I just watched a wonderful film called Beautiful Thing about two teenage boys who fall in love. It was a wonderful film, because it touched on all of the emotions that I have felt as a gay man before, during and since I began the coming out process. One of the themes that really spoke to me was the internalized homophobia of Steve, even to the point that he is willing to turn on his lover to protect his own image.

Have you seen any good films with a GLBT-theme? I know it is a bit off topic, but I think film can be a powerful medium for reflection and communication.

Loving Annabelle, was.. interesting. Probably not for my age group, cuz of certain things but... it was good

There is a similar British film called "Get Real".

Beautiful Thing is a real favorite of mine. Jamie and Ste's relationship is totally believable and affirms that boys, no matter what their backgrounds, can and do fall in love. If you're not up on your Brit slang, there's a whole site devoted to the slang terms used in this movie: http://www.geocities.com/hollywood/hills...

Also Get Real (thanks, John), and Boys Life (three short, poignant coming out tales in one package.)

I believe there were at least three Boys Life films?

I really liked "Edge of Seventeen", "The Broken Hearts Club", and if you like foreign films, "The Bubble" is a great film set in Tel Aviv and tells the story of an Israeli Jew and a Palestinian Arab who meet and fall in love despite the military conflicts between the two states. I'd certainly check that film out.

I loved "Edge of Seventeen." And I've ordered "The Bubble" from Netflix. Thanks, David!

Thanks for the recommendations. I really enjoyed The Bubble when I saw it a while back. I will check out "Edge of Seventeen" from Netflix.

Has anyone seen "Boys Don't Cry"? While I was watching it, I wasn't sure that I was going to like it, but I really did. What happened in it was completely horrible and the fact that it was a true story made it even worse. But, I thought it was really well done.

Boys Don't Cry was very good and Hillary Swank was incredible in it but it is one of those movies that because of the horrific and disturbing violence at the end I will never watch it again. A must see movie, but only once.

hey Skye and Phli... yup. a super movie, but once is enough!

@ Ted & Phil: I'm not sure the first time was the last time I'll have watched it, but it will definitely be a while before I rent it again!

Skye, were your aware that Boys Don't Cry was based on a book by Aphrodite Jones? I read the book several years ago and enjoyed it as well as the movie. BTW, if you like true crime books you might want to check out Aphrodite Jones. She's a lesbian and has written several true crime books that detail the murders of gays and lesbians. She's a fantastic writer.

I've heard Shelter is really good. I will be renting that this weekend. Has anyone seen it?

I've seen Shelter (twice) and I loved it! Highly recommended. I felt I could relate to the characters and was impressed with the whole thing. I’ve insisted that some of my straight male friends watch it :P

One of the best Gay themed movies I have ever watched was Lilies. It is a great film.

My favorite is Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence. The film should be remade for technical reasons.

Gohatto/Taboo is okay however too slow and meditative.

Another favorite is Bishonen starring Daniel Wu.

I don't remember much about the reviews but a gay themed film that I enjoyed was The Priest. The conflict within the main character of being unable to accept himself and his own self hatred is something many gay men, including myself, went through prior to learning to accept who we are. The film also addressed the issues of diversity and tolerance, not just for gay and lesbian persons but also those with differing viewpoints.

OK, Phil and Steven, you've convinced me. Shelter's now in my Netflix queue!

Anybody wanna comment about some of the other recommendations?

Ted

I'd also like to recommend BEAUTIFUL BOXER which was based on a true story. I have not seen this film yet but I have viewed interview in Thai about the main character who is still training transexual men to be boxers in a camp.

And it's not a "Schtick" these boxers are as real as they come...

I loved BOUND and IMAGINE ME AND YOU but I have to say I loved them for very different reasons.DESERT HEARTS is a classic.I just finished reading "Annie on my mind" a few weeks ago and I think that would make a really great movie for young lesbians.

Beautiful Thing is one of my favorite movies - ever. I've seen a lot - seriously, a lot - of gay movies. Most of them just don't stand out. Boys Don't Cry was somewhat depressing. Edge of Seventeen was full of cliches, but it helped that it was shot at Cedar Point, way back in the day. Get Real is alright, and the characters aren't bad to watch.

There are a couple of really good movies, but the titles escape grasp right now. I'll let you know when I remember.

Yes, Beautiful Thing is certainly a classic. I think my favorite gay movie is a French made-for-TV movie called Just a Question of Love. Unlike many of the gay movies out there, it's very well done in pretty much every respect, so I would recommend it to anyone interested in love stories and/or coming out.

John wrote: "There is a similar British film called "Get Real"."

Loved that film!

David wrote: "I really liked "Edge of Seventeen", "The Broken Hearts Club", and if you like foreign films, "The Bubble" is a great film set in Tel Aviv and tells the story of an Israeli Jew and a Palestinian Ara..."

The Bubble was great! I loved it.

Y'all should watch "His Secret Life", the English title for the Italian film, "Le Fate d'Ignorante" which translates as "The Ignorant Fag."

I liked The Bubble as well as Edge of Seventeen. omg, we are everywhere!

Ted wrote: "I liked The Bubble as well as Edge of Seventeen. omg, we are everywhere!"

Another touching film, from the Phillipines, is.... let me think of the title.....'Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros' or 'The Amazing Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros.'

I enjoyed Latter Days a lot. Cute Mormon 20-something, at the risk of excommunication, falls for hot urban waiter. Very well enacted.

Ted wrote: "I enjoyed Latter Days a lot. Cute Mormon 20-something, at the risk of excommunication, falls for hot urban waiter. Very well enacted. "

Yeah, that was a fun movie.

Some more gay-themed movies that I really liked alot:

"Longtime Companions"

"The Lost Language of the Cranes"

"Prick Your Ears"

"Parting Glances"

"A Touch of Pink"

"Mambo Italiano"

Another film that I really, really liked:

"Farewell, My Concubine" with the incomparable Gong Li.

Nancy wrote: "Here's a few I enjoyed:

My Beautiful Laundrette

Fire

ma vie en rose

The Wedding Banquet


"

Be still my heart, I love all those films!!

Who wants caramel popcorn seasoned with curry??

Oh, Beautiful Thing is one of my all time favourites. Also very good: The Hanging Garden and Presque Rien.

Whitaker, might you be English? haha. Beautful Thing was so pop in this counrty that they even have a website that explains the slang for Americans. Jamie and Ste are so beautiful... and in a way, so typical.

Whitaker wrote: "Oh, Beautiful Thing is one of my all time favourites. Also very good: The Hanging Garden and Presque Rien. "

Presque Rien -- could you tell us about this one? What's that in English?

Oh, I did a Wikisearch and that was released as "Come Undone" here in the United States. Oh yes, I did watch that film.

"Presque Rien" literally means "only nothing." In French.

Ted wrote: ""Presque Rien" literally means "only nothing." In French."

Parle francais?

Oui, un petit peu. Aimez-vous lire, monsieur?

LOL I only got "Yes, a little bit.... Do you love liquor, mister?"

To think that I only took one semester of French in college 15 years ago. LOLOLOL

(With help from the online French-English dictionary.)

Um, actually, it's "Yes, a little bit... Do you like to read, sir?" ("Mister" is strictly accurate, but I think sir is a closer equivalent in terms of cultural nuance.)

Ted, no, I'm not English. But I read so much Enid Blyton growing up, I almost wished (then) that I was. Ah, when I finally got to eat liquorice, I was expecting heavenly delight. But no, my reaction was, "OMG, what were they thinking???" I think it's an acquired taste (like Marmite for Australians).

One may argue that reading and liquor (or even licorice) are the same thing as both can leave one intoxicated! LOL

Whitaker, I'm offended! Vegemite, not Marmite. Huge difference.

Let's talk about films with camp sensibility, the ones made of champagne dreams, and of glamorous artifice.

Let's begin with:

Auntie Mame

Sunset Boulevard

any films with Elizabeth Taylor

Mildred Pierce

Imitation of Life (anything with Lana Turner, including her stint on 'Falcon Crest' is automatically included)

Greta Garbo's films, especially 'Camille' and 'Anna Karenia' and let's not forget 'Queen Christina' (soft-core lesbian porn!)

Destry Rides Again

Johnny Guitar

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (with the incomparable Carmen Maura)

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

Thought I'd throw in "Orange is not the only fruit" here - stars Geraldine MacEwan (Lucia of "Mapp & Lucia") as a Salvation Army colonel(?), who does not deal well with the news her daughter is gay.

I haven't seen that one. Is that the film adaptation of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson?

Yes, that's the story -- I saw it a long time ago on television.

I'll have to watch it when I have time. It's not easy being in school, working two jobs, and keeping up with this thing. LOL

Anyone ever see L.I.E.? It's pretty interesting.. at least it was to me, back in high school.

When I was younger, these were my favorites:

All Over Me
The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love
Better Than Chocolate

Kind of silly, but fun.

Also enjoyed Latter Days.

I've just added a bunch to my netflix queue though, thanks to all the recommendations.

I've heard good things about the film "Harry + Max" If I could find it online, I'd definitely watch it. =)