Pride Month 2021: 6 Essential LGBTQ+ Films (Directed By Women)

A list of LGBTQ+ films we think everyone should see (and where to watch them)

28th June 2021

June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate all things LGBTQ+, so we’ve spent our time digging out some films we think everyone should see. The fact that they’re all directed by women is just the icing on the cake. Let us know your personal favourites in the comments!

#happypridemonth #happypride #queerart #queerpride #pridemonth #pride2021 #pride

But, I’m A Cheerleader (1999)

Dir. Jamie Babbit

Straight is great!

Despite featuring heavy themes of gender and sexual discrimination and a story that centres around a “reparative therapy” camp for homosexuals, “But, I’m A Cheerleader” manages to succeed as a fun, quirky teen comedy while still carrying a strong and positive message.

Featuring early roles for Natasha Lyonne (Orange Is The New Black, Russian Doll), Clea DuVall (Argo, Veep) and a scene-stealing turn from none other than RuPaul (RuPaul’s Drag Race), Jamie Babbit’s debut feature puts a refreshing spin on the well-worn tropes of romantic comedies and teen dramas whilst taking aim at historic, outdated views on gender roles and homosexuality.

Although it was made more than 20 years ago, “But, I’m A Cheerleader” is still poignant, visually striking, funny and uplifting and remains particularly relevant today. Keep an eye out for the Director’s Cut Blu-ray out this month.

Paris is Burning (1990)

Dir. Jennie Livingston

We’re having a ball!

Jennie Livingston’s landmark documentary “Paris is Burning” was selected for preservation by the US National Film Registry in 2016 and it’s easy to see why. Much like Penelope Spheeris’ “Decline of the Western Civilisation” it’s a fascinating look into an underground subculture that has worked its way into popular culture over the last few decades.

Documenting New York City’s gay and trans ball scene, it’s an up-close and personal film filled with candid interviews, colourful characters and stories of hope, ambition and more than a little tragedy. It’s more than just a film about the evolution of a unique subculture, it’s also a snapshot of 1980s attitudes towards homosexuality and transvestism in the United States, shining a spotlight on the struggles of the poor and the gap in wealth in a tough urban environment.

Paris is Burning is a visual feast with a fantastic soundtrack. Compelling to the last.

Beautiful Thing (1996)

Dir. Hettie Macdonald

The boy next door.

Hettie Macdonald’s debut feature, Beautiful Thing, is a heartwarming romantic comedy about two teenage boys falling in love in a tough council estate setting. For the most part, it’s your typical British rom-com fare but that’s not meant as a slight, it just means that even the most cynical of viewers are sure to be won over by the film’s charm, wit and heart.

Jamie is a shy, bullied, introvert living with his mother Sandra. Next door, Ste lives with his abusive brother and father but when the violence gets too much, and he’s taken in by Sandra, the relationship between the two boys begins to flourish. As they get closer, the shame of being caught grows heavily on Ste’s mind causing a rift in their relationship.

The core cast here is excellent. Glen Berry (Jamie), Scott Neal (Ste) and the always brilliantly ill-tempered Linda Henry (Bad Girls, Eastenders), all put in peerless performances whilst ably supported by Ben Daniels (as Sandra’s new-age, neo-hippie boyfriend Tony) and Tameka Empson (as the wacky next-door neighbour and wild-child Leah).

Even if you mostly hate rom-coms, Beautiful Thing is guaranteed to put a smile on your face before the end credits roll.

Born In Flames (1983)

Dir. Lizzie Borden

Women at war. What is it good for?

“Born in Flames” is a bold depiction of an alternative vision of New York City in the early 1980s. Set 10 years after a landmark and idealistic political move towards socialism in the USA, the true reality of Lizzie Borden’s broken world is revealed in a collage of news reports, radio broadcasts and interviews, feeling almost like a documentary in much of its presentation.

Borden’s future is an all too familiar setting where the subjugation, persecution and surveillance of women are all normal, everyday occurrences and supported by a government determined to prevent any meaningful uprising on the streets. Against the odds, feminist groups do their best to battle against the unfair, unjust system (that favours white, heterosexual males) and as the tension builds, disparate groups join forces in an explosive climax.

The film was lovingly restored in 2016 and even though it’s still a little dated visually (having been made with practically no budget at the time), this fits in well with its DIY aesthetic and guerilla storytelling. Even in 2021, Born in Flames is a powerful and inspiring piece of indie cinema.

Short Film: One-Up (2017)

Dir. Eimi Imanishi

Growing up can be brutal…

“One-Up” follows a young hockey player harbouring hidden feelings for a female teammate. At the same time, she also embarks on an awkward heterosexual relationship with the guy who drives the Zamboni on the ice. Growing up is a difficult and confusing time, especially when you’re struggling to come to terms with your own sexuality and the film captures this mood and tone perfectly.

It’s far more true to life than most coming of age stories and it’s an uncompromisingly uncomfortable watch at times. There’s no happy ending and no satisfying conclusion, it’s just a well-executed snapshot of one young woman’s awkward adolescence, a moment in time that we can all relate to.

At only 15 mins long you’ve really no excuse not to watch this beautifully shot short film from promising young filmmakers Eimi Imanishi and Julia Thompson. You’ll also never look at an apple quite the same way again…

Raw (2017)

Dir. Julia Ducournau

Relationships bite.

Courting controversy for its graphic content, Raw is the story of strict vegetarian Justine (Garance Marrillier) and her eventful first semester at veterinary school. The bizarre hazing ceremony for new students is just about brutal enough to ease you into the dark, violent and seductive story as Justine’s relationships with her enchanting older sister Alex (Ella Rumpf) and gay roommate Adrien (Rabah Nait Oufella) develop in increasingly horrific ways.

The film doesn’t hold back in its gory, realistic depiction of cannibalism (leading some viewers at the Toronto film festival to faint) yet it rarely feels excessive or voyeuristic, omitting certain scenes and letting the viewer’s imagination fill in the macabre gaps based on earlier events… The pacing is slow and foreboding, creating a murky sense of impending doom and when peppered with short bursts of visceral intensity it really, really works (see also Tomas Alfredson’s Let The Right One In).

Avoid any spoilers for French filmmaker Julia Ducournau’s film and go in as cold as you can. What you’ll find is an uncomfortable, mesmerising and intoxicating feast of European horror.

We hope you enjoy these films! Let us know your favourites from our list and of course we’d love to hear your own recommendations.