in Southern California around 1962 who has been suffering with life after the loss of Jim, played by Matthew Goode, his boyfriend of 16 years. George considers suicide since he sees no meaningful future beyond one filled with misery, but a sequence of fortuitous meetings persuades George that life is nevertheless worth living.
Blue Valentine (2010)
Derek Cianfrance wrote and directed the 2010 American romantic dark film Blue Valentine. In the movie Blue Valentine, Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling play Dean Pereira and Cynthia Heller or Cindy, a married couple that might resemble other blissful couples. But a closer inspection reveals a couple, nevertheless, caught in a vicious circle. They appear to have the world at their fingertips at the start of the relationship. However, their marriage develops possibly irreparable fractures and eventually dissolves some years later due to his lack of aspiration and her relapse into self-absorption. This movie is available to watch on the OTT platform called Amazon Prime.
Howl (2010)
The 2010 movie Howl examines the history of the famous poem “Howl” by a twentieth-century American poet called Allen Ginsberg, including its 1955 6 Gallery debut and its 1957 obscenity prosecution. The poet as well as cultural icon Allen Ginsberg is portrayed by James Franco in the movie, which was directed and written by Rob Epstein alongside Jeffrey Friedman. Ginsberg is living in San Francisco in the mid-1950s with friends and fellow authors Jack Kerouac, played by Todd Rotondi, and Neal Cassady, played by Jon Prescott, when he comes up with the poem “Howl,” which is given credit with promoting the Beat movement. On digital platforms, including Peacock TV, Premium, Amazon Prime, and Hooq, you can view this movie.
Christopher and His Kind (2011)
Christopher and His Kind is indeed a BBC television film that aired in 2011. It recounts Christopher Isherwood’s escapades in Berlin during the early 1930s. Geoffrey Sax directed the film, which was developed by Kevin Elyot out of the autobiography of Christopher Isherwood, a prominent Anglo-American author, dramatist, and screenwriter. It depicts the real narrative of Isherwood’s journey from England to Germany, where he met a variety of acquaintances and lovers before trying to return to his homeland with his boyfriend, Heinz Neddermeyer. Christopher’s entire journey is incredibly intriguing, and if you want to get a glimpse of it, watch this movie on Amazon Prime.
Beauty (2011)
“Beauty,” directed by Oliver Hermanus and starring Roeline Daneel, Deon Lotz, Sue Diepeveen, and Charlie Keegan, is a 2011 South African film. The plot revolves around the character called François van Heerden, an unabashedly homophobic and racist white guy who is unaware of his attraction to males. He lives a dual life to keep his family safe and his prestige. Despite having recurrent romances with some other men, François becomes obsessed with a particular of his daughters’ lovers, a male model called Christian. When his feelings for the younger guy become obsessions, François embarks on a dark road with violent consequences. This film is available for viewing on Mubi.
Free Fall (2013)
One of the prominent filmmakers, Stephan Lacant, directed the German film ‘Free Fall.’ The story revolves around Marc, a police officer who is committed to a pregnant girlfriend who finds love with a fellow cop called Kay Engel in the film. The developing intimacy between them causes a slew of issues, including bullying from other members of the team, and Marc’s life begins to unravel. Although the 2013 film, originally named Frier Fall, is far less intricate than ‘My Policeman,’ the two films have the same underlying idea, and their protagonists face the same moral conundrum. The digital platform, called Vudu or Tubi, allows you to watch this movie online.
Blue Is the Warmest Color (2013)
This futuristic French film, also referred to as La Vie d’Adèle in its native ‘French language,’ was extremely successful when it was produced and was undoubtedly among the most frequently discussed films of the time. Adèle, a timid 15-year-old high school student, used to have a miserable existence until she met Emma, a young girl with blue hair who helped her explore her passion and define herself as a woman and even an adult. Adèle evolves, searches herself, discovers herself, and then finds herself in front of others through love and loss. This film is available for streaming on iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon Instant Video, alongside Vudu, by renting or purchasing.
Love Is Strange (2014)
Ira Sachs’ Love Is Strange is a rom-com movie released in 2014. The movie had its debut at the Sundance Film Festival’s non-Competition session. The movie was also shown inside the 64th Berlin International Film Festival’s Panorama section. After 39 years together, same-sex Manhattan residents Ben and George got married. When the archbishop learns about the marriage, George, a music instructor at a Catholic school, loses his job. Without his income, the couple would no longer be able to afford their Nyc residence and would be forced to approach friends and relatives for housing, which would cause them to split ways. A unique portrayal of love is manifested here to get the taste of which you must watch this movie on Prime Video, Vudu, or Apple TV.
Pride (2014)
Stephen Beresford and Matthew Warchus collaborated on the historical comedy-drama Pride, which was released in 2014 in the United Kingdom. The movie, which is based on a real incident, tells the tale of a bunch of lesbian and gay activists who, in 1984, at the beginning of the homosexuals both Lesbians and Gays Supporting the Miners campaign, donated money to aid families impacted by the British miners’ strike. It received the Queer Palm award at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival when it was screened as part of Directors’ Fortnight. Some of the most well-known actors, including Ben Schnetzer, Joseph Gilgun, Freddie Fox, Dominic West, Imelda Staunton, and others, were included in this real-life cinematic documentary. Disney+ has this movie accessible for streaming.
Tom at the Farm (2015)
Tom at the Farm was produced by Canadian director Xavier Dolan. According to a play by Michel Marc Bouchard. This movie falls in the category of a dark psychological thriller. The protagonist of the movie is Tom, played by Dolan himself, who travels to Guillaume’s burial over peaceful and vibrantly colored autumn meadows. He realizes that his boyfriend is introverted to his mother and has lied about having a girlfriend once he turns up and meets Guillaume’s mom Agathe played by Lise Roy, who delivers the best performance in the movie. As the plot of the movie progresses, it takes some unusual turns and has some unexpected consequences that you must watch this movie on Amazon Prime and Mubi.
Holding the Man (2015)
‘Holding the Man,’ directed by Neil Armfield, is an Australian film based on Timothy Conigrave’s eponymous 1995 memoir. The story follows Timothy and John as they discovered each other in high school and depicts their 15-year romance. What begins as a casual date between the two lads grows into something so intense that the pair become inseparable and can withstand practically anything that comes their way. This film, unlike ‘My Policeman,’ is far less powerful, but it might end up leaving you with a sad heart. One of the similarities between the two films is society’s misunderstanding of LGBTQ+ relationships. This film is available to watch via Netflix.
Carol (2015)
‘Carol,’ a historical romantic drama film set in the 1950s, is based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel ‘The Price of Salt.’ It follows Therese, played by Rooney Mara, a devoted photographer, as she meets Carol, an older woman portrayed by Cate Blanchett. Their chance of meeting soon evolves into much more. Carol’s life, on the other hand, is in the midst of a family crisis that impacts each woman and the future of their partnership. While the film shares numerous clichés with ‘My Policeman,’ it is significantly distinctively different when it comes to queer women’s familial ties. This film is available on Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Paramount Plus.
Moonlight (2016)
‘Moonlight’ is an adaption of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s unpublished semi-autobiographical drama ‘In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue, directed by Barry Jenkins. The film featured prominent actors like Trevante Rhodes, André Holland, Jharrel Jerome, Janelle Monáe, Ashton Sanders, Naomie Harris, and Mahershala Ali. In three parts, the Oscar-winning film follows the lives of a young child named Chiron. It illustrates how he grows up attempting to understand and accept his sexuality while dealing with the challenges of various phases of life. Chiron’s mature behavioral characteristics are similar to Patrick’s in a few key ways. This film is accessible on Hulu.
Handsome Devil (2016)
John Butler wrote and directed one of the renowned Irish comedy-drama, Handsome Devil, which was released in 2016. The storyline of this movie revolves around Ned, portrayed by Fionn O’Shea, an isolated adolescent at a prestigious, rugby-obsessed, all-boys private boarding school in Ireland, who is the focus of the story. Conor, played by Nicholas Galitzine, the school’s premier rugby player, is Ned’s new roommate. Their unexpected bond is put to the test by everyone around them. The movie explores unfairness and prejudice in the Irish private education system while addressing themes of homosexuality. You may watch this movie on Tubi.
Call Me by Your Name (2017)
One of the most prominent coming-of-age romance drama films ‘Call Me by Your Name, was produced under the direction of Luca Guadagnino in 2017. It is modeled on André Aciman’s 2007 book of the same title. The movie comes at the end of Guadagnino’s trilogy on the theme of “Desire,” which also includes ‘I Am Love (2009)’ and ‘A Bigger Splash (2015)’. The relationship between 17-year-old Elio Perlman, depicted by Timothée Chalamet, and Oliver, portrayed by Armie Hammer, a 24-year-old doctoral candidate assistant to Elio’s dad Samuel played by Michael Stuhlbarg, an archaeology professor, is the subject of the 1983 northern Italian drama Call Me by Your Name. This movie is available to stream on Netflix.
God’s Own Country (2017)
‘God’s Own Country,’ directed and written by Francis Lee, is a British movie set on a ranch in York. Johnny seems to be a young farmer who resides with his family and has nothing outside of the farm. He’s gruff and violent, and he drinks a lot. Gheorghe, a Romanian laborer, arrives, and his humdrum existence is transformed. The 2017 film focuses mostly on two guys exploring their homosexuality and rediscovering one another in new and different ways, which is rather daunting, and if you want to learn more about them, you must watch the film on Disney+.
A Moment in the Reeds (2017)
Mikko Mäkelä’s feature directorial debut, A Moment in the Reeds, is a Finnish romantic film released in 2017, which was also written by him only. Janne Puustinen, as well as Boodi Kabbani, appeared in the movie as the titular character. The film made its international debut as part of the Love segment at the 2017 “BFI London Film Festival.” Levi and Tareq are two males that follow each other. While Leevi is a college student returning for the summer to assist his estranged father in renovating the lakehouse, Tareq works as an architect who left Syria due to violence and is now seeking refuge in Finland. The destinies of both the two men eventually cross. To learn more about their adventure, Watch this film on Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV.
Boy Erased (2018)
Based on Garrard Conley’s 2016 autobiography of the same name, Boy Erased is an American biography drama film released in 2018. Joel Edgerton is both the author and the director. The impact of being publicly identified as gay on his parents must be overcome by Jared Eamons, the child of a small-town Baptist minister. His mother and father find it difficult to balance their affection for their boy with their religious convictions. Jared is coerced into enrolling in a conversion therapy group because of fear of losing his family, friends, and community. There, Jared clashes with the group’s leader and starts the process of discovering his true voice and embracing who he is. You can watch this film on HBO Max.
Love, Simon (2018)
Love, Simon is a wonderful example of a film that praised the LGBTQ+ community. Based on Becky Albertalli’s novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, it is a romantic comedy-drama produced in the United States by Greg Berlanti. The story revolves around Simon Spier, a heterosexual adolescent who falls in love online via internet communication websites with a stranger who only seems to be a classmate while simultaneously being blackmailed into revealing his secret to the school. On websites like Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+, you may view this film.
Your Name Engraved Herein (2020)
One of the eminent Taiwanese love comedies from 2020, with Edward Chen, Jing-Hua Tseng, and Leon Dai in the lead roles. The movie was set in 1987 when martial law was lifted in Taiwan officially; Jia-han and Birdy fell in love despite social stigma, homophobia, and pressure from their families. One of the prominent Asian Queer representations, along with their struggle for their identity in society, had a huge impact on society and if you want to witness this one-of-a-kind movie, watch it on Netflix.
The Boys in the Band (2020)
The Boys in the Band is a 2020 Netflix Original American drama film directed by Joe Mantello, based on Mart Crowley’s 1968 play of the same title. The cast includes loud and proud prominent gay actors, namely Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer, and Charlie Carver. The plot revolves around a group of pals, all adult gay guys, who had met in Manhattan for a birthday party. When host Michael gets a call from an old college buddy Alan, who eventually joins the celebrations, things become a little difficult. Since the sheer intense emotion of it all, his entrance prompts a series of disputes, confrontations, admissions, and consolidations that can be tough to watch at times. Being a Netflix Originals, it is quite evident that this is available to stream on Netflix.
The Half of It (2020)
Alice Wu is the author and director of the American coming-of-age movie The Half of It, which was released in 2020. The titular characters are portrayed by Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, and Alexxis Lemire. The plot of this story falls within the teen romantic comedy category. Ellie Chu, a bright but poor kid, volunteers to write a heartfelt love letter for a jock, not expecting to become a part of his friends; however eventually falls fall in love with his crush. This film excels best in its sympathetic portrayal of queer outsiders and self-acceptance. If you wish to know more about this movie, watch it on Netflix.
Firebird (2021)
Peeter Rebane’s debut directorial feature, ‘Firebird,’ is a romantic war drama film based on Sergei Fetisov’s biography, ‘The Story of Roman.’ During the Cold War, the film unfolds in the 1970s on a Soviet air base. During the battle, a young soldier called Sergey has a romantic relationship with a military pilot named Roman and a military officer named Luisa. While Sergey and Roman become closer, a senior army commander obtains information about their connection. Things between the two deteriorate as the situation becomes more difficult during the height of the conflict, and if you want to follow their adventure, you can do so on Vudu.
Operation Hyacinth (2021)
Piotr Domalewski directed the 2021 Polish film Operation Hyacinth, which was scripted by Marcin Ciaston alongside; the movie was cherished with the presence of prominent actors like Tomasz Zitek, Hubert Mikowski, and Marek Kalita in it. The play is based on true events from Operation Hyacinth, a secret mass operation carried out by the Polish communist policeman in 1985-87 to observe documents and blackmail individuals of the LGBTQ+ community. The protagonist of this film, Robert Mrozowski, brings us to the fields with him, where he encounters unexpected events in every manner; to learn more about him, watch it on Netflix.
Badhaai Do (2022)
The Indian representation of Queer personalities in movies has been limited however is cherished by certain films like the Hindi comedy-drama film called Badhai Do, directed by Harshavardhan Kulkarni, depicting a couple in a lavender marriage. It stars Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar as the central characters called, Shardul Thakur and Suman Singh, respectively, who are homosexual and decide to get married under family pressure to keep their sexuality a secret from others. This movie is available to stream on the OTT Platform called Netflix.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
The 2022 American absurdist comedy LGBTQ+ film Everything Everywhere All at Once was directed and written by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, who collectively refer to themselves as “Daniels.” It is a hilarious and heartwarming sci-fi action adventure about a worn-out Chinese American woman, portrayed by Michelle Yeoh, who can’t seem to finish her taxes.
The unusual element is that she learns, while under IRS audit, that to stop a strong creature from destroying the multiverse, she must link with parallel world versions of herself. Being a recent film, it is now available for viewing in theatres but has not yet been made accessible for streaming on any OTT services.
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