Queerly Ever After: An Introduction

Tragic endings, or at least, bittersweet ones, have long been the trend in queer cinema. Even today people still discuss the oft-used trope “bury your gays”; queer cinema and television generally still seems to espouse the idea that queer people can never have a happily-ever-after.

After watching 2017’s God’s Own Country, a queer film with a happily-ever-after, I got to thinking, how many other queer films existed where the protagonist(s) got to end happily coupled (or throupled), the way straight characters do? Thus, I began researching what films existed in the queer cannon that fit my description. For the purposes of my research, and because I’m a bit of a sucker for romance, I defined “happy” ending as one where the characters ended up in a romantic relationship, and not just where the characters don’t die.

At first I thought that there would only be a handful of movies which would fit my stipulations, what I found, however, was a list much longer than I could have anticipated. Not only longer, but also, a list that dates back much earlier than I ever imagined it would. 

What?

I will be writing a column in which I review each of these movies. I may occasionally conduct interviews with people involved in the making of some of these films as well. I will start by writing about the earliest movie on my list, but I will not be working in chronological order.

I have, so far, cultivated a list of almost 200 titles that fit my requirements. As new movies come out I will add them too. Some of these films are parts of series. For the series to be included, the last movie in the series needs to have a happily-ever-after.  There will obviously be spoilers due to the nature of what this column is about.

When?

My first article will come out on Monday, June 3, 2019 and new articles will be published every other Monday.

Where?

Right here at Film Inquiry.

Why?

As great as tragic movies can be, sometimes what I really want is a happy ending. I like when couples get to end up together. As a bisexual woman, I’d like it if queer couples in film can get the same ending and treatment that straight couple always get.

I know I’m not alone in wanting to find queer films that don’t end tragically. Lots of people have tried to compile lists of queer films that have happily-ever-afters, most of those lists are pretty short. I’ve spent a lot of time researching and come up with a pretty comprehensive list. Not all of these movies are good, some are truly heinous. Some I’m still trying to track down copies of. Some are my new favorite films. Some, while not great, are really interesting for their historical significance.

Maybe you’ll find a new favorite movie, or even learn something about how these films came to be.

Do you have any favorite queer films which end on a high? Let us know in the comments and check in to see if we cover them in this series!