-I’m well aware that I need to see more early Almodóvar, and I’m glad to hear that you’re a Beautiful Thing. If you ever get the chance to see it as a stage play definitely jump at the opportunity–I actually thought it played better in that context than it did as a film.

-If I hadn’t included Dark… (which I should really write about sometime) I would have included Rebel as my “token coded Hollywood” film. It seems to be commonly accepted that the character of Plato is gay and strongly desires Jim… some have gone so far as to see a relationship/potential relationship between them. I personally don’t go that far (though I really need to watch the film again), but would include it on Plato’s character alone.

-Deciding what constitutes a “gay” film is part of the fun of this whole poll has provided! I’ve kept my list rather literal since that is how the moderator runs it. And with the exception of Denis’s film, I haven’t seen one on your list, so I’m printing it out for reference and rental suggestions.

Anyway, thanks for responding–I knew I could count on your for a fascinating, detailed response! And it’s good to hear from you.

-jesse

I’ll be curious as to what you make of For the Bible Tells Me So, since I know you’ve some major issues with docs dealing with the topics of gays and religion… I thought it was as fair-handed a film as one could hope for given the subject matter, and it was really nice that it didn’t spend its time focusing on the mentally tortured and self-pitying but on those comfortable with their sexuality and their religous beliefs and only hope that their beliefs spread outwards.

-jesse

–My favorite Almodovar’s film concerning gay topic is LAW OF DESIRE.

–BEAUTIFUL THING is also one of my most favorite films. I didn’t know that it was adapted from a play.

–Before I read your post, I hadn’t heard about THE DARK AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS before. It seems interesting.

–I also love THE HOURS very much. I think I saw it three times on the big screen. MYSTERIOUS SKIN and THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY are my favorite films, too.

–I watched REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE a long time ago, and didn’t know that it has something homosexual in it. How I was so blind!

–As for my list, this list is not “my favorite gay films”, but it is “my favorite films which have something gay in it”, though that “something” might be just a tiny part in the film. I don’t like the limitation of the word “gay films”, so I try to broaden my list as much as possible.

FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL FILMS

In alphabetical order:

1.ALL YOU CAN EAT (1993, Michael Brynntrup, Germany, 5:30 min)

2.THE ASCENT OF CHIMBORAZO (1989, Rainer Simon, East Germany)

3.BEAUTIFUL MYSTERY – LEGEND OF BIG HORN (1983, Genji Nakamura)

4.BEAU TRAVAIL (1999, Claire Denis)

5.BILLY’S HOLLYWOOD SCREEN KISS (1998, Tommy O’Haver)

6.CACHE (1998, Carolyn Coal)
Lesbian film

7.THE CHERRY ORCHARD (1990, Shun Nakahara)
Lesbian film

8.LE DOSSIER 51 (1978, Michel Deville)

9.DUCK SEASON (2004, Fernando Eimbcke, Mexico)

10.O FANTASMA (2000, Joao Pedro Rodrigues, Portugal)

11.FUNERAL PARADE OF ROSES (1969, Toshio Matsumoto)

12.THE GARDEN (1990, Derek Jarman)

13.THE HOURS AND TIMES (1991, Christopher Munch)

14.THE IMAGE OF DORIAN GRAY IN THE YELLOW PRESS (1984, Ulrike Ottinger, West Germany)
Lesbian film

15.LOLA AND BILLY THE KID (1998, Kutlug Ataman, Germany)

16.THE MASSEUR (2005, Brillante Mendoza, Philippines)

17.MAURICE (1987, James Ivory)

18.MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE (1985, Stephen Frears)

19.PIRATED (2000, Nguyen Tan Hoang, USA, 11 min)

20.A PLACE WITHOUT LIMITS (1978, Arturo Ripstein, Mexico)

21.PRIEST (1994, Antonia Bird)

22.RITES OF PASSAGE (1999, Victor Salva)

23.SPIN THE BOTTLE (1997, Jamie Yerkes)

24.SWORDSMAN II (1992, Ching Siu-Tung,

25.TABOO PARLOUR (1994, Monika Treut)
Lesbian film

26.TAXI ZUM KLO (1980, Frank Ripploh, West Germany)

27.TORCH SONG TRILOGY (1988, Paul Bogart)

28.UNDER ONE ROOF (2002, Todd Wilson)

29.A VIRUS KNOWS NO MORALS (1985, Rosa von Praunheim, West Germany)

30.WOMEN IN REVOLT (1971, Paul Morrissey)

FAVORITE THAI FILMS

1.BUS-STOP (2004, Tossaporn Mongkol)

2.DEEP INSIDE (PLEUK) (2002, Chumpol Thongthab, 23 min)

3.DOWN THE RIVER (2004, Anucha Boonyawatana)

4.EXOTIC 101 (Michael Shaowanasai)
I saw this film in 1999, but I don’t know exactly when it was made.

5.FANTASMAGORIE (2004, Surachai Pattanakijpaibool)

6.I AM A MAN (CHAN POOSHAY NAYA) (1987, M.L. Bhandevanop Devakul)

7.METROSEXUAL (2006, Yongyoot Thongkongtoon)

8.ONE TRUE THING (2007, Vichart Somkaew)

9.TROPICAL MALADY (2004, Apichatpong Weerasethakul)

10.UNSEEN BANGKOK (2004, Thunska Pansittivorakul)

salmau tried to get me into “Dark At The Top Of The Stairs”…but, I have to admit, the film didn’t appeal to me. I think it may be William Inge’s fault. I am also not a fan of “Bus Stop”, “Picnic” and “Splendor In The Grass”!

Looking forward to seeing “For the Bible Tells Me So”!

DEREK