From India’s ‘A Place of Our Own’ to South Korea’s ‘The Handmaiden’, here are the best Asian LGBTQ+ movies to watch during Pride Month
With Pride month in full swing, it’s time to revisit how much we understand of this community’s experience and struggles.And while films will always be dramatised and shouldn’t be taken as the only source of self-education, movies that portray LGBTQ+ experiences are a great way to broaden our understanding of what queer individuals go through, or at least allow us a conversation opener in our daily lives to learn more about the community and how we can be an ally.
Hollywood is offering more and more movies that speak to the LGBTQ+ experience, but there are also fantastic Asian films that explore being both queer and Asian. From South Korea to India, here are 15 films that have been lauded for their depiction of themes such as gender identity, sexual expression and queer relationships.
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A Place of Our Own (2022), India
Set in Bhopal, India, A Place of Our Own (Ek Jagah Apni in Hindi) follows the story of a trans couple, Laila (Manisha Soni) and Roshni (Muskan), as they struggle to look for a new home after being evicted by their landlord.
From daily challenges faced by Laila and Roshni, such as uncomfortable or dehumanising workplace and social interactions, to prejudices from wider society, this movie shows the complexity of the trans experience in India, and the resilience and courage needed to face the discrimination and oppression.