The UK is very lucky to have the British Film Institute, which has long believed that one of the key parts of its mission is to collect moving images that document the breadth of British life. Best of all is that they have collected and commissioned solely what’s popular or morally mainstream, which means that they have been archiving LGBT content even before gay male sex was legalised, and have continued to broaden their collection.
That has now resulted in Queerama, from director Daisy Asquith, which was crafted from the treasure trove that is the BFI National Archive. Queerama travels through a century of gay experience, encompassing persecution and prosecution, injustice, love and desire, identity, secrets, forbidden encounters, sexual liberation and pride. Weaving in the lyrics and music of John Grant, Goldfrapp, and Hercules and Love Affair, Asquith guides us intimately through the relationships, desires, fears and expressions of gay men and women against the backdrop of a century of incredible change.
Queerama offers a wealth of unknown newsreel and amateur film, alongside the sub-textual references scattered throughout 20th century cinema, the sexual liberation of the early 21st century queer and transgender scene, and the gay parenting and marriage campaigns of recent years.
Following numerous festival screenings and a TV broadcast in BBC Four’s Storyville strand, Queerama is released on DVD in the UK by the BFI on 26th March. Extras include a filmed director interview and four short films. You can take a look at the trailer below.
Leave a Reply (if comment does not appear immediately, it may have been held for moderation)