From teen romances to complex mother-daughter relationships, here’s a fun list of five queer must-watch films and shows perfect for Pride Month, or anytime really.
1. “Saving Face” (2004)
Starting off strong with a 2004 romantic comedy written and directed by Alice Wu, “Saving Face” is an indie classic among the lesbian community. As the first film to center on the Chinese American experience since “The Joy Luck Club” (1989), this film will have you laughing out of your seat and crying into your pillows.
Wilhelmina or “Wil” (Michelle Krusiec), a successful young surgeon living in New York City, has a strained relationship with her mother Hwei-Lan (Joan Chen) as a closeted lesbian. Unbeknownst to her, Hwei-Lan is pregnant and will soon be forced to live with her after her grandparents kick her mother out of their house. Left to confront their growing rift as generational differences and Wil’s sexuality continue to divide them, they slowly begin to mend the fractures in their relationship. While Wil begins to navigate a budding relationship with Vivian (Lynn Chen), Hwei-Lan conceals her own struggle as she comes to terms with the father of her unborn child.
“Saving Face” is a sincere and heartwarming depiction of a mother and daughter in crisis, turning to one another amid the pressures of daughterhood within Chinese American culture. Whether you and your own mom see eye to eye, this film will make you melt.
Purchase the film on Apple TV+.
2. “The Half of It” (2020)
Sixteen years after the release of “Saving Face,” Alice Wu is back with another queer Chinese American-centered film. And this time, it’s a coming-of-age drama. Certified fresh with a 97 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, “The Half of It” is a visually stunning portrayal of adolescent love, making it a teen romance perfect for Pride Month.
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Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis) is an introverted teen girl living in the small town of Squahamish. Grieving the loss of her mother and living with her widower father, Ellie’s world turns upside down when her next-door neighbor, Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer), asks her to ghostwrite love letters to Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire), whom she herself desires. By helping Paul articulate his love for Aster, Ellie and Paul form a wholesome friendship. With it, Ellie deals with the conflict of being in an atypical love triangle.
From the nerves of sparking a conversation with your crush to every conflict of desire, this Netflix film gets you. “The Half of It” stars Leah Lewis, Alexxis Lemire, and Daniel Diemer and is only a quarter short of two hours long. It’s the perfect film if you’re looking to watch something short and light.
3. “Conversations With Friends” (2022)
If you’re a Sally Rooney fan who loved watching “Normal People,” you might be interested in “Conversations with Friends.” A series adaptation of Rooney’s debut novel of the same name, this 12-episode show can be your Pride companion all month long. If you loved Jemima Kirke in Lena Duham’s “Girls,” you’d love her even more as Melissa in this 2022 drama.
Frances (Alison Oliver) and Bobbi (Sasha Lane) are former lovers and university students at Trinity College in Dublin when they meet older couple Melissa (Jemima Kirke) and Nick (Joe Alwyn). As an affair ensues between Frances and Nick, the four of them navigate their interpersonal relationships as their lives become unexpectedly intertwined.
Stream the film on Prime Video or Apple TV+.
4. “Glee” (2009-2015)
This one’s for the musical theater lovers. It’s not Pride Month without Kurt Hummel, Blaine Anderson, Santana Lopez, and Brittany S. Pierce. Filled with hundreds of musical numbers and McKinley High drama, “Glee” is as fun as it gets. If you’re still coming off the high of Darren Criss’ Tony Award win, you’ll definitely enjoy his renditions of Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” or P!nk’s “Raise Your Glass.” Watch all six seasons of Ryan Murphy’s hit show on Disney+ or Prime Video.
5. “The Watermelon Woman” (1997)
Last but not least, we have “The Watermelon Woman,” written, directed, and edited by Cheryl Dunye. This ’90s classic is completely arresting. Centered on the Black working-class lesbian experience, it stars Dunye herself as the young lead. Having premiered at the 1996 Berlin International Film Festival and considered a landmark in New Queer Cinema, it’s a miracle this movie exists.
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Working at a video rental store in Philadelphia, aspiring filmmaker Cheryl finds herself falling in love with a white woman named Diana (Guinevere Turner). As her relationship unfolds, so too does her quest to make a film about Fae Richards, a fictional Black actress and queer icon. As Cheryl dusts off archives of Fae Richard’s life, her own story comes to life.
Catch this indie classic on Mubi.
