Before It Was Legal: Gay Movies Set Before Decriminalisation

The Consul of Sodom

2009 Drama, Romance

Fascinating journey through the life and work of the prestigious Catalan poet Jaime Gil de Biedma. Charismatic and somewhat eccentric, brilliant intellectual with extraordinary sensitivity and member of Barcelona's 'gauche divine' in the 60s.

My Brother… Nikhil

2005 Drama

Famous swimmer Nikhil Kapoor deals with the repercussions of publicly announcing that he has HIV/AIDS.

Kapana

2020 Drama

In Namibia, where homosexuality remains taboo, George and Simeon's lives intersect in a bar, each guarding secrets that could alter their fates.

SHORT FILM

The Act

2020 Drama

In 1965 Soho, Matthews finds love and a sense of belonging amidst the impending decriminalization of homosexuality, forging new connections in underground bars and streets teeming with life and secrets.

Some of My Best Friends Are…

1971 Drama

A dramatic exposé unfolding the lives of gays gathering at a NYC bar on Christmas Eve.

Winter Kept Us Warm

1965 Drama, Romance

In 1960s Toronto, Doug and Peter's friendship takes unexpected turns as they explore intimacy and identity, navigating their evolving relationship against a backdrop of social change and personal growth.

The Third Sex (Bewildered Youth)

1957 Drama

Klaus, a young man in post-war Berlin, is drawn to his friend Manfred and, with encouragement from Dr. Winkler, explores the underground gay club scene and electronic music. As his family discovers his secret life, they do everything they can to change him.

SHORT FILM

Strange Way of Life

2023 Drama

Twenty-five years later, Silva reunites with his friend Jake. Their initial joyous reunion takes a serious turn the next morning when Jake reveals that Silva's visit isn't solely for reminiscing.

SHORT FILM

Blow Job

1964 Documentary

Capturing a man's facial expressions during intimacy.

The Leather Boys

1964 Drama, Romance

An immature teenager enters a marriage with a young biker, only to become disillusioned with the realities of working-class life and her husband's close bond with his best friend.

Looking for Langston

1989 Drama

A stylized look at gay life during the Harlem Renaissance, blending archival footage with narrative.

Sex in Chains

1928 Drama

A young man is convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to a term in prison. There he forms a close relationship with his cellmate and upon his release his wife is concerned as to how prison has changed the man she married.

Different from the Others

1919 Drama, Romance

Two male musicians fall in love, but blackmail and scandal makes the affair take a tragic turn.

Taking Woodstock

2009 Comedy, Drama, Musical

A man working at his parents' motel in the Catskills inadvertently sets in motion the generation-defining concert in the summer of 1969.

SHORT FILM

Hot Legs

1995 Drama, Thriller

Tim holds Dave, the man he once love in high school captive, the same man who beat up and humiliated him when they were teenagers, now Tim want answers for the betrayal that ends up badly.

SHORT FILM

A Different Time

2018 Drama, Romance

Against the backdrop of the American South in the 1960s, three lives become intertwined as each person discovers that love can take unexpected forms in a time shaped by prejudice, tradition, and change.

My Son Is Gay

2017 Drama, Musical

Lakshmi discovers her son Varun is gay, the fact she could never accept, changes her whole life upside down. While Varun goes out and finds his love Karthik, his life isn't as happy as in the past. There comes a day, Lakshmi decides to find her lost son, will they ever meet again? My Son is Gay, showcases the dark reality of acceptance prevailing in our society.

SHORT FILM

Fireworks

1947 Drama, Horror

A dissatisfied dreamer awakes, goes out in the night seeking a 'light' and is drawn through the needle's eye. A dream of a dream, he returns to bed less empty than before.

P.S. Burn This Letter Please

2020 Documentary

A box of letters, held in secret for nearly 60 years, ignites a 5-year exploration into a part of LGBT history that has never been told. The letters open a window into a forgotten world where being yourself meant breaking the law and where the penalties for "masquerading" as a woman were swift and severe. The government sought to destroy them, then history tried to erase them, now they tell their story for the first time.

SHORT FILM

Menthol

2016 Drama, Romance

A closeted gay couple secretly rent an apartment where they can be together. On their anniversary, a romantic evening is disrupted by relentless calls from their families. As the pressure builds, their private sanctuary begins to feel like a trap, forcing them to confront how long their hidden relationship can survive.

SHORT FILM

The Kite

2016 Drama, Romance

A kite reunites two lovers after a 20-year separation, reigniting old passions amidst the winds of change.

SHORT FILM

The Men Who Wait

2021 Drama

In mining, a slag heap symbolizes the discarded waste accumulated during raw material extraction.

SHORT FILM

Scorpio Rising

1963 Musical

A gang of bikers prepare for a race amidst a backdrop of sadistic and occult imagery.

SHORT FILM

Vapors

1965 Drama

A provocative portrayal of conflicts and lives of gay men during a night in a New York bathhouse.