For years, it’s become a given that gay characters end up drowning in misery, as predictable a trope as a virginal brunette outsmarting a masked killer, or a beautiful straight couple who were sworn enemies ending up in a passionate kiss after an airport reunion. Whether torn apart by death, homophobia or the dissolution of a relationship, the common thread was that LGBT characters were being torn apart by something. Within the international narrative strand, I’ve seen 10 films that offered a variety of perspectives and experiences, from Finland to Peru to South Africa, each with differing ages and sexualities represented, but almost all were united by one thing: a crushingly sad ending.
As a juror taking part in NewFest, New York’s LGBT film festival, it’s been a fascinating, challenging week of cinema.
