Anjali Mathur
The buzz around LGBTQ movies is now gaining popularity after the term is all over the media and when there is a little acceptance of the fact that people of the same sex can also be together, spend lives together. While the buzz is recent, our Film industry had started filming this aspect of society long back. You must be having faint memories of movies like ‘My Brother Nikhil’ and now the much talked about ‘Shubh Mangal Zyada Savdhaan’. Hollywood has also given us a few gems to watch and accept this lesser-known fact. We have listed the 11 most heart-stirring LGBTQ movies streaming on various platforms for you to watch during this pandemic period.
Great LGBTQ movies Streaming –
1. Moonlight
Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, Trevante Rhodes have done a fantastic job in portraying a Southern Black gay man from childhood to adulthood. Barry Jenkins’ sophomore feature created a lot of hype, but it’s all warranted. Incredible acting, vibrant colors, and a lively movie will transport you to the lesser-known world. The film is somber, has a profound ending and a lot of beauty and hope. This is not a standard Oscar-winning movie; there is much more to it. Give it a watch.
Where to watch: Amazon prime
2. Concussion
“Concussion” portrays the life of an upper-middle-class lesbian; both casual and real. The movie is a little sad but with a fascinating perspective. Abby’s son accidentally hits her in the head with a baseball, leading to a concussion which makes her reassess her life. After the incident, she begins working as a high-end escort, hosting her clients in a renovated loft she’s supposed to be selling. Her interactions with clientele are thoughtfully contrasted with the coldness, sexless nature of her marriage. With a bittersweet ending, Abby’s journey is fun, candid, and involves the emotional component essential to sex work.
Where to watch: Amazon prime
3. Keep the Lights On
This one will probably be the saddest of all films on this list. The feature film is about the tumultuous relationship between Erik, a Danish-American documentary filmmaker, and his lawyer boyfriend Paul. After meeting in 1998, they continue to be in touch on and off for the next eight years. Erik in that period is struggling to complete a documentary and Paul is fighting his battle with drug addiction. Their random fights punctuate the film that sometimes explodes with passion and organic physicality. The film will give you an emotionally rich and satisfying experience.
Where to watch: Amazon prime
4. The Watermelon Woman
Criterion Collection recently re-releases this ’90s indie comedy and is an important part of the Black film history. Director Cheryl Dunye, a Black lesbian was the first to direct a feature film. She also stars in the film, as a young filmmaker trying to track down details about a mysterious Black actress who played “Mammy” characters in early Hollywood cinema. She is on a search for the many young Black queer women who uncover their history in a society that does not care about their stories. You would find the movie funny and thoughtful.
Where to watch: Amazon prime
Interesting Read: The 8 Best TV Shows You Finally Have Time to Watch
5. Suicide Kale
Carly Usdin and Brittani Nichols’s dark comedy, Suicide Kale is a refreshing approach to queerness. This comedy focuses on suicide with a light touch that the joy in the film is easily evident too. The story is about a lesbian couple who finds a hidden suicide note in their friend’s house and fret about what to do.
Where to watch: Amazon prime
6. Happy Birthday, Marsha!
People are now more aware of the plight of Black trans women around the world. At the same time, it’s important to look back on our queer elders. “Happy Birthday, Marsha!” is an analog dreamscape where gifted Black trans actress Mya Taylor (“Tangerine”) channels Marsha P. Johnson, imagining her life on the day leading up to the historic riots that were the birth of Gay Pride.
Where to watch: Amazon prime
7. Ek ladki ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga
Ek ladki ko dekha toh Aisa Laga is a Rajkumar Rao and Sonam Kapoor starrer. Rajkumar Rao falls in love with Sonam Kapoor; while Sonam tells him that she is in love with another girl. Rajkumar is a struggling actor then but goes out of his way to unite Sonam Kapoor with the girl she loves. Sonam faces extreme opposition from her family and the society for her choice but decides to stand strongly by her decision.
Where to watch: Netflix
8. My Brother Nikhil
This is probably the first memory of such films in the industry. Released in 2005, the film is based on homophobia. Starring Juhi Chawla and Sanjay Suri in lead roles, with Purab Kohli in a supporting role, the movie focuses on two very hot topics. Nikhil (Sanjay Suri) is diagnosed with HIV and is also gay. The movie portrays the love and cares offered to him by his sister and boyfriend.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
9. Margarita with a straw
Kalki Koechlin, the lead character in the film is a girl suffering from cerebral palsy. The movie brilliantly showcases how she discovers her sexual orientation and how her mother disapproves of the same. With a lot of twists, the film has a calm end.
Where to watch: Netflix
Interesting Read: Stir Crazy? 9 Best Films Remind Us That We’re Not Alone
10. Angry Indian Goddesses
Women oriented film, more than talking about a same-sex couple. It also focuses on the oppression faced by women in the Indian society. The movie is about a group of women, two out of which are about to get married. A day before their wedding, one of the women is raped and murdered. This is the trigger point for other women and creates a string of events after the incident.
Where to watch: Netflix
11. Shubh Mangal Zyada Savdhaan
And of course, the list had to end with this one. The latest LQBTQ movie streaming, starring Ayushman Khurana, Jitendra Kumar, Gajraj Rao, and Nina Gupta. The couple, Aman(Jitendra) and Kartik(Ayushmaan)face a lot of humiliation, trouble towards their road to get married. While Aman’s family tries hard to battle his love for Kartik, Kartik isn’t prepared to step back until he marries Aman.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
Add them to your ‘to watch’ queue now!
Muskan Goel
Baishaly Roy
