Queer Holiday Watches Recommendations
The calendar is looking awful thin… the adverts are blaring… the relatives are Facebooking… you’re broke, invited to too many dreadful parties, and eating ham and marzipan for breakfast. Yes, ‘tis the season, and while the heteros think they have a lock on the end-of-year festivities, we know the truth: we are entering the Merry & Gay era. Adjust your glitter usage appropriately.
To help ease off the straight edges of the holidays, here at Space Fruit Press we’ve collected a little charcuterie board of queer festive content. Check these properties out when you need some ‘me’ time – or to slap something spicy on the family TV so Aunt Fanny can get her Ho Ho Ho on.
Matt Rogers: Have You Heard of Christmas?
We hope you have heard of the incredible Matt Rogers, a fearsomely funny comedian and co-host of essential ear content on the podcast Las Culturistas with the divine Bowen Yang. His hour-long special Have You Heard of Christmas? was released as a Showtime TV special last year, and now it’s available as a comedy album. If you’re not listening too closely to the lyrics, you may well mistake these for Mariah’s own bangers.
The Jinkx and Dela Holiday Special
The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Special from BenDeLaCreme Presents on Vimeo.
What’s a drag queen to do during lockdown when their cabaret Christmas act isn’t enough to make them essential workers? Outdo Hallmark at their own game and make a movie! If you didn’t get to see Jinkx Monsoon and Ben De La Creme on tour this year, then rent this bon bon of jokes, musical numbers, dance, and some fabulous frocks. Available on Vimeo.
Breakfast with Scot
This is a covert Christmas movie; it’s one of the few texts which combines internalised homophobia, found family, and singing carols (at any time of year). While this Canadian dramedy is a bit dated, it’s also heartwarming, as a closeted gay ex-hockey player gets his heart thawed by a gender-nonconforming 11-year-old called Scot. Find it on Amazon, Google Play, or Apple.
Tokyo Godfathers
Cult Japanese anime director Satoshi Kon only made a handful of movies, but each of them is genre-bending, visually stunning, and has remarkable character studies. Tokyo Godfathers is both a funny and heartwarming movie about three homeless friends in Tokyo who have to look after a mystery baby, and a spiritual, emotionally-charged and sociologically-insightful study of a society in microcosm. It also contains a trans character, Hana, who is part of the movie’s farce but also allowed her own dignity and humanity. You can rent it on Apple, Google, and Amazon.
8 Women
François Ozon’s camp as tits Christmas-set murder mystery musical is full of French fancies. It’s also full of lesbians, with 25% of the titular huit femmes having a loooong make out scene. The outfits are superb, and all the colours of the rainbow. Absolutely one to enjoy with your most Glam Gran. It’s not available for streaming, but DVDs are easy to pick up from eBay.