This film has been a hot topic for many reasons. With Daniel Craig playing a gay character and the direction handled by the same filmmaker behind Call Me By Your Name, the expectations were understandably sky-high. Regrettably, I have to admit that the film ended up feeling deeply disappointing. By the time the film neared its conclusion, I had lost all investment, which is truly unfortunate. The story, Queer, is set in Mexico City in the 1950s. It follows William Lee, a homosexual American expat, who is struggling with opioid addiction and aimlessly drifting through the local bar scene, hoping to find fleeting connections with younger men. He’s desperately searching for validation, craving moments of love to temporarily free him from his invisibility and isolation. When he encounters Eugene, a former American soldier, William believes he has finally found the deep connection he’s been longing for. William becomes completely consumed by the idea of being close to Eugene, his desire evident in the way he awkwardly tries to communicate his feelings, through nervous glances and tentative gestures. At one point, he even seeks reassurance from his one queer friend, asking if Eugene might share his feelings. The two begin spending time together, but it quickly becomes clear that Eugene doesn’t feel the same way. They do become physically intimate, and while it’s initially passionate, William’s obsession spirals into an addiction. Unable to distinguish between healthy longing and unhealthy obsession, he loses himself in a delusional hope, clinging to a dream that consumes him entirely. Despite their age and romantic differences,…
"Herec," which translates to 'Actor,' is a fascinating portrayal of a young gay actor navigating the repressive climate of early communist Czechoslovakia. It uncovers how he is manipulated by various figures for their personal agendas, focusing heavily on the real-world struggles artists faced during this tumultuous period. Specifically, the series sheds light on the unsettling reality of actors being coerced into espionage for the state. This gripping miniseries, spanning three episodes, serves as a poignant examination of human nature and the complexities of acting under extreme pressure. The hero’s morality is constantly in question, adding an intriguing layer to his development as the story unfolds. Each episode lasts between 70 to 90 minutes, making for an intense viewing experience. While this isn't a "gay story" per se, it is deeply relevant, depicting the journey of a closeted gay actor entangled in the political web of the communists, as they use him to seduce powerful men for intelligence purposes, with harrowing consequences. Set in the 1950s during the communist regime, the character of Láník is introduced as a promising yet overlooked actor, struggling with the harsh realities of the theater world. Living with his sister and grandmother, Láník faces the constant threat of eviction from their home. In a desperate attempt to secure work, he takes a job as a repairman at a university, where he strikes up a conversation with a math professor, revealing his remarkable aptitude for the subject. The professor, impressed by Láník’s talents, gradually seduces him and invites him to his weekend cottage. However, their secretive relationship…
After the farewell, my left arm felt weightless and my chest was empty. That night, I held gay in my arms. I know you are sleepy, a slight cold makes you sniff your nose constantly. In your sleep, you toss and turn like a frightened kitten, and I have to cover you with a blanket all night. It is the beginning of winter, and this city by the Yangtze River is very cold. I don't know how to make you feel at peace, I am at a loss. You approach me in my dreams, where is your warm place? You put your head on my shoulder, and finally breathed long and evenly, snoring occasionally. Yes, you caught a cold. I could only stay still, afraid of waking you up. In the darkness, I looked at you with a little love, and we had only met for less than ten hours. Is it just sympathy? I remembered the words that Pai Hsien-yung left on the title page of "Bad Sons": "Written to those children who wandered alone on the streets in the deepest darkness, with nowhere to go." We sipped the best Blue Mountain coffee under the dim lights of "Grinding Time". Now I like to add more milk and sugar. Once upon a time, I only drank pure black coffee, bitter, fragrant and lingering, the pure taste was just less rich. We talked about homosexual topics, he talked about his love history, I talked about my friendship. Yu Lai felt that love was just as strong when it was deep.…
I have been a rebellious child since I was young. My family was well off when I was a child, but we had the worries that come with being a wealthy family. Broken family, lonely me When I was 6 years old, something happened in my family. The money my parents had worked hard for was taken away by my father's good friend. My parents divorced, and I followed my mother and changed her surname. So I have a weird temper. Rather than saying I am weird, I am just a weird person. I am a loner by nature and don't like to make friends. I believe that friends are there to be used and betrayed. When I was 9 years old, I became sensible. My mother was often not at home. I cooked, washed clothes, did housework, and attended classes by myself. My grades were always good, but no parents ever came to parent-teacher meetings. The teacher asked me several times, and I could only say that I didn’t know if my mother could come. When I was 11 years old, I found a disc of porn in the closet. I was very curious at that time, but I didn't dare to watch it alone, so I called my cousin. He was 16 that year. After watching it, I felt an urge in my lower abdomen. My cousin also looked at me with blurred eyes and asked me if I wanted to try it. I was excited at the time and said yes to him. That was my first…
Premier long-métrage du réalisateur Andy Vallentine, A l’horizon (titre original The Mattachine Family) raconte le parcours d’un trentenaire gay confronté à sa quête de paternité. Un film touchant et sincère, aux accents de vécu personnel. Résumé de A l’horizon (The Mattachine Family) : Thomas (incarné par le séduisant Nico Tortorella), photographe trentenaire, a consacré sa vie à immortaliser ses proches à travers l’objectif. L’amour, la famille et l’amitié sont au cœur de son existence. Ses parents étant décédés, il se rapproche de ses amis les plus proches : son ancien voisin et meilleur ami gay Jamie, sa meilleure amie lesbienne Leah, mais surtout de son mari Oscar (Juan Pablo Di Pace). Ce dernier, enfant abandonné, a été placé en foyer d’accueil avant de devenir une star grâce à une série télévisée traitant de ce thème. Après avoir été exposé par la presse à scandale et avoir traversé une période de déclin professionnel, Oscar retrouve désormais un semblant de bonheur auprès de Thomas et se prépare à jouer dans une nouvelle série. Malgré leur amour fort, Thomas et Oscar traversent une phase difficile. Ils avaient accueilli un enfant abandonné pendant un an, mais après s’y être fortement attachés, la mère de l’enfant est venue le reprendre. Pendant ce moment particulièrement éprouvant pour Thomas, Oscar, en plein tournage pour sa nouvelle série, a dû s'absenter. Heureusement, le photographe peut compter sur ses amis de toujours pour le soutenir. Toutefois, cette expérience de paternité soulève en Thomas de nombreuses questions sur ce qu'il souhaite réellement dans sa vie. Peu à peu, il prend…
Depuis plus de dix ans, Noel Alejandro a su se faire un nom dans l'univers du cinéma, en s'imposant comme un réalisateur unique en son genre. Ses débuts, marqués par des courts-métrages parfois perçus comme du cinéma X gay d'auteur, l'ont progressivement conduit à un statut de cinéaste reconnu. Sa carrière s'est enrichie d'œuvres éclectiques et surprenantes, dans lesquelles il maintient une exigence de qualité formelle sans failles. Son dernier film, Remember I am dead, dont la version « Original cut » est disponible en ligne pour une durée avoisinant l’heure, continue de surprendre. Si la sexualité explicite reste présente, elle ne constitue plus le principal moteur du film. Même si la scène intime est centrale, elle sert davantage à illustrer la mélancolie qui domine le récit. Remember I am dead se profile ainsi comme une œuvre étrange et singulière, difficile à comparer à d'autres films, défiant toute tentative d'étiquetage simpliste. Pierre Emö, fidèle acteur et ami du réalisateur, incarne Sagat, un trentenaire solitaire vivant dans une vaste maison isolée en pleine campagne. Ce lieu, autrefois animé, est désormais délaissé, et la solitude de Sagat semble profondément le ronger. Sa seule compagnie est celle d'Albert, interprété par Kody McCree, un jeune homme séduisant qui l’assiste dans ses tâches agricoles. Dès les premières scènes, une atmosphère étrange et silencieuse s'installe, sans musique, immergeant le spectateur dans l'univers d'une campagne coupée du monde. Mais l'événement qui survient ensuite est des plus inattendus : Sagat se rend au cimetière local et déterre un cadavre qu'il ramène chez lui. Ce corps appartient à Roman,…
In a quiet corner of Midwestern America, the echoes of youth lingered in the air like whispers carried on the wind. For many, this landscape represented simplicity; for one boy, however, it was a canvas splashed with longing and curiosity. Growing up in Maplewood—the quintessential small town—Shane had always felt different, as if his life were framed by colors unrecognized by those around him. From an early age, he sensed that his heart beat to its own rhythm amidst a cacophony of typical teenage struggles. The awakening began unexpectedly at ten years old when Shane stumbled upon an article about The Rocky Horror Picture Show while flipping through an aged magazine in his grandmother's attic. The words danced before him like confetti—a story adorned with glitter and eccentric characters who challenged notions he’d only begun to grasp. Rather than wanting to dress up and perform their fabulousness himself, he found himself intrigued by something far simpler yet profoundly stirring: admiration for men in tantalizingly unconventional attire. It wasn't just some innocent infatuation; it sparked fantasies that entwined themselves within his burgeoning identity—a mystery surrounded by tightly-knit boundaries common among boys growing up where conformity reigned supreme. As high school dawned with all its chaos and excitement filled hallways, Shane met Malik—a vibrant soul whose very presence lit fires of daring possibility within him. With waves cascading over dark skin and laughter that rang clearer than any bell beneath fluorescent lights, Malik’s flamboyance captivated not just Shane but many others around them too; he wore floral shirts with unabashed pride paired effortlessly with…
Jenny Blake Isabella, the creator of DC Comics' Black Lightning, has publicly come out as transgender. She shared this news in a blog post on her personal website, where she also addressed questions from fans. While she prefers to be called Jenny, Isabella clarified that she doesn’t view her previous name, Tony Isabella, as a deadname. She plans to continue writing under both names and will present herself as Tony Isabella for most events throughout the year. Isabella is recognized for creating the character Black Lightning and the comic series itself in 1977, in collaboration with artist Trevor Von Eeden. Black Lightning holds the distinction of being DC's first African American superhero to lead his own series and is often regarded as one of the first mainstream African American superheroes. On February 9, Isabella shared an image on X stating, “Keep calm and yes I’m transgender,” along with a message affirming the authenticity of her announcement and requesting privacy for her and her family. Shortly thereafter, she revealed her preferred name on Facebook and discussed how she would use her former name. She also posted a picture of a Christmas ornament crafted by a friend following her name change. Additionally, Isabella mentioned attending her first hair appointment at the Green Opal Salon. The 73-year-old expressed on X that coming out “was one of the scariest things I have ever done,” but she has felt grateful for the love and support from her fanbase. On February 11, Isabella published a blog post on her website where she answered fan questions, detailing…
In the fall of 2024, Hallmark Channel launched an intriguing initiative with a romantic comedy trilogy titled The Groomsmen. This unique series centers on three best friends—two straight and one gay—navigating love and matrimony from the perspective of groomsmen. I’ll focus on the second film in the series, which highlights the gay storyline, but let’s briefly set the stage. Danny, Jackson, and Pete are childhood pals who have always supported each other. In the first installment, we see Pete find the love of his life at Danny's sister's wedding. Pete also has a teenage daughter who frequently spends time with the trio. Danny harbors feelings for Zack, his business manager and best friend. While both Danny and Pete are aware of this, Danny is hesitant to express his emotions for fear of losing their friendship if Zack doesn’t feel the same way. Complicating matters, Zack starts dating Nolan, which troubles Danny. As their relationship becomes serious, Zack and Nolan decide to get married, leaving Danny in shock despite his deep feelings for Zack. When Zack asks Danny to be his best man at the wedding in Greece, Danny suppresses his emotions and commits to being the supportive friend, especially since Nolan is often preoccupied with work—a significant red flag. Due to their busy schedules, Danny and Zack end up going to Greece a few days before the wedding to finalize preparations, spending every moment together, which intensifies Danny’s struggle. While Zack's feelings remain ambiguous, a near-kiss one night adds to the tension. The day before the wedding, Danny can’t hold…
According to the Prison Policy Initiative, LGBTQ+ individuals face arrest rates more than double those of their straight counterparts, with lesbian and bisexual women being over four times more likely to be arrested than straight women. Additionally, one in six transgender people have experienced incarceration at some point in their lives. Tony Vick is currently serving a double life sentence for murder at the South Central Correctional Facility in Clifton, Tennessee, where he has spent nearly three decades. Throughout his time in prison, he has taken on various roles, including tutor, clerk, and newspaper editor. He has also led book clubs and co-authored two books: Secrets from a Prison Cell: A Convict’s Eyewitness Accounts of the Dehumanizing Drama of Life Behind Bars (2018) and Locked In and Locked Out: Tweets and Stories on Prison and the Effects of Confinement (2023). In a recent essay for Filter Magazine, Vick, who grew up in a strict Southern Baptist household and was deeply closeted, reflects on being openly gay in prison and the changes he has witnessed over the years. “The experience of being gay in prison has changed a lot since I was first incarcerated almost 30 years ago,” he notes. He recalls that very few prisoners were open about their sexuality back then, and those who were often faced severe consequences, sometimes ending up in "administrative protective custody," which is a euphemism for solitary confinement. It's estimated that 85% of LGBTQ+ individuals in U.S. prisons have been placed in solitary at some point, typically under the pretense of protection, despite numerous…
This slow-paced film thoughtfully explores a gay couple at a crossroads while addressing the topic of HIV, which remains as significant today as it was in the past. Unfortunately, despite the good intentions behind the project, the filmmakers lacked sufficient story material, resulting in many quiet moments with little action. The film is visually stunning, but I wish there had been more depth to the narrative. Matteo and Riccardo are celebrating six months together when they embark on a hike. During the outing, Matteo experiences an episode of illness, revealing that he is HIV-positive. Surprisingly, Riccardo chooses to stay and offers his support. However, despite Matteo urging him to get tested, Riccardo hesitates, likely out of fear of discovering his own status. Meanwhile, Matteo grapples with uncertainty regarding his treatment options. When Matteo unexpectedly visits Enzo, Riccardo's initial suspicion gives way to understanding when he learns that Enzo is Matteo’s uncle. Enzo provides both men with insight into their feelings and offers perspective on managing the illness and their relationship, drawing from his own experiences over the years. He shares how different things were for lovers in the '80s, especially those affected by HIV. It seems the filmmaker aimed to spark a conversation around this topic, as HIV is not widely discussed today despite medical advancements. While the treatment has improved and the illness can be managed, the filmmakers missed the mark in conveying this message effectively. Most of the dialogue revolves around Enzo’s experiences from the past. Even though Riccardo doesn’t abandon Matteo upon learning his status and understands…
To be honest, TBH is NOT just a gay web series. While it has a strong gay subplot, the show primarily focuses on the lives of teenagers in a high school and the aftermath of a shooting incident in Brno. The narrative highlights the bullying culture perpetuated by a floor hockey team and their followers, a girl gang known as the Bitchez. In ten episodes, Czech Television's first original streaming series explores the search for boundaries in the painful teenage experience, particularly in an age dominated by manipulative social media. Each episode runs between 11 to 15 and a half minutes. The story kicks off when a stranger enters the school and opens fire on students. Maja, an activist, live-streams her fight for survival, leading to unexpected internet fame. Unfortunately, she also captures some awkward moments between the popular Nessa and her boyfriend, Luky, who plays floorball. The chaos escalates when Nessa’s brother, Tonda, the shooter, is revealed to have been bullied, and it turns out he was wielding a fake gun. Over the next ten episodes, flashbacks unfold the individual stories of these characters, detailing how that fateful day transpired and its aftermath. Tonda's floorball teammates show no remorse, and sadly, even his sister struggles to understand his perspective. However, as Maja befriends Nessa, she begins to see beyond her previous role as a high school mean girl. The gay subplot revolves around Luky and his best friend Pavel, who has always been more flamboyant. Luky grapples with his sexuality, especially after Pavel publicly comes out as gay. While…
