The Celluloid Closet (1995)

The Celluloid Closet is a documentary made in 1995 that explores the representation of the LGBT (more so the LG side) community in cinema. Although homosexuality wasn't accepted, there are still gay culture and relationships subliminally hidden in films since the very beginning.
The documentary takes a very simplistic form, using B roll and interviews to progress from the beginnings of cinema to the present, we see a variaty of people talking about different films from Quentin Crisp to Susan Sarandon.
One of the topics the reoccurred throughout was the importance of representation, even if it wasn't positive representation and/or non stereotyped. As a member of the LGBTQ community I feel this. I remember watching Some Like It Hot (1959) and the end scene is something I will love forever because, as a trans person, I am so used to seeing people screaming or freaking out, but just have a scene where the character was okay with it made me feel so happpyyyyyyy.

I found that this documentary re-grounded me and reminded me of my creative values and motives - to produce content with diversity and representation. Often we can forget on why we're doing things or 'whats the point' and question whether what we do has any meaning and this film soothed that fearful side of 'what the fuck am I doing anything for' for a few minutes.
This documentary, although it is now 20 years old, highlights how even still it's crazy to see how little has changed and how far we still have to go.



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