Queer and Now

Manish (@themanish89) and David (@daveagiannini) travel back in time to examine a new decade in queer film. They start their look at the 1930s with Morocco, Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietrich, and Adolphe Menjou. One scene stands out as an iconic one for LGBTQ+ representation, but how does the rest of the film compare?

Manish (@themanish89) and David (@daveagiannini) have gone back to the present, going through a full decade of queer cinema, leading up to 2020’s release of Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Listen as they passionately discuss Céline Sciamma’s film, starring Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel and the way that is handles love, from the scope of a queer film and beyond.

Manish (@themanish89) and David (@daveagiannini) continue their look a queer cinema through the years as they make it to the year 2019. They touch on other films that are or could be seen as queer films; from Booksmart and Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, to Ma and Greta, before focusing on Pain and Glory. The 2019 film starring Antonio Banderas and written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar is a special and important film to say the least, and one worthy of your attention, as David and Manish make clear.

Manish (@themanish89) and David (@daveagiannini) arrive at 2018, a year in which there were a handful of queer films of varying quality. The Miseducation Of Cameron Post is their main focus, the queer-focused conversion therapy indie that was overshadowed by the more star-studded Boy Erased which came out the same year. Directed by Desiree Akhavan and starring Chloë Grace Moretz and Sasha Lane, the case is made for this film that may have flown under your radar.

Your hosts Manish (@themanish89) and David (@daveagiannini) arrive at 2017, in their journey through LGBTQ+ films through the years. They discuss, you guessed it, Call Me by Your Name, directed by Luca Guadagnino, adapted by James Ivory, and starring Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer. Some would say it’s controversial, others say it’s a new classic; Manish and David give their take on this already seminal work.

Your hosts Manish (@themanish89) and David (@daveagiannini) reach the year 2016. It’s the year Moonlight was released, the Academy Award Best Picture winner, directed by Barry Jenkins and starring Trevante Rhodes, André Holland, Janelle, Naomie Harris, and Mahershala Ali. It’s also the year Park Chan-wook’s The Handmaiden was released, starring Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-ri Ha, and Jung-woo. Both are important LGBTQ films in their own right, and both are discussed in this episode!

Your hosts Manish (@themanish89) and David (@daveagiannini) reach 2015 and a very important film in the realm of queer cinema, Todd Haynes’ Carol. Starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, Manish and David discuss everything from the performances, direction, and importance to LGBTQ films.

Your hosts Manish (@themanish89) and David (@daveagiannini) arrive at 2014 in their look at important LGBTQ films through the years. They discuss Pride, the based-on-a-true-story film depicting the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners campaign in the UK in 1984. Filled with empathy, the film rises above a standard queer drama, especially compared to fellow 2014 queer film The Imitation Game, as you’ll hear your hosts mention.

Your hosts Manish (@themanish89) and David (@daveagiannini) arrive at 2013, in their look at queer cinema through the years. It’s a year filled with notable films in the LGBTQ realm (although let’s not talk about Dallas Buyers Club) and the main focus is the French thriller Stranger by the Lake. It’s a dangerous yet sexy encounter—the film, not the episode… unless—and we’re here to detail it.

Your hosts Manish (@themanish89) and David (@daveagiannini) reach 2012 in their focus of LGBTQ films. They discuss the important films of the year, and the lack thereof. Then they focus on the first mainstream animated movie to feature an openly gay character, Laika’s ParaNorman.