FILM
Queer Movies for Valentines Day
Stay in and get cozy with a slate of romantic fi lms
BY GARY M. KRAMER
Valentine’s Day is coming
up — and this year,
going out may not be an
option. Why not couple
up on the couch and set the mood
with some queer romance? Here
are a handful of LGBTQ fi lms
available via various streaming
platforms:
“Breaking Fast”
Out gay writer/director Mike
Mosallam’s fabulous Ramadan
rom-com (available on demand) is
expanded from his terrifi c 2015
short of the same name (which
starred different actors). This enjoyable
romance puts a spotlight
on a neglected segment of the queer
community, gay Muslims.
Mo (out actor Haaz Sleiman),
is heartbroken after his closeted
lover, Hassan (Patrick Sabongui)
ends their relationship. With the
encouragement of his best friend
Sam (a scene-stealing Amin El Gamal),
Mo unexpectedly fi nds himself
attracted to Superman-loving
Kal (Michael Cassidy), an actor.
However, because it is Ramadan,
and the Holy Month forbids impure
thoughts and activities, the
devout Mo is forced to practice selfcontrol.
Mosallam’s clever conceit — and
what makes this charming fi lm
so romantic — is that Mo and Kal
are able to get to know one another
and fall in love as their relationship
develops over numerous dinners
and dates. “Breaking Fast”
does feature many of the genre’s
conventions, from broad embarrassment
humor, to comic misunderstandings,
but it also includes
thoughtful discussions about how
gay Arabs reconcile their sexuality
and their religion.
The irresistible Sleiman exudes
charisma — and displays palpable
comic anxiety as he slowly couples
up with Kal.
“Good Kisser”
Equal parts cautionary tale
and romance, “Good Kisser,”
streaming on Netf lix through
Haaz Sleiman (left) and Michael Cassidy (right) in “Breaking Fast.”
February 19, has Jenna (Kari
Alison Hodge) and Kate (Rachel
Paulson) opening up their relationship.
The couple go over
to see Mia (Julia Eringer) for
a possible threesome. There
is awkward small talk at first
— Jenna is adorably nervous
— and Kate steals some kisses
with Mia behind her lover’s
back. But the dynamics keep
shifting. Mia starts putting the
moves on Jenna, letting things
simmer before they really heat
up. Mia’s sensual application of
some ice to cool her down may
help. As the three women do
body shots, and play spin the
bottle, Jenna gets more comfortable.
It is not a spoiler to reveal
that the trio eventually end
up in the bedroom.
Writer/director Wendy Jo Carlton
lets things unfold slowly, but
viewers come to care about Jenna,
who comes to reevaluate her relationship
with Kate as thing progress
quickly.
“Good Kisser” does get a bit risible
when it tries to be risqué — a
popsicle is used as a sexual device
— but the fi lm ends on an upbeat
note, showing that romance can
take many forms.
VERTICAL ENTERTAINMENT
“Alice Júnior”
This fabulous Brazilian import,
streaming on Netfl ix, is a wonderful,
energetic romantic comedy
from Brazil. The title character
(Anne Celestino) is a never-beenkissed
trans teenager whose father
Jean Genet (Emmanuel Rosset)
moves to a small town for a few
months. Alice despairs when she
must attend a Catholic high school
and is asked to dress as a boy. Her
humiliations multiply at school,
but she does make some friends,
including Taisa (Surya Amitrano)
and Viviane (Thais Schier). She
also develops a crush on Bruno
(Matheus Moura).
“Alice Júnior” peppers its engaging
heroine’s experiences with
lively animation and videos, but it
is her father’s unconditional love
and protection — he is proud of his
daughter and fi ghts for her rights
— that make the fi lm so gratifying.
Watching Alice transform the
school by lobbying for bathroom
rights, fi ghting off bullies, and
raising feminist consciousness at
a pool party is both heartwarming
and empowering.
“Alaska Is a Drag”
Also streaming on Netfl ix is
writer/director Shaz Bennett’s feature
“Alaska Is a Drag,” which is
based on her award-winning short.
Leo (Martin L. Washington, Jr.) is a
young, gay Black man bullied at the
fi sh cannery where he works. When
newcomer Declan (out actor Matt
Dallas) comes to Leo’s aid, the guys
become close friends — and possible
romantic partners. There are
subplots involving Leo’s complicated
family, his penchant for performing
in drag at Jan’s (Margaret Cho) bar,
and his affi nity for boxing. Bennett
may shoehorn too many storylines
into her brief running time, but
Washington is ingratiating as Leo,
and Dallas is pretty dreamy as his
potential love interest.
“Big Eden”
Looking to revisit a gay classic?
This charming romance, streaming
on Amazon and Apple TV, just celebrated
its twentieth anniversary.
“Big Eden” was the debut fi lm by out
gay writer/director Thomas Bezucha.
Henry (Arye Gross), is a closeted
grandson returning to Montana
to care for the infi rmed Sam (George
Coe), who raised him. Henry also
grapples with his feelings for Dean
(Tim DeKay), the one who got away,
while, another man, Pike (Eric Schweig),
secretly pines for Henry.
The fi lm’s gentle humor stems
from the fact that no one — except
Henry — cares that Henry is gay.
The fi lm features wonderful supporting
characters, from the busybody
Widow Thayer (Nan Martin)
to a Greek chorus of men who
hang out in Pike’s store. Moreover,
the sexual tension between Henry
and Dean is sweet — DeKay is ruggedly
handsome and overly demonstrative,
giving Henry all kinds of
mixed signals. But it is the Pike’s
quiet desire for the oblivious Henry
that is more satisfying. When the
couple fi nally get to dance together
one evening, it is magical.
Bezucha guides “Big Eden” effortlessly.
One of the best scenes in
the fi lm is a Thanksgiving dinner,
where all of the characters reveal
their emotions without any dialogue.
This fi lm holds up on a fi rst,
second, or third look.
February 11 - February 24, 2 30 021 | GayCityNews.com
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