Movies About Gender Equality

From Kaige Chen, starring Leslie Cheung, Fengyi Zhang, Gong Li, You Ge
Rated R

Farewell My Concubine is a 1993 Chinese drama film directed by Kaige Chen. It tells the story of two Beijing opera stars and their troubled relationship that spans fifty years, from the chaotic years of the Republic of China in the 1920s, to the Cultural Revolution in the 1970s. The story follows their lives and their sacrifices as they struggle to survive in a rapidly changing world. Through their story, the film examines the complicated dynamics between individuals and the state, and the power of art to transcend politics. The film won the Palme d'Or at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

From Park Chan-wook, starring Kim Min-hee, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong, Moon So-ri
Rated Not Rated

The Handmaiden is a 2016 South Korean psychological thriller film directed by Park Chan-wook. It is based on the novel Fingersmith by Welsh writer Sarah Waters. The movie stars Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-ri, Ha Jung-woo, and Cho Jin-woong. The story follows a Korean con-artist, Sook-Hee, who is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, Lady Hideko. Sook-Hee is hired by a mysterious man, Count Fujiwara, to help him elope with Hideko and swindle her out of her inheritance. However, Sook-Hee starts to develop feelings for Hideko and develops a plan to help her escape her oppressive uncle instead. The film is set in the 1930s during the Japanese occupation of Korea and its themes involve sexual identity, class and gender roles, and cultural identity. The Handmaiden was a critical and commercial success and was lauded for its direction, cinematography, and screenplay. It earned several awards and accolades, including the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Feature Film and the Asian Film Award for Best Film.

From Luca Guadagnino, starring Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar
Rated R

Call Me by Your Name is a romantic drama directed by Luca Guadagnino and written by James Ivory, based on the novel of the same name by André Aciman. Set in 1983 Italy, the film revolves around Elio Perlman, a 17-year-old Jewish-Italian boy who is spending a summer with his family in their 17th-century villa. Elio meets Oliver, a 24-year-old graduate student from America who is interning with Elio's father. The two develop a strong bond, and their relationship blossoms into a romantic one. As their summer together draws to a close, Elio and Oliver must confront their feelings for each other, and Elio's relationship with his parents, before finally deciding to part ways. The film focuses on the themes of first love, identity and coming of age, as Elio and Oliver come to terms with their newfound emotions.

From Ang Lee, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams, Randy Quaid
Rated R

Brokeback Mountain is a romantic drama film directed by Ang Lee and based on the 1997 short story of the same name by Annie Proulx. It tells the story of two young men, Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal), who meet as sheep herders in Wyoming in 1963 and develop a deep and powerful love for each other. Despite the fact that both men are already engaged to be married to women, they are unable to suppress their feelings for one another. The film follows the two men throughout the years as they attempt to reconcile their forbidden love with their responsibilities to their families, friends and society at large. Despite the challenges they face, their love for each other remains strong and unwavering. Ultimately, the film is a powerful story of two men struggling to find their place in a world that refuses to accept them for who they are.

From James Ivory, starring James Wilby, Rupert Graves, Hugh Grant, Denholm Elliott
Rated R

Maurice is a 1987 drama film directed by James Ivory, adapted from the novel of the same name by E. M. Forster. It tells the story of a young British man named Maurice Hall who discovers he is gay in Edwardian England. The film follows his life as he struggles to accept his sexuality and live an open life in a deeply homophobic society. He finds a kindred spirit in Clive Durham, an aristocrat with whom he falls in love, but their relationship is ultimately doomed due to the social stigma and the fear of being discovered. The film also explores the social and psychological implications of homophobia in England at the time. The film stars James Wilby, Hugh Grant, Rupert Graves, and Denholm Elliott, and was a box office success, receiving numerous awards, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.

From Tom Ford, starring Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, Nicholas Hoult
Rated R

A Single Man is a 2009 drama directed by Tom Ford and starring Colin Firth. Set in Los Angeles in 1962, it follows a day in the life of George Falconer (Firth), an English professor at a local college and a gay man in the midst of profound grief over the death of his long-time partner. As the film progresses, George gradually comes to terms with his loss and finds himself drawn to an enigmatic young student, Kenny. As George reflects on his life, he finds himself in a state of turmoil and confusion, struggling to reconcile his past with his present. The film is a deeply personal exploration of grief, loneliness, and the fragility of life.

From Greg Berlanti, starring Nick Robinson, Jennifer Garner, Josh Duhamel, Katherine Langford
Rated PG-13

Love, Simon is a 2018 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Greg Berlanti, based on the novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli. The film stars Nick Robinson as Simon Spier, who is a closeted gay high school student. Simon is forced to come to terms with his sexuality when a blackmailer threatens to out him to the entire school. With the help of his friends, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery, acceptance, and understanding. Along the way, he finds an anonymous online friend with whom he forms a strong connection. Eventually, Simon has to confront his blackmailer and come to terms with his feelings for his secret admirer. Love, Simon shows that even in the toughest of times, love and acceptance can prevail.

From Duncan Tucker, starring Felicity Huffman, Kevin Zegers, Fionnula Flanagan, Andrea James
Rated R

From Barry Jenkins, starring Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Trevante Rhodes, Alex R. Hibbert
Rated R

From Sally Potter, starring Tilda Swinton, Billy Zane, Quentin Crisp, Jimmy Somerville
Rated PG-13

From Tom Hooper, starring Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander, Amber Heard, Ben Whishaw
Rated R

From Brian Gilbert, starring Stephen Fry, Jude Law, Vanessa Redgrave, Jennifer Ehle
Rated R

From Nagisa Ôshima, starring Takeshi Kitano, Ryûhei Matsuda, Shinji Takeda, Tadanobu Asano
Rated Unrated

From Jamie Babbit, starring Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, Michelle Williams, Brandt Wille
Rated R

From John Krokidas, starring Daniel Radcliffe, Dane DeHaan, Michael C. Hall, Ben Foster
Rated R

From Paul Morrison, starring Robert Pattinson, Javier Beltrán, Matthew McNulty, Marina Gatell
Rated R