Get Queer for Valentine's Day with These Films

When I was mulling over romantic films our EDGE readers might want to stream with their dates/husbands/what-have-yous this Valentine's Day, the obvious gay-friendly flicks immediately sprang to mind: "Love Actually," "Notting Hill," "My Best Friend's Wedding," "Pretty Woman" (oh, look, a whole lotta Julia!). And, more recently: "A Star is Born," "La La Land," "Crazy Rich Asians," "Can You Keep a Secret."

We could go back a ways: "The Philadelphia Story," "Casablanca," "Roman Holiday," "The Apartment." But then I thought, Why bother with straight love? Aren't we done transposing our desire? Not that there's anything wrong with enjoying classic cinema, but there are plenty of amazing dude-avec-dude treats out there.

The following is an eclectic selection of some romantic, sexy, mood-setting movies you can cozy up with depending on the type of Valentine's Day you have planned. Hopefully, two or even four of the fab films below will fit whatever intimate night you have planned.

'Love, Simon'

For those looking for something light, funny, and sweet (and young) you can't go wrong with Greg Berlanti's "Love, Simon," the movie that begat the Hulu series "Love, Victor." Released in 2018, it is, incredibly, the first major Hollywood studio film to center on a gay teen romance. And it's a sensitive and affectionate one at that, with handsome closeted high schooler Simon (Nick Robinson) falling in online love. Great for a first date!

Add in some angst and anguish by teaming it up with Luca Guadagnino's "Call Me by Your Name." I'm sure you've already seen it a few times. For Timothée...

"Love, Simon" is available to stream on Hulu, AppleTV and Prime.
"Call Me by Your Name" is available on Hulu.

'Get Real'

For those craving something grittier and naughtier, ping across the pond and back to 1998 to stream Simon Shore's "Get Real." A bullied, good looking 16-year-old (Ben Silverstone) falls for the closeted school jock (Brad Gorton), and things get super complicated from there. Have tissues handy.

This pairs well with Marcel Gisler's Swiss romantic drama "Mario," about two gorgeous young footballers (Max Hubacher and Aaron Altaras), who fall in love and must hide their relationship. Prep for an intense and athletic date night.

"Get Real" is available to stream on Vudu and YouTube.
"Mario" is available on Prime.

'Beautiful Thing'

Hettie MacDonald's glorious fairy tale film version of Jonathan Harvey's play, "Beautiful Thing" takes place in south London and centers on two working class schoolmates, Jamie (Glen Berry) and Ste (Scott Neal), whose feelings for one another are less complicated than those around them. Mama Cass songs add to the joy of this earnest 1996 gem.

A whiplash evening would include James Ivory's "Maurice," which will take you on a journey that begins with acute repression and end with self-acceptance once Maurice (James Wilby) succumbs to sexy Scudder's (Rupert Graves) charms.
You'll want sex afterwards.

"Beautiful Thing" is available to stream on Vudu and Prime.
"Maurice" is available on AppleTV, Tubi and Prime.

'Akron'

Sasha King & Brian O'Donnell's refreshing "Akron," released in 2017, creates a kind of gaytopia where queer people are woven into the fabric of society with no issues. Instead, something very different pulls our young lovers apart. Matthew Frias and Edmund Donovan are the alluring teens in love.

For a wicked counter-point, add the 2019 Georgian drama "And Then We Danced" (directed by Levan Akin) to your queue – a passionate and forbidden romance between two Eastern European dancers.

"Akron" is available to stream on Tubi, Vudu and Apple TV.
"And Then We Danced" is available on Prime.

'Brokeback Mountain'

Yes, it's an obvious choice, but if you haven't seen "Brokeback Mountain," you must. And if you have, isn't it time for a revisit? Ang Lee's masterpiece justly won almost every award in 2005. Almost. But don't dwell on that. Focus on the brilliance of Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, and how they couldn't quit one another. "Brokeback" stands as one of the best epic romance films. You will need that certain someone to hold you.

A great double feature might include a captivating German film, Stephan Lacant's "Free Fall," (2013) about two young police officers who embark on a torrid affair.

"Brokeback Mountain" is available to stream on Apple TV, Prime and Vudu.
"Free Fall" is available on AppleTV and Vudu.

'God's Own Country'

Francis Lee's bold, sensual, slow-burn film "God's Own Country" is one of the most explosive, yet simple, uncompromising, and non-judgmental dude-meets-dude tales of late. Josh O'Connor (pre-Prince Charles) fully embodies the gruff 'n' rough farm boy tamed by Alec Secareanu's brooding Romanian. The intimate scenes are refreshingly raw, but never gratuitous. The tenderness that emerges is palpable.

As a tonic to all the authenticity, watch Arthur Hiller's messy melodrama "Making Love," the first major studio film that focused on a gay relationship. It set gay-themed film back decades – as well as Kate Jackson's career. As it stands, it's campy fun, and Harry Hamlin is yummy.

"God's Own Country" is available to stream on Hulu.
"Making Love" can be seen for free on YouTube (if you don't mind Spanish subtitles): at this link,

'Moonlight'

Barry Jenkins' lyrical "Moonlight" centers on a gay Black man, Chiron. His story is told in three chapters, spanning youth to adulthood. Besides dealing with internalized homophobia, the film is a heartbreaking love story in the traditional sense, as well as a transcendent love story in a spiritual sense. It's about love of oneself when the path to that ideal was initially impossible. This one is for those who have no necessity to be defined by another person.

A counterpoint second film might be German filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder's mesmerizing, if cynical, "Fox and His Friends," about a working-class gay guy who wins the lottery and falls for an upper-class cad. Love and money are intertwined, as Fox (Fassbinder) is on his own odyssey.

"Moonlight" is currently streaming on Showtime, Prime and iTunes.
"Fox and His Friends" is available on Prime.

'The Way He Looks'

From Brazil, Daniel Ribeiro's "The Way He Looks" is about about a blind high school cutie (Ghilherme Lobo) and a curly-topped hottie (Fabio Audi), and how they slowly realize their attraction to one another. This film is an absolute delight, with terrific performances from both Lobo and Audi. Pop chocolates and cuddle close.

And because I can't just leave things at sweet, let's duo this one with Eytan Fox's explosive Israeli-Palestinian love story "The Bubble." That will definitely spark conversation.

"The Way He Looks" is available to stream on Prime, AppleTV and Vudu.
"The Bubble" is available on Prime (via Strand Releasing).

'Paris 05:59: Théo & Hugo'

Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau's hypnotic "Paris 05:59: Theo & Hugo" is not for the squeamish, as it opens with 18 minutes of graphic footage inside a Parisian sex club where Theo (Geoffrey Couet) and Hugo (Francois Nambot) hook up and have a steamy time (and it sure looks real). What then follows is an odd, but fascinating, romantic odyssey. This one is for viewing with a husband or a hook up.

Try Alain Guiraudie's "Stranger by the Lake" as a second flick for a sex-fest of a double fonction just to really freak each other out. The love story is as boldly bizarre as they come. Both films are in French with English subtitles. You may find yourselves quite stimulated from the experience.

"Paris 05:59: Théo & Hugo" is available to stream on Tubi.
"Stranger by the Lake" is available on Prime.

'Jess and James'

The Argentinian gem "Jess and James," written and directed by Santiago Giralt, is an enigmatic love story that features two attractive, young, directionless guys (Martín Karich and Nicolás Romeo) who embark on a road trip to escape their debilitating lives. They begin to fall for each other, and then pick up another hottie (Federico Fontán) for a brief ménage à trois before the narrative sneakily wonders if we are watching reality or fantasy. This one's for the free spirits.

You must watch this one with "The Living End," Greg Araki's badass 1992 nihilistic HIV road movie. Have lots of cocktails on hand.

"Jess and James" is available to stream on Prime.
"The Living End" is available on Prime.