There have been openly gay writers, directors and actors that have won Oscars, but never ever a Gay Themed Best Picture Oscar.
In 2005 BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN came close getting 8 nominations, the most of any film that year, and then winning 3 of them, but being pipped at the post for the ultimate award despite it being the hot favourite. Will 2015 be the year this all changes? Four countries have ‘officially submitted’ gay movies for BEST FOREIGN PICTURE nominations and we think they all have a good chance of winning. Here they are :-
SAINT LAURENT from France. At last an un-sanitised version of the great French designer and somewhat tortured genius. Directed and co-written by Bertrand Bonello and starring hunky Gaspard Ulliel, it’s been wowing wowing audiences in France, and we cannot wait to see it.
DER KRIES aka The Circle from Switzerland. This stunning and emotional account of gay life in Zurich post WW2 is part documentary and part fiction and will have you reaching for your tissues. Winner of a TEDDY AWARD at the Berlinale (which is the nearest thing to an LGBT Oscar).
THE WAY HE LOOKS from Brazil. We have just published our 5 Star review of this film that opens in UK cinemas on October 24th. We unashamedly LOVE this touching tale of a blind gay teenager’s coming-out story which also won a TEDDY AWARD at this year’s Berlinale. We talked with Director Daniel Ribeiro when he was in London recently, so look out for our exclusive interview coming soon.
MOMMY from Canada.This is technically not a gay film but we have included it as it is the work of gay wunderkin director/writer/editor/actor/composer/costume designer XAVIER DOLAN. This is his 5th award winning feature film at the ripe old age of 25 years old and it received an unprecedented 15 minute standing ovation when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. In this film Dolan re-visits the tumultious mother-son relationship theme of his very first movie ‘I Killed My Mother’.
All OSCAR NOMINATIONS are announced on Thursday 15th January, and the WINNERS on Sunday February 22nd 2015.
By Roger Walker-Dack
