I first dove into queer war films four years ago with my post: 5 Queer War Films. So I felt it was time to dig up a few more to share with you!
War films are a genre that doesn’t need any explanation: they are films that take place amid or during armed conflicts. When you add an LGBTQ element, then it becomes a queer war film. Interestingly and perhaps a bit oddly, many queer war films deal with hidden romances or struggles with self-acceptance of one’s sexuality. This is due to the ever-lingering issue of homophobia in the military, stories set in countries where being gay is illegal or worse, and much more. They generally do not end positively.
The five queer war films below are a myriad of these. They are all foreign films as well, either filmed in English despite a foreign setting or a film that requires most of us to watch with subtitles. Many balk at this, but I actually find that it helps me tune into the film even more! However, one thing I didn’t quite plan well was the inclusion of two films from South Africa. Yet this inadvertently presents two different views of a similar conflict; both films are quite different from each other!
So check out these 5 MORE Queer War Films below – I’m sure at least one of them will intrigue you to go watch it. And let me know what you think at the end. Did I pick some good queer war films? Or between this post and my previous post, have I still missed including your favorite queer war film?
5 MORE Queer War Films
1
“Based on a true story during the Cold War, Firebird is a passionate love story set against the backdrop of a Soviet Air Force base during late 1970’s Communist rule. Sergey, a soulful, young soldier who dreams of becoming an actor in Moscow, is counting the days until his military service ends. His life turned upside down when he locks eyes with Roman, a sexy, enigmatic ace fighter pilot newly assigned to his base. Driven by their undeniable attraction, Sergey and Roman navigate the precarious line between love and friendship at a time when Soviet men in uniform caught having a sexual affair was met with the severest punishment. As their friendship grows into love, the men risk their freedom and their lives to be together in the face of an all-seeing Soviet regime.” – IMDb
Based on a true story, “Firebird” recounts the story of a hidden romance of two soldiers during the Cold War. Having to hide their initial affair from the KGB and everyone else, Sergey Fetisov and Roman Matvejev’s romance is marked by bursts of beautiful and happy moment in time. Yet that same romance is also fraught with fear and stress, including the eventual love triangle including Luisa. Cowriters Peeter Rebane and Tom Prior knew they had to tell Sergey’s story, noting that it’s a story of courage and love in the face of fear.
This film adaptation beautifully captures all of that in a way that will tug at your heartstrings upon watching! Our leading actors do an amazing job at bringing both Sergey and Roman to life with a romantic connect that simply draws you in. This queer film is edited in a way that keeps you rooting for our lovers, even when things seem at their worst and all is lost. And the ending is just heart-wrenching, as it unfolds on the screen. If you haven’t had the chance to watch this queer war film, then I strongly encourage you to watch “Firebird” today – but make sure you have tissues ready!
Watch Firebird on Amazon, Prime Video, Apple TV+, and YouTube.
2
“Kanarie (Afrikaans for ‘Canary’) is a coming-of-age musical war drama. Drafted into the South African army during apartheid, a young soldier joins the military’s traveling choir, and romance on the battlefield causes him to deal with his long-repressed sexual identity through hardship, camaraderie, first love, and the liberating freedom of music, the true self can be discovered.” – IMDb
I had no idea what to expect going into “Kanarie”. And after watching this queer war film, I’m still not quite sure of the overall message. But it definitely was captivating! Despite being labeled a musical, it’s more like a film with a musical soundtrack or the occasional fantastical musical internal monologue. Yet it works, and I especially loved the male choral songs they Kanaries perform throughout.
But it’s Johan’s journey and internal struggle on self-acceptance that takes main stage. There’s a rather romantic budding romance with fellow soldier Wolfgang, but we actually don’t see where it leads in the end. I actually found that a bit disappointing, as if there is a second part missing. However, upon rewatching it, “Kanarie” is about Johan’s own journey and not so much a potential relationship. Overall, I found “Kanarie” to be quite enjoyable to watch!
Watch Kanarie on Amazon, Prime Video, Apple TV+, Tubi, and YouTube.
3
“Nicholas has long known he is different, that something shameful and unacceptable in him must stay hidden and denied. But South Africa’s minority government are embroiled in conflict at the Angolan border and all white young men over 16 must serve two years of compulsory military service to defend the Apartheid regime and its culture of toxic racist machismo. The ‘black danger’ is the real and present threat; what is wrong with Nicholas and others like him can be rooted out, treated, and cured like cancer. But just when fear pushes Nicholas to accept unspeakable horrors in the hopes of staying invisible, a tender relationship with another recruit becomes as dangerous for them both as any enemy fire.” – IMDb
“Moffie” is many things: a glimpse into the strict mandatory conscription of young boys into the SADF during apartheid; haunting flashbacks that reinforce the macho-masculinity pushed by society; and an struggle with self-acceptance of being gay amidst all of that – with a glimpse of romance written into the subtext of it all. Based on the biographical novel of the same name, this queer war film is haunting – yet you cannot turn away. The novel consists of diary entries which don’t translate well onto the movie screen, leaving a lot of subtext for the viewer to interpret. And I must confess, I was hoping for more of a romance – or at least greater signs of the struggle that Nicholas goes through. The ending teases a potentially beautiful wrap up, but in the end we are left hanging. An uncertainty that is woven throughout the film. This queer war film is not one you watch for romance, but to better understand the internal struggles of accepting one’s sexuality amid a toxic masculine environment. It’s definitely worth watching!
Watch Moffie on Amazon, Prime Video, and Hulu.
4
“After the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan and the restriction of women in public life, a pre-teen girl is forced to masquerade as a boy in order to find work to support her mother and grandmother.” – IMDb
I haven’t had the chance to watch “Osama” yet – but it’s on my watch list! Once I’m able to give it a viewing, I’ll add my thoughts here. However, I picked it for two reasons: the first is that it depicts a woman trying to survive in a man’s world, and because I’m intrigued because it’s set in Afghanistan during the rule of the Taliban. It’s not exactly a queer storyline though, other than the cross-dressing element, but I’ve included it because it’s not done for comedy but to survive. Something that every trans persons has to deal with.
Watch Osama on Amazon, Prime Video, and Tubi.
“A mismatched team of British Special Services agents led by an American must infiltrate, in disguise, a female-run Enigma factory in Berlin and bring back the decoding device that will end the war.” – IMDb
I’ll be frank – it’s a tad difficult to find “All The Queen’s Men” anymore, unless you buy a used DVD. And perhaps in some ways, that’s a good thing. You see, the point of the film is for straight soldiers to pretend to be women in order to infiltrate and obtain secret information. Sure, the film stars Eddie Izzard, a gender-fluid and trans icon. But honestly, her inclusion doesn’t really help make the film better from a queer angle. Matt LeBlanc plays our heroic alpha male sent to save the day, with the rest of the cast falls into rather stereotypical character roles. However as a war film that’s also got a bit of comedy – it’s not horrible. But I do feel that this is a queer war film that you will either enjoy – or hate. If you happen to find yourself a copy, let me know what you think!.
Watch All The Queen’s Men on Amazon.
So what did you think about these 5 MORE Queer War Films that I’ve chosen? Hopefully they are ones you haven’t seen before – and that you want to watch now. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
(Remember that you can Pin your favorite queer war film to your Pinterest boards for later!)
But remember that are MANY more queer war films out there. I haven’t been able to add them all to my Queer Film, Short, & Series Database – let alone review many of them.
And if I still haven’t include your favorite queer war film anywhere on the site, let me know HERE. I will certainly add it to my Database – and perhaps give it a full review.
