More recently, a director like Céline Sciamma constructed a bracing picture of an intimate female relationship with “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” though looking back at her career, she’s long explored the nuances of female sexuality.įrom the 20th Century up until just this past year with Sweden’s Best International Feature Oscar submission “And Then We Danced,” below is a sampling of some of the best international LGBTQ cinema out there - including alternative entries from popular filmmakers you may have missed. While there are a few melancholy moments, the end makes it clear that Sieger is on. Leather Bar’, a faux-documentary riffing. 6) Boys (Jongens) This Dutch coming-of-age film explores 15-year-old Sieger’s first love as he falls for Marc. It has been updated on March 15, 2022.Īmerican movies and TV are making major strides in LGBTQ representation, but storytellers abroad are in many ways ahead of the curve, exploring sexuality and relationships with groundbreaking technique, and in ways often coded and ahead of their time.įrom Rainer Werner Fassbinder to Pier Paolo Pasolini, the fluidity of human sexuality has long fascinated international filmmakers unafraid to bust taboos. Travis Mathews came to widespread attention earlier in 2013 thanks to a film he co-directed with actor James Franco called ‘Interior. Editor’s Note: This list was originally posted on February 27, 2021.