The Queer Gaze

Our 'Cruising' theme continues with writer/director Carmen Emmi's 2025 film Plainclothes , starring Tom Blyth and queer actor Russell Tovey. The period film follows undercover NY police officer Lucas, whose job is to entrap queer men in a public bathroom so they can be arrested. The issue? Lucas is struggling with his own sexuality, which is only exacerbated when he falls for Andrew, who has his o...

Our fifth preview of coming attractions from this year's TIFF features bilingual queer icon Jodie Foster, as an American psychoanalyst in Paris who becomes convinced one of her patients was murdered. A Private Life (Vie Privée) is a scintillating psychological thriller with a dash of French farce, as Lilian (Foster) becomes an amateur sleuth with her lovable ex-husband Gabriel (Daniel Auteuil), an...

Our TIFF coverage continues with two horror-inflected films centring indigenous characters, using hauntings as a method of exploring generational and personal trauma. In Bretten Hannam's At the Place of Ghosts (Sk+te'kmujue'katik), two estranged Mi’kmaw brothers journey into the Canadian woods to avenge spirits that haunt them from their childhood. Meanwhile, Taratoa Stappard's Mārama , follows a...

To kick off our 'Cruising' theme, we're checking out writer/director Eliza Hittman's Beach Rats (2017) featuring the feature film debut of Harris Dickinson. We've got questions about Frankie's kink (expect talk of 'Daddy' issues) as well as his dependency on drugs and alcohol. Plus: shitty boyfriend behaviour, bad friends, and debate about why the film doesn't inspire an emotional connection. Seen...

Our second bonus episode of TIFF coverage explores John Early's directorial debut Maddie's Secret (2025), in which the comedian plays a dishwasher who gets her dream of being an influencer at her food content creation company, but reawakens an eating disorder rooted in childhood trauma. Has the first-time director bitten off more than he can chew? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in...

Our coverage of this year's Toronto International Film Festival kicks off with a review of Richard Linklater's biopic of Lorenz Hart, starring his 'Before Trilogy' collaborator Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley and Andrew Scott. Set on the opening night of Oklahoma! , the smash hit success of his former writing partner, Rogers, and his replacement, Hammerstein, Blue Moon finds Lorenz holding court in...

So much for swimming! It turns out the 2014 Dutch film Jongens is actually a track and field 'Sports Gay' film. Directed by Mischa Camp, this beautifully shot made for TV film was so popular that it was eventually shown in theatres and distributed around the world. Plus: Marc's patience with Sieger, motorcycles, and another fair! Seen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe to our Patreon...

Our last true "Sports Gay" entry is American football film Riley (2023) from writer/director Benjamin Howard. The film stars Jake Holley as the titular character, Dakota Riley, a promising high school football player who can't suppress his same sex attraction. The problem (and most interesting aspect of the film) is that his sexuality doesn't "fit" in the narrative that he and his oppressive fathe...

The second entry of our 'Sports Gays' theme is super cute Irish friend-com Handsome Devil (2016). Featuring a great supporting role by Andrew Scott (before he was, you know, "Andrew Scott"). Plus: muddled messages about conformity, 90s vibes, and the cycles of queer issues. Like the show? Rate, review and subscribe to help others find us Support the show on Patreon for bonus content on every episo...

Here's a special spoiler-free bonus episode on writer/director Nicholas Colia's feature directorial debut Griffin in Summer (2024) about a 14-year old playwright who develops a crush on the 25 year old burn-out fixing his pool over the summer. It's an exceedingly funny, but surprisingly deep film with a cast that includes Owen Teague, Melanie Lynskey, Kathyrn Newton and exceptional newcomer Everet...

We're kicking off a brand new theme on Sports Gays with In From The Side (2022), the feature film debut of Matt Carter. Co-written by Carter and his partner Adam Silver, this is an intriguing title that asks the audience to identify with an adulterous protagonist. Plus: finding community in sports, white gay issues, and how the film uses rugby. Like the show? Rate, review and subscribe to help oth...

We're closing out our 'Family Drama' theme with Bruce LaBruce's 2020 'twincest' film, Saint-Narcisse . The truth is that this film is much more beautiful, self-aware, and interesting than LaBruce simply trying to court controversy. Plus: French vs English acting, ties to Saint Sebastian, and the film's shadow-banning by Amazon. Like the show? Rate, review and subscribe to help others find us Suppo...

Here's a special spoiler-free bonus episode on James Krishna Floyd and Sally El Hosaini's Unicorns (2024), about an Essex bloke Luke (Ben Hardy) who falls for drag queen Aysha (Jason Patel). As a romantic drama, there's a lot to like here. But we found the film's refusal to unpack its characters decisions frustrating. Plus: C/W there's a really upsetting moment of violence that completel...

We're continuing our 'Family Drama' theme with a look at Barry Jenkins' Oscar winning film, Moonlight (2016) - a triptych dedicated to a specific queer, Black experience that is nonetheless undeniably universal. Like the show? Rate, review and subscribe to help others find us Support the show on Patreon for bonus content on every episode, including 26 minutes more about this film! Follow the show...

We're continuing our 'Family Drama' theme with a look at Quebec director Jean-Marc Vallée's 70s-set coming of age/coming out film, C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005). It's a visually stunning film, filled with needle drops, and a fantastic lead performance by Marc-André Grondin. Plus: Tupperware witches, baptism transitions, the Quiet Revolution and more! Like the show? Rate, review and subscribe to help others fi...

We're kicking off a brand new theme on 'Family Drama' so what better (popular) text to begin with than Mike Nichols' 1996 film, The Birdcage ? The American remake of a French farce feels like a product of its time, particularly how it handles queer issues (which ultimately makes it feel made for straight audiences). Plus: Lane and Williams' iconic lead performances, bland children, and draaaaaag L...

Conrad and Joe continue our themed exploration of 'Doomed, Sexy Experimentation' with a look at Alfonso Cuarón's scintillating Mexican road trip movie, Y tu mamá también (2001). It's an incredibly hot film, and though the sex and nudity is a major talking point, the film is about so much more! Plus: Joe's coming out in part thanks to Gael García Bernal, Conrad's knowledge of Andor , and praise for...

Here's a special spoiler-free bonus episode on David Joseph Craig and Brian Crano's dark comedy I Don't Understand You (2025), about a gay couple (Nick Kroll and Andrew Rannells) in Italy who find themselves in hot water following a series of miscommunications. Unfortunately this repetitive, often unfunny film didn't work for us. Listen to find out why and be sure to check out the spoiler-y, spicy...

We're kicking off a brand new themed pairing on 'Doomed, Sexy Experimentation' with a look at Luca Guadagnino's adaptation of Call Me By Your Name (2017). We're giving big props to the chemistry between the leads, tackling the film's controversies (Armie Hammer; the age gap), Timothée Chalamet's nuanced performance, and that cold winter ending. Seen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe...

Our second entry in 'Secret Adolescent Love' is 2023's Monster . Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda and written by Yuji Sakamoto, the film is a puzzle narrative in the form of a triptych that constantly asks audiences to re-evaluate their understanding of characters in order to answer the question: "who is the monster?" Plus: leading with empathy, fave quotes from school principal Fushimi, secret queer...

Conrad and Joe kick off a new theme on 'Secret Adolescent Love' with a look at Lukas Dhont's Close (2022). C/W: Self-harm. Devastating is the word of the episode as we unpack this "not actually queer" story about the intimate, but ultimately disastrous friendship of Léo and Rémi. There's a reason this movie was Belgium's nominee for Best Foreign Language film at the Oscars, but fair warning...be p...

Conrad and Joe tackle their first (but not last!) Bruce LaBruce film, The Visitor (2024). C/W: this remake of 1968's Teorema is sexually explicit! This movie is deliberately provocative and confronting, as many of LaBruce's films are, which essentially means the film is not for everyone. Seen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/TheQueerGaze for another 27...

We're continuing our 'One Night Stand' series with Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau's 2016 erotic drama, Paris 05:59: Théo & Hugo . Comparisons to the Before  trilogy are apt (albeit with a much  more hardcore opening) as our protagonists embark on an all-night odyssey through the Paris streets. Plus: candid conversations and ties to Agnes Varda  Seen the film or...

Who's ready for a funny and heartfelt gay romantic comedy? Enjoy this special spoiler-free bonus episode on Roshan Sethi's A Nice Indian Boy (2024) starring Karan Soni and Jonathan Groff, which is out April 4, 2025. Seen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/TheQueerGaze another 25 minutes of spoiler-heavy discussion. Like the show? Rate, review and subscri...

We're talking about Andrew Haigh's breakout (sophomore) film, Weekend  (2011) which follows isolated gay man Russell and his weekend paramour Glenn. Up for discussion: long takes and improv, sex lists and one night stands, using and subverting romantic comedy conventions, and...more trains?! Want to hear more? Subscribe to our Patreon for an additional 27 minute discussion about the way sex a...