June Movie Recap: Pride on Screen 🌈
- Liz
- Oct 8
- 10 min read
Updated: 6 hours ago
You Can Live Forever - ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ 1/4
Year: 2022
Director(s): Sarah Watts & Mark Slutsky
Genre: Romance/ Drama
Date Watched: June 2, 2025
Cast: Anwen O' Driscoll, June Laporte, Liane Balaban, Antoine Yared, Hasani Freeman, Deragh Campbell, Catherine- Amélie Côté, Marc-Antoine Auger, Jude Ferus, Tim Campbell, Xavier Roberge
You Can Live Forever is a Canadian indie film about Jaime, a teen who, after losing her father, temporarily lives with her aunt and uncle in a strict Jehovah’s Witness community. At one of the congregation meetings, Jaime meets Marike, a hardcore follower and the daughter of the elder. Over time, they fall for each other, but the pressure of religion and their families makes it hard to be together.
This film does get a bit frustrating, just be forewarned. When the relationship is good, it’s so good. But when it’s bad, it feels claustrophobic. You can already feel part of that through the tidy neighborhood and the close houses, like a weird dystopian suburb where everyone knows too much about each other. Sounds pretty culty to me. 🖐️ But hey, what do I know? 🤚 In this small town, word gets around fast. When people notice Marike and Jaime hanging out more, Marike's family doesn't shun Jaime. They see her as a lost soul who needs to be pushed harder into the "right" path.
In terms of acting, it was a bit Hallmark-y, but it didn’t take away from the plot. You Can Live Forever was heartbreaking and thought-provoking, using religion as a catalyst to question how far someone is willing to change for the comfort of others.
Where to Watch:
Portrait of a Lady on Fire - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2
Year: 2019
Director(s): Céline Sciamma
Genre: Romance/Drama
Date Watched: June 9, 2025
Cast: Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel, Luàna Bajrami, Valeria Golino, Christel Baras, Armande Boulanger, Guy Delamarche, Clément Bouyssou
Set in 1770 France, Portrait of a Lady on Fire follows Marianne, a painter who is asked to create a wedding portrait of a young woman named Héloïse. Many painters before Marianne tried, but none ever managed to get it right. That is, until Marianne takes on the challenge. There’s something people are overlooking, and Marianne is determined to find out what. This is the journey of the bond between a painter and her subject.
Have you ever noticed how artists, writers, actors, and playwrights put out their best work when it’s personal? I really believe that if the creator felt a certain way while making the piece, the audience will feel it too. That is exactly what this film is about. You can paint someone, but all you get is a basic picture. You can write the best story you’ve ever written, but if it’s not personal, experienced, or observed in some form of reality, it’s just words on a page. In this case, Marianne studies Héloïse’s gestures, her glances, and the way she holds herself, and tries to capture all of that on her canvas with the hope of creating something deeply meaningful. Not just a portrait, but Héloïse in her truest form. In the process, Marianne falls in love.
Visually, Portrait of a Lady on Fire was stunning. Every detail, the clothes, the lighting, even the backdrops, was picked with care, making every frame feel picturesque. If you love films that show rather than tell, this is one to really savor, full of subtle changes and quiet gestures that speak volumes.
Where to Watch:
My Policeman- ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2
Year: 2022
Director(s): Michael Grandage
Genre: Romance/Drama
Date Watched: June 9, 2025
Cast: Gina Mckee, Linus Roache, Rupert Everett, Harry Styles, Emma Corrin, David Dawson, Kadiff Kirwan, Emily John, Dora Davis, Joseph Potter, Richard Dempsey, Jae Alexander, Freya Mavor, Sean Jackson, Maddie Rice, Richard Cant, Chris Ma
In 1950s England, a museum curator named Patrick (David Dawson) meets a policeman named Tom (Harry Styles) after reporting an accident. They hit it off quickly, and soon Patrick invites Tom over to his home to draw his portrait. More than art happens in that room that night, and things start to develop between them. Tom knows these feelings are wrong, but they feel so right, and the two continue to see each other in secret. Just testing the waters, you know? But when Marion (Emma Corrin) comes into Tom’s life, things start to get complicated. The question becomes: who does he choose?
Let's put Harry Styles' acting aside for just a second. I can say I really liked this movie. The acting from Corrin and Dawson was great. I kept forgetting they were actors, even after watching this three times already. We switch between the older versions of themselves and dive into their younger selves when Marion reads Patrick's journal. It's such a creative way to flashback, and it brings purpose to it. I know people weren't big fans of Harry's acting, but you can't deny that the chemistry between Tom and Patrick felt realistic. It goes back to what I was saying earlier about an artist's best work coming out when it's personal. Cough cough Mr. Styles. Maybe the acting isn't your thing, or the pacing is too slow. But if all else fails, stay for the weird love triangle, the tender touches, steamy lovemaking, unique take on internalized homophobia, and a betrayal that still lingers.
Where to Watch:
Fair Haven- ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2
Year: 2016
Director(s): Kerstin Karlhuber Genre: Drama/ Romance
Date Watched: June 13, 2025
Cast: Michael Grant, Tom Wopat, Gregory Harrison, Susan Aser, Josh Green, Tom Malloy, Ella Malloy, Lily Anne Harrison, Jennifer Taylor, Dale Wade Davis
19-year-old piano prodigy James Grant returns home to his family farm in Vermont after spending some time in conversion therapy. When he finds out his dad spent his college tuition, James gives up his music dreams to help out around the farm. While trying to rebuild his strained relationship with his father, he unexpectedly reconnects with Charlie, his former boyfriend, who encourages him to go after his dreams. How do you go after what you want without losing something you love just as much?
Okay, now you might be wondering, “Liz, there are so many great gay-representing films. Why this one? I thought you were supposed to share quality films.” And you're right. If I do this theme again next year, scold me and remind me to do better. I didn’t hate it per se, but there are plenty of LGBTQIA+ films with the same plot if you just search ‘Gay Boy Films’ on YouTube. Not that I ever have. Okay, moving on.
That said, I want to give a moment of recognition to Fair Haven's production team. What a great use of lighting, writing, setting, and blocking. Small details like the use of space, lack of eye contact, and dull, almost muted lighting silently show the strained relationship between James and his dad. Whereas the scenes with Charlie start in a small space with dark yellow lighting, then move to night hangouts, and eventually they take a risk during the day, but still hang out in a dark barn. The changes in setting and lighting clearly mirror the status of each relationship, which I thought was smart. Don’t get me wrong though, the acting is what really earned this rating. I don’t think you have to yell to be a great actor, but you do need to sell the emotion. At times, it felt like the energy was being held back, which took me out of the film a little.
What to Watch:
Challengers- ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Year: 2024
Director (s): Luca Guadagnino
Genre: Sports/Romantic/Drama
Date Watched: June 16, 2025
Cast: Mike Faist, Josh O' Connor, Zendaya, Darnell Appling, Bryan Doo, Shane T Harris, Nada Despotovich, Joan McShane, Chris Fowler, Mary Joe Fernandez
Challengers centers around Tashi (Zendaya), a tennis prodigy turned coach who ends up in the middle of a love triangle between best friends and tennis duo, Art (Mike Faist) and Patrick (Josh O’Connor). When the game stops being about tennis, things start to get very personal. Will they ever realize Tashi is the problem?
I was neutral before watching the film, but I had heard a lot of good reviews, mostly about how hot it was. Was it? Oooh, absolutely. Since Challengers is advertised as "bisexual," I already assumed there'd be sexual tension, cheating, or a love triangle of sorts. I think the LGBTQ+ community is so easily sexualized, and it's the people in media that spread this idea that people use their bisexuality as an excuse to sleep around with whoever they want. This is why the terms greedy and cheaters are thrown out there. My unpopular opinion: if a love triangle involves one girl dating two guys, it's not bisexual.
Technically speaking, one of the more interesting things about Challengers is how the game doesn’t stop on the court. It’s most obvious through the acting, but there are subtle details like the blocking and cinematography that really make this film what it is. The use of a rainstorm when they hit peak conflict. The camera zooming in when they're whispering to each other. It all makes the moment feel intimate, like we’re in on their little secret. Tashi breaks the fourth wall at one point, almost as if telling her audience, ‘I know you’re watching.’ I have to say, the filmmaking was smart and keeps the audience engaged and participating. We're just complicit observers to Tashi's mind games.
Where to Watch:
Shiva Baby- ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Year: 2020
Director (s): Emma Seligman
Genre: Comedy/ Drama
Date Watched: June 16, 2025
Cast: Rachel Sennott, Danny Deferrari, Fred Melamed, Polly Draper, Molly Gordon, Glynis Bell, Rita Gardner, Cilda Shaur, Jackie Hoffman, Richard Brundage, Noemie Zysermann, Dianna Agron
When Danielle is forced into attending a shiva (a Jewish funeral), she’s greeted with personal questions from people she’s not even sure she’s met before. While answering questions, she tries to come up with an interesting version of her life that may or may not be true. On top of that, she finds out the guy she’s been hooking up with has been living a double life, and she might still have feelings for her childhood best friend. All of this leads to a mental breakdown in front of an audience. I just feel bad for the deceased. Is she getting enough attention?
Subjectively, this has been the best representation of bisexuality I've seen so far. It's not glorified or sexualized, it's confusing. Shiva Baby is a great example of what happens when people start questioning your life choices, and how it opens doubts about your own identity. Where is my life actually going? What do I want? Who do I want? Why am I lying? Am I a disappointment? Especially with a part of yourself that isn't fully supported—like your sexual orientation. It can start mixing in with other parts of your identity. And suddenly you're spiraling on the floor in front of an audience you didn't ask for. Shiva Baby was chaotic, fun, and just suffocating enough to be relatable.
Where to Watch:
National Anthem- ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2
Year: 2023
Director (s): Luke Gilford
Genre: Drama
Date Watched: June 21, 2025
Cast: Charlie Plummer, Eve Lindley, Rene Rosado, Mason Alexander Park, Robyn Lively, Joey DeLeon, Lee Knight, Fernando Casablancas, Mark Sivertsen, Nicki Starr, Daniel Hernandez, James Cady, D' Angelo Lacy, Rocko Reyes, Calvin 'Brandi' Fields, Alexander Alayon Jr., Kimberly Pember, Adam Alexander
National Anthem follows 21-year-old Dylan. Dylan lives a pretty mundane life. Between working and taking care of his younger brother, he doesn’t have much time to be a normal 21-year-old. But when he’s offered a temporary job at a ranch, he meets a group of unconventional people who show him that maybe he isn’t as boring as his mother convinced him he is.
I’ll be honest, I’ve never teared up so much at a film. I think it was because the conflict wasn’t overdramatized but shown through dialogue and subtle moments. The acting was amazing. I’ve only seen Plummer in Words on the Bathroom Walls. He does this thing he’s so good at, where he’s put in traumatic situations but plays it off like it’s normal, like saying, “This is something I have to deal with, and I’ll figure it out on my own.”
Of course, the script writing has a big part in why this film felt so realistic. If you like tender moments, nothing says softer than the close relationship between siblings. Another aspect that made this film heartbreaking is the idea that people come into your life to teach you things, but you’re never really ready for when they leave. I loved that the LGBTQ+ community wasn’t a mirror to his sexuality, but a door to a new world. He’s open-minded, and that’s what made the “finding your identity/yourself" trope so vulnerable.
Sidenote: Great soundtrack. If you’ve never listened to Perfume Genius, I highly recommend it.
Where to Watch:
Cowboys- ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Year: 2020
Director: Anna Kerrigan
Genre: Western/ Drama
Date Watched: June 30, 2025
Cast: Steve Zahn, Jillian Bell, Sasha Knight, Ann Dowd, Gary Farmer, Chris Coy, John Reynolds, Bob Stephenson, AJ Slaght, John Beasley, Seth Breding, Angela Marshall, Steve Dodd, Armando Garcia, Heather Laplante, Emily Moran
10-year-old Joe dreams of being a cowboy, like the ones his dad tells him stories about. The only problem is that, mentally, he’s a boy, but physically he’s stuck in a body that doesn’t feel like his own. When he admits this to his parents, his mom freaks out. She can’t see him as anything other than the little girl she raised. Troy, deciding to play good cop/bad cop, takes Joe into the wilderness to escape their life in Montana and head to Canada, where Joe would finally live as his authentic self.
I’m not a mom, but I can only imagine how devastating it must be to want a daughter, finally have a little girl, and then have them tell you they feel like an alien in their own body. At the same time, it must suck to wake up every day and feel trapped in a body you didn’t consent to. Don’t you think?
I thought the film had an interesting take on parental acceptance and showed just how important stability is, especially for a kid. That being said, Steve Zahn and Jillian Bell, who played Joe's parents, were amazing at mimicking dysfunctional parents. At some point, I despised everyone -- no one was safe.
Where to Watch:
Okay, that’s all, folks! Can you tell I’m over it? Because I am. Finally, I’m free! I hope you enjoyed this recap, and let me know if you want a part two featuring queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual films. If you want more LGBT-specific films, like I did here, I can do that too. Have a good one!
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