The Celluloid Closet

Delivers what it promises: a look back at how gays & lesbians have been presented in film, but the most interesting parts involve lesbians & gays revealing how they relate to the films. This magnifies the fact that the movie overstates the impact of films on American values, because despite the many films we see here, the amount of actual representation for 100 years is pretty rare. Although self important actors say otherwise, it seems these movies reflected society, not the other way around

There's two aspects to this film. The first one is, as the title suggests, an exploration of the treatment of homosexuality in Hollywood film. That aspect is pretty interesting and well done with good interviews from a variety of industry people. The second aspect to the film lies in the meaning of the representations, and lack thereof, to individuals and society at large. I found that one much more personal, complex and rewarding. Not flashy but provides good coverage and perspectives.

I thought people were seeing things that weren't necessarily there as great moments in gay/lesbian cinema. Like some like it hot was ever about gay guys...


it wasn't

Pretty good, though it feels very dated by this point, both in terms of content and style (kd lang song over the closing credits!). The stuff about the early days is most interesting, probably because since this movie has come out film and TV about LGBT people have become commonplace. Anyway, it's interesting and touching, and was likely ground-breaking at the time, though there's probably something on Youtube that covers the topic in much greater detail (and if there isn't there should be).

The twenty-five years since this film's release has seen maybe as much change for queer people as the seventy years the documentary follows, and so it can feel dated in those terms. But the film is an invaluable, even-handed history lesson that not only recounts queer depictions over the course of film history but also poses questions that challenge long-established (and still-held) beliefs about homosexuality.

One of my constant bathroom reads but this is a pretty pointless doc. No new information. Shitty music played all the time. Lot of the issues brought up in the book are still prevalent today so maybe a modernized version(which includes TV) would be neat?

An eye opening experience. "The Celluloid Closet" is a documentary about the depiction of homosexuals in cinema history. It brings to light many things that aren't spoken about, even to this day, about how we perceive homosexuals act or "should" act.

A very interesting and thought provoking documentary which begs the question does film follow contemporary perceptions or does film shape them?

A very interesting documentary that still has cultural relevance 20 years later, and even has quite a few laugh-out-loud moments (despite the otherwise serious subject matter). I wish the movie clips & interview subjects had been identified, though. Some of the films & people were recognizable instantly, but most weren't.

An interesting study of homosexuality and gender idenity in film, not the best, but interesting to watch.