List
Independent LGBTQ Movies
Enjoy these selections that you can stream or download any time.
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Bar Bahar: In Between
2017Get this itemPalestinian Israeli director Maysaloun Hamoud is definitely someone to keep on your radar. Her debut film looks at three Palestinian women from different backgrounds who share a flat in Tel Aviv. Sisterhood has a way. We see their experiences and problems when they are apart and how they help one another when they are together. In Arabic and Hebrew, with English subtitles. Available from Hoopla and Kanopy.
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Chutney Popcorn
1999Get this itemNisha Ganatra is a triple threat with her breakout feature film that she directed, cowrote, and starred in. She plays Reena, a lesbian Indian American who volunteers to be the surrogate mother for her sister's baby. Ganatra's recent movies are Late Night (2019) and The High Note (2020). I can't wait to see what she does next. Available on Hoopla.
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Colette
2019Get this itemThis biographical drama focuses on the early career of French novelist Colette. As she says, “the wild days have just begun.” Colette finds her voice and breaks free from the constraints of her husband, social convention, and gender roles. Keira Knightly, so good in period pieces, is outstanding. Available from Kanopy.
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The Country Teacher
2016Get this itemWhen a gifted teacher from Prague takes a position teaching natural sciences in a small village, there is much speculation as to why and whether or not he'll stay the course. Through a sensitive script and nuanced acting, such themes as new beginnings and forgiveness shine through to make a thoughtful ending. In Czech, with English subtitles. Available from Kanopy.
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Handsome Devil
2019Get this itemAt an Irish boarding school where rugby takes center stage, two new students, one a loner ambivalent about rugby and the other a star player with anger issues, find themselves reluctant roommates. Yet, they bond over music, and this sports movie turns into one about friendship and truth. Available from Kanopy.
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The Miseducation of Cameron Post
2019Get this itemWhat's it like for a teenager sent to a gay therapy conversion camp in 1993? Chloe Grace Moretz is pitch perfect in the lead role, and it’s 90 minutes well spent. Available from Kanopy.
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Moonlight
2019Get this itemChiron will steal your heart, as you drop in on his life at three pivotal points. I was teary-eyed through most of the movie and embraced it to the very last, exquisite scene. This indie film found its Oscar legs and won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture--and I cried again. Available from Kanopy.
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Tangerine
2015Get this itemMuch acclaimed for its real-life inspired script, innovative filmmaking technique, and portrayal of transgender individuals. Director/writer Sean Baker shot the movie with three iPhone S5s and filmed on the streets of Los Angeles using mostly first-time actors. It follows Sin-Dee, a transgender sex worker determined to track down her cheating boyfriend and pimp on Christmas Eve. At the core, it’s an old-fashioned story that packs a significant emotional payoff. Available from Hoopla.
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The Wedding Banquet
1993Get this itemA deception spirals out of control when Wai-Tung's traditional Taiwanese parents pay a visit to the Manhattan home he shares with his boyfriend. This early film from acclaimed director Ang Lee is a fan favorite. I especially love the interactions between Wai-Tung and his father. In Mandarin and English, with English subtitles. Available from Hoopla.
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Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?
2016Get this itemSet in Taiwan, an optometrist begins to question his choices and sexual orientation when his wife says that she wants another baby. At the same time he meets an attractive man, and a playful romantic comedy ensues. Available from Kanopy.
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