Queer Sh*t to Watch This Week
NewNowNext spotlights the latest (and queerest) movies, TV shows, web series, and other gay shit, for your viewing pleasure in our weekly watch list. Grab your popcorn, squirrel friends!
In Theaters
It ain’t easy being gay in Kenya, where homosexuality is still illegal (although that might change this year). In fact, this acclaimed Kenyan feature about a young tomboy (Samantha Mugatsia) who falls for the well-keeled daughter (Sheila Munyiva) of her father’s political rival, was banned in its home country until director Wanuri Kahiu won a landmark Supreme Court case. The first Kenyan film to play Cannes and a runaway hit back in Kenya, it proves that some stories, when well told, are universal. (Film Movement)
Agyness Deyn and Cara Delevingne portray queer musicians while Elisabeth Moss channels Courtney Love as Becky, the abusive, tortured frontwoman of a Hole-esque 1990s alt-rock band in Alex Ross Perry’s operatic drama. Double feature it with Vox Lux! (Gunpowder & Sky)
At times feeling a little like Gregg Araki and Jamie Babbit’s lovechild, this loopy sex triangle dramedy sees artsy suburban 20-something Maya (Madison Lawlor) stalk her social media crush, L.A.-based designer Jasmine (Montana Manning). The women hit it off sexually, but Jasmine has a sugar daddy affair going with role-playing, self-medicating physician Simon (Andrew Pifko). Add a bonus outrageous plot twist and boy, does the tea get spilled! (Gravitas Ventures)
Kate McKinnon adds laughs as a nagging neighbor in this dramedy about a child-phobic careerist (Taylor Schilling) taking care of her adolescent niece (Bryn Vale), who dreams of running off to become a, well, Juggalo (those hardcore Insane Clown Posse fans). (The Film Arcade)
Cynthia Nixon served some stuffy, grim AF Emily Dickinson realness in 2016’s A Quiet Passion (it was an Oscar-worthy turn, seriously!), but SNL royalty Molly Shannon’s take on the legendary author-poet is a whole lot of fun, wit, and lesbian lust—with a focus on her romantic relationship with longtime friend turned sister-in-law Susan Gilbert (Susan Ziegler)—in writer-director Madeleine Olnek’s dramedy. (Greenwich Entertainment)
Openly gay Turkish-Italian director Ferzan Ozpetek chose Naples as setting for a thriller about a medical examiner, Adriana (Giovanna Mezzogiorno), who gets caught up in the murder of a guy she hooked up with (Alessandro Borghi). Also available on VOD/DVD starting April 23. (Breaking Glass Pictures)
TV and Streaming
Aussie Chris Lilley (Summer Heights High) portrays another batch of absurd, delusional, and deliciously obnoxious characters in his latest 10-episode comedy series. Since Lilley likes to revisit his most beloved/reviled characters, we’re hoping egocentric teen Ja’ime and musical theater-obsessed queen Mr. G make cameos. (Netflix)
When New Yorker Jenny (Gina Rodriguez) lands the job of her dreams in San Francisco and breaks up with her boyfriend of nine years, a big blowout is in order with her two besties. One of those, Nina, is a lesbian played by DeWanda Wise, who previously had a same-sex dabble in Netflix’s She’s Gotta Have It. RuPaul makes a cameo! (Netflix)
Queer 19th Century businesswoman Anne Lister is brought to life by Suranne Jones in this enlightening, entertaining HBO series. Masculine-leaning or even non-binary before such a term existed, she's determined to take a wife, heiress Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle). Gentleman Jack is history well served. (April 22, HBO)