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7 Must-See Queer Foreign Language Films
Queer cinema comes in all shapes and colors, from low-budget indie movies like Loving Annabelle to star-studded affairs like Brokeback Mountain. But queer cinema also comes in all languages, and there’s a wealth of great cinematic experiences awaiting us just outside our comfort zones.
Here are a handful of foreign language films you need to see!
A Fantastic Woman (2017)
Winner of the Best Foreign Language Film award at the 2018 Oscars, A Fantastic Woman tells the story of a trans woman named Marina who’s struggling to find acceptance among family members. Over the course of the film, Marina fights to live in her truth...and what she discovers is that she is, unequivocally, a fantastic woman.
Tomboy (2011)
Laure is a 10-year-old tomboy who’s new in the neighborhood. When Laure meets other neighborhood kids, she introduces herself as Mikael, much to the chagrin of her parents. What ensues is a journey of self-discovery that touches the audience to the very core.
Circumstance (2011)
The Bold Type’s Nikohl Boosheri stars in this French-Iranian-American film about a rebellious Iranian teenager Atafeh and her orphaned best friend Shireen. The two girls experiment with drinking, drugs, and sex and eventually fall for each other, all the while Atafeh’s brother becomes fixated on Islamic Fundamentalism.
The Handmaiden (2016)
The Handmaiden was all the rage just a few years ago for its incredible love story between a wealthy Japanese woman and her pickpocket handmaiden. The film was based on Sarah Waters’ popular novel Fingersmith, which was made into a mini-series of the same name in 2005.
Liz in September (2014)
Have you ever wanted to spend a weekend in a beach house strictly designated for lesbians? Well, that’s what you get when you get in Liz in September. The Spanish-language film boasts a diverse cast of characters as well as a sweet love story that’ll pull at your heartstrings.
Viva (2015)
Set in Havana, Viva follows Jesus who is a hairdresser for a group of drag performers. Jesus secretly dreams of being a performer himself, but is shot down when his absentee father tries to ruin his first chance at life on stage.
8 Femmes (2002)
8 Femmes is all about glamour, comedy, and music. It stars some of France’s most famous actresses Catherine Deneuve, Fanny Ardant, and Isabelle Huppert. It also boasts a very interesting queer storyline that involves not one but two love triangles!
