Many of this year’s Oscar contenders are enlivened by queer themes, with much more than understated subtext or a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment. While the impending Oscar race may be missing an all-out gay romance such as “Call Me by Your Name,” that doesn’t mean queer cinephiles can’t seek out François Ozon’s sexy and rebellious “Summer of ’85.” For those who prefer their French films on the Sapphic side, not to mentions provocative enough to inspire protests, there was Paul Verhoeven’s dark lesbian nun comedy “Benedetta.” And for campy genre lovers with an eye for fashion, “Spencer” features a wrenchingly tender moment from Sally Hawkins towards Kristen Stewart’s riveting Princess Diana. While certainly not a given every year, anyone complaining about a lack of good queer films in 2021 simply wasn’t paying attention.
