Querelle (1982)

Querelle

• Man, why can’t all movies be this gay? I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: gay cinema is the best cinema. There’s such an interesting style and takes on homosexual themes, this one standing out above a lot of others. Reason being, there’s such a strong visual outpour, intriguing characters, and a single setting. I love how the film feels contained in one port, so everything feels so centralized and relaxed. Well, maybe not relaxed, but….solitary. That’s a good way of putting it, at least in my head. The story explores themes of violence, homosexuality, self-discovery, passion, lust, curiosity…..I could go on. So much to explore and think about. Definitely a film I will find even more interesting on a second watch. The character study is also interesting, starting out with a seemingly average sailor, but throughout the film, you learn about his mind and physical wants, which is something everyone can connect to. You walk in his shoes and with his experiences with everyone around him, it’s a gripping story full of so many different emotions. Now, it is very driven by dialogue and character interaction, so it might take a few minutes to get into, or stay into. There’s definitely people I know that will find this incredibly boring. It’s not for everybody. But I thought it was executed wonderfully. The acting was pretty good, though a lot of the line reads are very monotone. Personally, I thought it worked well that way, because you settle into it very comfortably, and it also matches the visual tones. There’s a very orange and yellow color scheme that mimics sunsets and peaceful days, which is a good contrast to certain parts of the film, but also compliments other parts. It’s such a pretty film to look at, no matter what scene you're in. Overall, this is a very solid film, and one that’s thought provoking and personal. It’s erotic and spicy, but still deep and compelling. I would recommend it to all drama fans. This film is officially Berry Approved, so go watch it now!