- Viva : 2016 This story of Jesus (Héctor Medina) an 18 year old hairdresser who is desperate to break out of his very sparse and miserable existence in one of Havana’s poorest neighborhoods and make something out of his life, and it surprisingly turns out to be one of the very best Irish LGBT movies for decades. Director Paddy Breathnach had visited a Drag Club in Havana some 20 years ago and it inspired him to create a movie with similar very colorful characters that he had encountered then. Written by Mark O’Halloran this journey of Jesus’s self discovery was such a poignant one, and although shot entirely in Spanish was Ireland’s Official Submission for a Best Foreign Picture Oscar last year. It is a wonderful melodrama that is a total delight.
2) The Queen of Ireland: 2016. It was always a sure bet that sooner or later the whole world would be aware of an extraordinary Irish drag queen called Panti Bliss, but it was her appearance on the stage of Dublin’s Abbey Theater delivering a ‘Noble Call’ on February 1st 2014 that instantly propelled her into the role of accidental activist and national LGBT hero. This heartwarming documentary on an exceptional selfless tour-de-force is a sheer joy from start to finish .
3) The Crying Game : Although shot in Ulster and London, this is a quintessential Irish thriller that grabbed the headlines for its rather scandalous twist that writer/director Neil Jordan managed to keep out of the initial reviews. A violent story that explores themes of race, gender, nationality, and sexuality against the backdrop of the Irish Troubles when a British soldier is kidnapped by IRA terrorists. He befriends one of his captors, who is drawn into the soldier’s world. This sleeper hit picked up 6 Oscar Nominations, and won one for Neil Jordan’s writing.
4) Breakfast on Pluto : 2005. Cillian Murphy’s career defining performance as confused Kitten who had been abandoned in a small Irish border town as a baby. Soon discovered that he feels happier in women’s clothes, and when he grows up he sets off for London in pursuit of his mysterious mum. The period is the 1960’s and although he may be completely at ease with his sexuality, Irish politics however become increasingly volatile and so his own troubles in his search for happiness mirror the escalating tensions around him. Murphy is captivating as the outrageous and lovable Kitten picking up a Golden Globe nomination for his role in this Neil Jordan movie.
5) A Man Of No Importance : 1994 A delicious performance from the great Albert Finney as Alfie an Irish closeted bus conductor in Dublin who has a secret crush on his straight driver (Rufus Sewell). Alfie’s off-duty passion is for mounting amateur theatrical productions of Oscar Wilde plays, whilst his sister (Brenda Fricker) is determined that Alfie should meet the right girl and settle down, even though he is his 60’s. So is the period the movie is set in, when we guess even the most flamboyant gay men were assumed to be straight.
6) Cowboys and Angels 2003 : This delightful coming-of-age story of two young men set in Limerick, has a real neat twist to it. Shane is an insecure straight boy who had to forsake Art School and get a job as Civil Servant to help support his family. His room mate is Vincent a charismatic and openly gay fashion student who he knew back in his high school days. Vincent takes the Shane under his wing and gives him new clothes, a new look and some confidence which helps he attracts girls, but also the local drug dealer who offers the chance to make some easy money. It’s a refreshing change that it’s the gay one who has got his act together instead of the straight boy as usual. Starring a young Michael Legge, and Allen Leech, the latter who went on to play Branson in Downton Abbey.
7) Albert Nobbs 2011: The story of a transgender man working as a hotel butler in 19th-century Ireland. After living as a male for 30 years, Albert, is known for his extreme dedication to his job, and has been secretly saving all his earnings to buy a tobacco shop to gain some measure of freedom and independence. At the same time, Hubert Page who was tasked with painting the hotel, discovers Albert’s secret, only to reveal that he is keeping the very same secret about himself. Whilst Hubert has got himself a wife and a happy life, Albert’s attempts to do the same end up very badly. Both Glenn Close and Janet McTeer were both nominated for all the major acting awards that season for their starring roles, although the movie itself was not well received.
8) Borstal Boy : 2000 A romanticized drama “inspired” by Irish writer Brendan Behan’s autobiographical book of the same name, it mixes a rites-of-passage story with political and sexual elements which includes a sexually ambiguous friendship with an openly gay Naval cadet.
9) Conspiracy of Silence 2003. When an HIV+ Catholic priest commits suicide a local investigative newspaper reporter looking into the death, uncovers other matters like the expulsion of two trainee priests from the Seminary for alleged homosexual activity. One of the priests however is straight so in revenge he helps the reporter write a follow-up article that alleges that cardinals close to the Pope are engaged in sexual relationships and calls on the Church to re-examine its celibacy requirement for priests. The movie is a very earnest attempt to deal with problems that the Church is still in total denial about.
10) Dream Kitchen : 1999 An Irish short film directed by Barry Dignam in which a young man fantasises about coming out to his parents. Nominated for a Golden Bear Award at the Berlinale.
Labels: 2016, culture, movies, Top Ten List
