In this era of seeking social validation, everyone is busy flaunting their intellectual millennial side. Posting stories of binging Nick Bateman’s stellar performance in Ozark while your Netflix’s ‘Continue watching’ flashes reality show cliché ‘Too hot to handle’ As the whiff of pretense fills our social media, one can never be in denial of a good coming-of-age movie. We often set aside our undying love for the action and splatter for a classic youthful, mellow movie. Whether it’s embracing the ‘Wednesdays we wear pink’ culture with the sassy Regina George from Mean Girls, reminiscing the Judd Nelson’s signature fist pump in the ending of Breakfast Club or even Hailee Steinfeld as awkward yet brazen teenager, Nadine in the Edge of Seventeen.
This blossoming genre often made audiences swoon. Either by propagating stereotypes of a dapper looking hottie falling for a demure, bespectacled girl or explored a more realistic approach of portraying the struggles and the bold nature of a teenager. The films that made the gravy train of this genre might have a very simplistic plot but truly wholesome and heartwarming. Formerly, with heterosexual protagonists exploring the journey to adulthood, films are now diversifying their crux and adopting a more queer sense and educating masses through powerful characters, shattering the heteronormative principles of society. Here’s presenting my favourite, 3 golden eggs of LGBTQ+ centric films.
- The Half of It.
Written and Directed by Alice Wu, the movie features a unique love story with a simplistic yet aroused, deep emotion. An introverted and aloof Ellie Chu, who is also a literature aficionado has a way of spinning beautiful written pieces with her words and philosophy. And then comes, naïve and adorable Paul Munsky, a mediocre football player with an undying love for his brainchild recipe of ‘taco sausage’ and the pretty, damsel Aster Flores. As our jock, decides to woo Aster by writing letters to her, he approaches Ellie for the task, unbeknownst of Ellie’s secret crush on the smart and witty, Aster. In the process, Ellie falls for Aster teaching us life lessons on the efforts one takes for their loved one, someone with whom you can escape the harsh reality and adores you for your true self. Even though your love might be unrequited, there’s always hope. It portrayed queer love, like an ordinary love story without glorifying it and also simple acceptance of another person’s sexuality without any beating around the bush drama . In conclusion here’s my favourite quote.
‘Love isn’t patient, and kind, and humble. Love is messy, and horrible, and selfish, and bold. It’s not finding your perfect half. It’s the trying, and reaching, and failing.’ – Ellie Chu
- Love Simon:
How to keep up with a messy love story? Well, keep a sketch pad handy to draft a web diagram, some uncalled for gasps and a tissue box for those waterworks as drama unfolds in teen flick ‘Love, Simon’. Rolling the carpet for our protagonist, Simon Spier a funny yet awkward high school student who has a poised and passionate personality. However, he’s discrete about his sexuality and keeps it under wraps fearing rejection. His entourage is small yet filled with interesting set of people, Nick, Leah and newcomer Abby. The film has all the key ingredients for a soapy, teenage drama. Simon exchanges heartfelt emails with a secretive pen pal ‘Blue’ under a pseudonym ‘Jacques’. As love blossoms and events unwind, Simon gets blackmailed for his emails. Throughout the story, Simon faces adversaries testing his friendships, being ostracized and bullied and the struggles of coming out of the closet. This film ended on a mellow note with and conventional happy ending. And also to know who’s behind those anonymous love notes, tune in with your feel-good kit.
- Call me by your name
The landscape of this movie transports you to the charisma of Italy in 1983, nestled in a beautiful villa where love blooms between a doctoral, research assistant Oliver with a suave and debonair and the American edge and 17 year old Eilo, a reserved boy who becomes wary if developing feelings for his father’s research assistant, Oliver. He keeps his sexuality closeted and eventually ventures in a daunting adventure of love with Oliver. The stereotype of opposites attract comes into play as the relationship between Oliver and Eilo blooms into something cherishing and worthwhile. Oliver is smart and confident, though he does not acknowledge and turns a blind eye towards Eilo’s surging feeling however eventually he pours his heart out. This movie explored bisexuality and not only perceiving it sexually but in a form of sincere adoration for one another. It’s also pretty obvious to fall in love, when the setting around is a beautiful, ethereal Italian Riviera. I guess we’ve found a new addition to your travel bucket list too.
International Journal of Research (IJR) 