Cinema for the “Queerantine” from Kanopy and Hoopla

In a time when we are physically disconnected from one another, maybe even from ourselves, watching a film can be a great way to reconnect with the world. For queer folks who feel isolated, watching an LGBTQ+ film can help alleviate that sense of loneliness and reignite a connection to community. And what better time than The Queerantine to explore the cinematic options that Kanopy and Hoopla have to offer!

Kanopy offers an impressive array of LGBTQ+ films, 198 to be exact, showcasing classic queer cinema, contemporary independent favorites, and obscure gems. Hoopla offers 73 queer films that run the gambit from mainstream favorites to rare documentaries. Do yourself a favor: Take a break from staring into the void and stare at a movie instead!

Here are some suggestions:

Born in Flames Movie Poster One of my favorite Kanopy offerings is Born in Flames, a recently restored Afrofuturist/feminist film from 1983. Directed by Lizzie Borden (not that Lizzie Borden), Born in Flames is a pseudo-documentary about a dystopian, post-revolution future (how timely?!). After a Black radical leader is killed, community organizers band together to fight racism, sexism, homophobia, and the police state, both in the streets and on pirate radio. The film examines race, class, and gender with nuance and humor (and after nearly 40 years is uncomfortably relevant). Don’t miss this essential dystopian gem, and don’t be embarrassed about singing along to the film’s title theme song.

Funeral Parade of Roses Movie Poster Filmed in beautiful black and white, Funeral Parade of Roses is part avant-garde, part mod French new wave, and one hundred percent rock and roll. Directed by Toshio Matsumoto and loosely based on Oedipus Rex, Funeral Parade of Roses tells the story of Eddie, a trans woman who is a hostess at a night club. More broadly speaking, the film focuses on the queer and trans community of 1969 Tokyo. It even features interviews of folks discussing queer and trans identities, punctuated by wild dream-like sequences, drug usage, and dancing. This movie is gorgeous and strange, salacious and fun. Watch it on Kanopy! Content warning for some violence (remember, it’s based on Oedipus Rex.)

The Watermelon Woman is essential queer cinematic viewing. Cheryl Dunye writes, directs, and stars in the film, playing a version of herself as an aspiring filmmaker and video store clerk. She discovers an uncredited Black actress in a racist 1930s film and becomes obsessed with finding out her story. The Watermelon Woman does an amazing job of examining the intersecting identities of a Black lesbian filmmaker and proves to be a really enjoyable snapshot of 90s queer culture. If you don’t know Cheryl Dunye’s work, or are wondering what a video store is, The Watermelon Woman is for you. For further viewing, check out Cheryl Dunye’s Early Works, also on Kanopy.