The Best LGBT Movies of 2023
Now that 2023 is coming to an end, we can’t help but look back on everything we’ve seen and heard this year and take a moment to think: What are the best foreign language films of the year? Who are the characters that have truly stayed with us and come back to mind when we least expect it? When it comes to the best LGBT movies of 2023, this question is a hard one.
More than ever, directors and filmmakers from all over the world, both young and experienced, have graced our screens with some of the most honest, thought-provoking, and sometimes heartbreaking films we’ve seen in a long time.
Would you like to know what these movies are and why you should watch them? Well, let’s get started.
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1. Passages (Ira Sachs)
Country: France
Languages: French, English
In modern-day Paris, Tomas, a German filmmaker, explores his sexual identity in a passionate romance with Agathe, complicating the boundaries of his marriage with Martin. As Martin engages in his own affair, he not only regains Tomas’ focus but also exposes Tomas’ feelings of envy. Faced with conflicting emotions, Tomas must decide between accepting the limitations of his marriage or acknowledging that the relationship has reached its conclusion.
Passages, via Pinterest.
Why Passages is one of the best LGBT movies of 2023:
When one thinks back on the best LGBT movies of the last decade, it’s evident that filmmakers have struggled to give us a good queer villain. Perhaps assuming the only valid way to portray sexually diverse characters was to show them as heroes and victims, there seem to be really few gay or bisexual bad guys. However, Tomas is not your regular bad guy. He’s not a murderer or a scary drug dealer. He’s just a narcissist, someone who sees relationships as vehicles for attention and thinks people will always be there for him. By the end of the film, you come to care so much about Martin and Agathe, that you really hope he is wrong.
2. Cassandro
Countries: Mexico, USA
Languages: Spanish, English
Saúl Armendáriz, an amateur wrestler from El Paso, attains global fame by crafting the persona of Cassandro, often referred to as the “Liberace of Lucha Libre.” This true account unfolds as he challenges the traditional norms of the wrestling industry and undergoes significant personal transformations.
Why Cassandro is one of the best LGBT movies of 2023:
Once more, we have a film that deals with a very interesting but not very often explored word: that of ‘exóticos’. In the world of professional wrestling, particularly in Mexican lucha libre, “exóticos” are a unique and flamboyant character type. They are male wrestlers who adopt an exaggerated feminine or androgynous persona, often incorporating elements of drag and theatricality into their performances. These characters challenge traditional gender norms and add a colorful and entertaining dimension to the wrestling spectacle. But Cassandro is much more than a flamboyant character. Played by the amazing Gael García Bernal, he’s a sweet, endearing, and vulnerable human being who dreams of a better life than the one he was born into.
3. Mutt
Country: USA
Language English
Over a hectic day in New York City, a young trans man named Feña runs across three figures from his past: his estranged father, his former straight boyfriend, and his 13-year-old half-sister. Having drifted apart since his transition, Feña grapples with reshaping these previous connections while tackling the everyday challenges that come with living a life in-between.
Why Mutt is one of the best LGBT movies of 2023:
Lío Mehiel achieved prominence with his standout performance in “Mutt” this year, securing the distinction of being the first openly transgender actor to receive the Sundance Dramatic Special Jury Award for Best Acting. In this film, he not only gives one of the most naturalistic performances of the year but he offers us, as an audience, the rare opportunity to see a transgender character played by a transgender actor. Plus, don’t you just love movies whose entire storyline takes place over the course of a single day?
4. Monster (怪物)
Country: Japan
Monster, via Pinterest.
Language: Japanese
When Minato begins exhibiting unusual behavior, his mother senses that something isn’t right. Realizing that a teacher is behind it, she rushes to the school, demanding answers. However, as the narrative unfolds from the perspectives of the mother, teacher, and child, the truth slowly comes to light. Told from multiple perspectives, each act is more revelatory and heartbreaking than the last. Is Minato being hurt? Or is he the abuser? Who is the titular monster?
Why Monster is one of the best LGTB movies of 2023:
Through a series of scenes told from different perspectives, Monster underlines how often the simplest explanations can elude our eyes, obscured by layers of fear, prejudice, and mutual suspicion. Unfolding in a modern age, where gender roles are reinforced by mass media and figures of authority and rumor-mongering abounds, the film indicts not people but words; it depicts how the subtle cruelties of language — whether by accident or intent — can have the most devastating effect. That’s all we can say without spoiling this amazing film!
5. Toll (Pedágio)
Countries: Brazil, Portugal
Language: Portuguese
Suellen, a toll booth attendant, uses her job to assist a group of thieves in taking watches from individuals heading to the coast. Her motivation? To send her son to a costly gay conversion workshop.
Why Toll is one of the best LGTB movies of 2023:
“Pedágio” fearlessly tackles conversion therapies, which aim to change individuals’ sexual orientation based on the unfounded and discredited belief that being LGBTQ is a mental disorder or a choice that can be changed.
Plus, the film artfully explores the complex mother-son bond, delving into the struggles of acceptance within families and emphasizing the poignant reality that, at times, it’s harder for LGBTQ individuals to find understanding and support at home than in the external world.
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As we wrap up our exploration of the best LGBT movies of 2023, it’s evident that these films offer more than just entertainment—they provide a window into diverse cultures, identities, and perspectives, fostering understanding and empathy
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