The holidays can be a wonderful time of the year. They can also be a horrible time of the year, where the main highlight is you and a giant glass of eggnog in front of the fire.
Or, better yet, the glow of your screen, as you binge watch the night away, solo or with chosen family.
Whether you’re having the best Thanksgiving weekend ever, or you’re barely making it through, take some time off to check out these awesome queer movies streaming now on Netflix.
Summertime
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When Delphine (Izïa Higelin), the daughter of farmers in the countryside of France goes to Paris to discover herself, she lands among a group of feminists who open her eyes to another way of being. When she returns, and takes one of the other women with her, Carole (Cécile de France), they both discover just how unwelcome their views and love will be in the conservative, provincial setting.
The film is set in 1971, and Peter Debruge, writing for Variety, called Summertime a “luminous, golden-hued period piece.”
Don’t have Netflix? Watch it on Amazon.
Closet Monster
Closet Monster is a coming-of-age story about a boy who witnesses a gory hate crime at a young age that, along with the realization that he is gay, as was the victim of the attack, leaves a mark on his psyche. As he grows up, Oscar (Connor Jessup) must deal with a less than supportive home life and the trauma of the past, as he attempts to escape his hometown.
The film is semi-autobiographical, based on the writer-director Stephen Dunn’s childhood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTgM1e8w05g
Watch Closet Monster on Netflix.
Don’t have Netflix? Watch it on Amazon.
Other People
This one is a tearjerker, but also has its black comedy moments, as well as its touching moments. It follows a struggling comedy writer (Jesse Plemons) and performer who returns home as his mother (Molly Shannon) is dying from cancer. He attempts to come to terms with his mother’s illness, his father’s (Bradley Whitford) lack of acceptance of his being gay, and his recent breakup, all while attempting to convince himself and others that he’s fine.
Other People is not an easy movie, but it rewards its audiences with moments of beautiful humanity, and expert film-making. It, like Closet Monster, is semi-autobiographical, based on writer/director Chris Kelly’s family.
Watch Other People on Netflix.
Don’t have Netflix? Watch Other People on Amazon.
The Way He Looks
The Way He Looks is a Brazilian coming-of-age drama, about a blind high school student, Leo (Ghilherme Lobo), who is struggling under the weight of an overbearing mother and bullies at school. In order to gain more independence, he plans to study abroad, upsetting his best friend, Giovana (Tess Amorim).
When a new boy, Gabriel (Fabio Audi), moves to town, new feelings are sparked, causing him to reconsider his plans, and driving a wedge between he and Giovana.
Watch The Way He Looks on Netflix.
Don’t have Netflix? Watch The Way He Looks on Amazon.
Laerte-Se
This Netflix original documentary explores the life of Brazilian cartoonist and screenwriter Laerte Coutinho, primarily known simply as Laerte. The film follows her as she comes out to the world as a transgender woman.
Laerte is one of the country’s most well known and beloved cartoonists. In Laerte-Se, she explores what femininity means to her, with those explorations often animated using her own work.
