High School movies showing positive gay images

[La]

Okay, I'm looking for a movie to show my students as a part of an American Culture unit. They love hearing about American schools and the ways they're different from the Korean schools. So I thought I could sneak in a movie that shows lesbian or gay teenagers in a positive way. I'm trying to stay away from movies like Can't Hardly Wait that use "fag" or other similar words as insults. To make things more complicated, it has to be a relatively mainstream movie for it to have made it here, and if it's rated R, it's probably rated "19" here, which means my students are too young to watch it. So far the only movie I can think of is Election, and I can't even remember if that's positive or negative. Any other suggestions?

~La

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Taree: ah'm, yo' know...
Willer: Whut in tarnation?
Taree: Yourn...

[This message has been edited by La (edited March 04, 2002).]

[wiccie]

I think "Election" is very positive, and maybe your students would get a dose of American Political Science as a freebie.

Try getting "The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls In Love" or "But I'm A Cheerleader"; high-school age lesbians, and a happy ending (after a little comedy, angst & action). They may very well be rated "R" (I can't remember), but pretty much any film w/ heavy lesbian content automatically gets an "R" rating in America. Bastards.

Anyway, hope that helps and maybe other folks can think of more films...

[This message has been edited by wiccie (edited March 04, 2002).]

[Mr_A24]

PBS recently put out a school drama/documentary called American High. It would be ideal and probably purchased at a reasonable price on the internet.

For generic movies: I'd recommend "Reality Bites"

[Hyo-Shin]

How about Bring It On? It's rated '15.'

[This message has been edited by Hyo-Shin (edited March 04, 2002).]

[the literary exterminator]

wiccie: Dude, I'm watching But I'm a Cheerleader RIGHT NOW, as you post this, on HBO Signature. Weird. Hey, any movie with Go Sailor songs in the soundtrack has to be good. And, anyway, it stars Marci Ross. Unfortunately, they said the letter ``R'' right before the film. >sigh<

[wiccie]

Whoa, dude...It's like are brains are, y'know, *connected*. Now don't Bogart the...Oh, what was the question?

There's a fairly recent (last few years?) British film about teen boys in lurve, but I'm having a brain fart about the title...Dang it.

[Thanatopsis]

Aren't most American movies that have lesbian content rated R? Its like they're afraid if our impressionable youth see it, they'll catch "the gay"

The only high school movies I can think of right now are bad horror/suspense films like The Faculty, Final Destination and the like. I've always been a fan of Empire Records, but it takes place in a record store and not in a high school, even though they're all seniors.

[This message has been edited by Thanatopsis (edited March 04, 2002).]

[La]

Thanks guys, I'm compiling a list of movies I have to go try to find at the video store right now. I'd love to show But I'm a Cheerleader, that's got to be one of the funniest, cutest movies ever. Unfortunately, it's probably "19" here.

Funny story about American High. They wanted to film that at my high school when my brother was a senior (I'd already graduated), but the administration thought it would be too disruptive. My brother possibly would have gotten on it (he would have tried anyway). They filmed it at a school near mine instead, don't remember which one anymore, though. That would be great if I could get ahold of that. Only problem would be the lack of Korean subtitles. My students aren't very high level and even when I show Charlie Brown movies (but without subtitles), they quickly lose interest and start talking or doing other things instead.

~La

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Taree: ah'm, yo' know...
Willer: Whut in tarnation?
Taree: Yourn...

[xita]

Show me Love!

[the literary exterminator]

Isn't Show Me Love foreign? Like Denmark or Sweeden or something? I've never seen it, so I'm probably wrong...

wiccie: As far as the British film, maybe Get Real or the exceptional Beautiful Thing? They're both pretty recent.

[Lanfear]

Show me love is very good, but yeah, it's swedish.

[Hyo-Shin]

quote:

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Originally posted by La:
Thanks guys, I'm compiling a list of movies I have to go try to find at the video store right now. I'd love to show But I'm a Cheerleader, that's got to be one of the funniest, cutest movies ever. Unfortunately, it's probably "19" here.

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No, it's not. Actually you can't find the movie in Korean video stores. :-Pquote:

[La]

yeah, that would be a movie that you wouldn't be able to find here, huh? i was surprised when I saw Bound, though (that's definitely rated 19!). Sometimes it's surprising what makes it here, and what doesn't.

I'm going to have fun renting all these movies to watch and try to find the perfect one to show!

~la

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Taree: ah'm, yo' know...
Willer: Whut in tarnation?
Taree: Yourn...

[shellybean]

I'm also going to put a vote in for "But I'm a Cheerleader"! that is definitely one of my favorite lesbian themed movies. It isn't completely mainstream but isn't one of those movie's that are totally unavailable either. I do think its rated R though.
I personally wouldn't put my vote in for election. I didn't think the movie was that bad, its just if you want to be showing the positive side of being a gay teen this isn't really the movie. The girl who is gay gets dumped because the girl she's dating says that she isn't gay. Not really a great message to get out there.
and "Show Me Love" is foreign and from Sweden.
I say that "But I'm a Cheerleader" is your best bet!

[Hyo-Shin]

It's not about censorship. They just didn't buy the movie. But you can find These Walls Could Talk 2, Gia and Common Ground.

quote:

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Originally posted by La:
yeah, that would be a movie that you wouldn't be able to find here, huh? i was surprised when I saw Bound, though (that's definitely rated 19!). Sometimes it's surprising what makes it here, and what doesn't.

I'm going to have fun renting all these movies to watch and try to find the perfect one to show!

~la

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quote:

[Righteous Babe]

Show Me Love is Excellent! I love it! Yeah it's swedish with subtitles but very cool.

[ninjitsugrrl]

I really like "All Over Me" and "The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love". I don't know how easy they are to find but they are both excellent films.

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"That's right, puppy. Willow's gonna make you bark."

[Kalita]

Another thumbs-up for Show Me Love (Swedish title: Fucking Åmål), though it's unlikely you'll find it... Great high school pic.

[Righteous Babe]

Show Me Love Script and Screen Caps for people who haven't seen it or who have:
http://fucking-amal.virt.cz/

Description of the movie from a website:

SHOW ME LOVE
a film by
Lukas Moodysson

In a small town called Amal, Elin (Alexandra Dahlstrom) and her high school friends are part of the "in-crowd." Elin is the school debutante, she is popular and all the coolest girls want to be her best friend, and she is the rage of all the boys on campus. Agnes (Rebecca Liljeberg) is not part of the "in-crowd," she is considered an outcast. Young and pretty, but unconcerned of her social status, Agnes is getting ready for a birthday party she doesn't really want that is being planned by her parents. Nothing much happens in the small town of Amal..until Elin accidentally goes to the wrong party and her life takes a new direction. On a dare, Elin kisses Agnes to see if Agnes really is a "lesbian" and her life is transformed. Elin discovers that she has been repressing something that was innately there all the time. This is the story of two girls, Elin and Agnes, who fall in love. It is a contemporary tale of longing, the joy and pain of being in love, the comical and heartbreaking aspects of growing up and the courage it takes to be different. It is a universal of love and understanding.

I never seen it on video but luckily Canada's Showcase had it on last month.

[La]

Show me Love sounds great and I'd read about it before. Unfortunately, even if I could find it here (which I'd love to just so I could see it), it would have Korean subtitles. And while i did take a semester of Swedish in college, I don't think my swedish is good enough to understand a whole movie... maybe i can find it to download online ...

Hyo-Shin - where in Korea are you? I'm down in Mokpo.

~La

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Taree: ah'm, yo' know...
Willer: Whut in tarnation?
Taree: Yourn...

[lion + dove]

what about some episodes of My So-Called Life? shorter than a movie, not R rated, and definitely about high school. and amazing.

on the con side, the main gay character is male not female. and he does face a lot of trouble. but Ricky is still one of my all time favorite characters on tv. my heart still breaks for him.

[Hyo-Shin]

Seoul. Unlike Mokpo, Gay people are quite visible here.

quote:

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Originally posted by La:

Hyo-Shin - where in Korea are you? I'm down in Mokpo.

~La

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quote:

[m_1970]

I would say that But I'm A Cheerleader is one of the best, but yes, it's rated R, and has some very steamy action between the two girls.

Someone else mentioned it, but I dont' recall the rating.. If these Walls Could Talk 2. It was pretty good, 3 stories of lesbian couples from different times. One, an elderly couple where one loses her lifelong partner, two, college girls living together, and three, an approximate 30something couple trying to concieve using a sperm bank.

Good luck on your search.
Meg

[La]

quote:

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Originally posted by Hyo-Shin:
... Unlike Mokpo, Gay people are quite visible here.

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Yeah, lucky you. I rarely get up to seoul, and when I do, I never seem to have the oportunity to go out to the bars, and I never seem to be there the right weekend for the Sappho group meetings (do you ever go to those? I've been to one - back in August). if you want to talk more off the board, send me an email (bianyothername@hotmail.com) or AIM me: lasahana.

as for movies, I think on Friday I'm just going to go to one of the somewhat larger video stores nearby and see what I see. Since I really am trying to show some stuff from highschool (but of course I want to show a movie I don't mind watching 10 times), I think I'm leaning more towards Election or 10 Things I hate about you (i love Julia Stiles, and the movie isn't bad either) or Bring it On!

Thanks for all of your suggestions.

~La

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Taree: ah'm, yo' know...
Willer: Whut in tarnation?
Taree: Yourn...

[This message has been edited by La (edited March 05, 2002).]quote:

[Eyes Without A Face]

This movie is about a Canadian teen in high school and in the early 60s but it is a very touching portrayal. It's called Emporte-Moi from Lea Pool. Probably not be what you want for your students because of its r rating but some kittens will like it. The main character is riveting and Pascale Bussières shines as usual.

synopsys
synopsys
synopsys

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Wallpapers
Illegitimi non carborundum!

[This message has been edited by Eyes Without A Face (edited March 05, 2002).]

[Thanatopsis]

I'll put in another vote for My So-Called Life. Considering when it came out, having a regular gay character was pretty big. Plus, you don't get more real in terms of high school life in America.

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Kind of an unusual name. There's hardly any except Warren Beatty and, you know, President Harding. It's probably not either of them.
~Willow in IWMTLY

[Righteous Babe]

I can't wait for when it comes out on DVD (My So Called Life). I'm gonna be first in line. hehe!

[Hyo-Shin]

You can pre-order the MSCL box set now.
http://www.anotheruniverse.com/mscldvd

quote:

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Originally posted by Righteous Babe:
I can't wait for when it comes out on DVD (My So Called Life). I'm gonna be first in line. hehe!

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quote:

[Righteous Babe]

hehe I know but I'm gonna try to get it at store around here. Just so I don't have to pay for shipping and handling and stuff.

[wiccie]

To Shellybean, in defense of "Election"; you forget, the baby dyke has a happy ending finding love on the soccer field of her Catholic High School.

Thanks Literary Exterminator - I was thinking of the movie "Get Real" and couldn't remember the title. I highly recommend that film as well.