LGBTQ+ Film Series

Film professor and St. Bart's parishioner Anthony Perrotto hosts a bimonthly film series with an introduction, important insights, and commentary for each screening, all with LGBTQ+ themes.

Please enter through the Community House: 109 East 50th Street, between Lexington and Park Avenues.

September 15: VICTIM, directed by Basil Dearden, was GROUNDBREAKING for 1961. Until 1967 homosexual relations were prohibited by law in the UK.  Dirk Bogarde’s magnificent performance as a man hiding his sexuality and guilt. This difficult subject challenged censor’s acceptance of homosexuality. VICTIM became a highly sociologically significant film, believed by many to have influenced the UK’s views and laws on homophobia.  

September 29: La Cage aux Folles; Director,  Eduard Molinaro. 1978, 3 Oscars. Absolutely classic, hilarious from start to finish. About two Gay lovers, one a drag queen, whose son wants to marry a politician's daughter. The farce centers ensues when the son, brings his fiancé’s ultraconservative parents for dinner. They try to conceal their Gay lifestyle and their ownership of the drag club downstairs, and the laughs never stop.  

October 13: THE CELLULOID CLOSET. 1995--Directed by Oscar winner, Rob Epstein,“Times of Harvey Milk”. Narrated by Lily Tomlin, highlights the historical contexts that gays, lesbians, bisexuals in cinema history and shows the evolution. H Homeow Hollywood shaped public opinion about gays & lesbians. Clips from 120 films, and (Tom Hanks, Susan Sarandon, Gore Vidal, Susie Bright and Whoopi Goldberg) tell that story are dazzling way. This film will discuss several films we have seen and will see in future St Bart’s Screenings.

October 27: TEA AND SYMPATHY (1956,) directed by Vincente Minnelli. Starring Deborah Kerr. Seventeen-year-old Tom Robinson Lee (John Kerr), a new senior, at a boy's prep school. At odds with the machismo culture of his classmates who call him “Sisterboy”. Tom Lee, a sensitive boy of 17 lacks interest in the "manly" pursuits of sports. Head master’s wife Laura, sees Tom's suffering caused school mates, and tries to help him.Due to Motion Picture Code, HOMOSEXUALITY IS NOT MENTIONED.  BAFT Award. This Film is Discussed in the Celluloid Closet.

November 10: PRIEST (1994). (BBC) BAFTRA & 12 International Awards. Starring Linus Roach, (My Policeman, 2022) Priest, by Antonia Bird, is very beautiful and also provocative film about faith, church, forgiveness and tolerance A homosexual Catholic priest finds out during confessional that a young girl is being sexually abused by her father, and has to decide how to deal with his vow of confidentiality and celibacy. In addition, keeping the secrets about his pastor that could lead to his excommunication.

December 1: CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. (1958) Pulitzer Prize-Winner, 1955 An intense, riveting movie about a wealthy dysfunctional family. Liz Taylor, Paul Newman & Burl Ives are magnificent. The lavish mansion belongs to "Big Daddy", who has two sons. One with greedy eyes on the inheritance he hopes to get. The other is a failed athlete, alcoholic, and in a rocky marriage. His past indicates he is HOMOSEXUAL. But Motion Picture Code would not allow this open discussion. It begins at "Big Daddy’s", birthday party. The family begins to emotionally unravel. Terrific acting-and valuable lessons about life and love.