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Carol named best LGBT film of all time Carol named best LGBT film of all time
(about 1 hour later)
Todd Haynes’ atmospheric lesbian love story, Carol, has been named the best LGBT film of all time in a top 30 list that stretches back to 1931. Todd Haynes’ atmospheric lesbian love story, Carol, has been named the best LGBT film of all time in a top 30 list that stretches to 1931.
Carol, which came out last year and stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, came top of a poll compiled to mark the 30th anniversary of the London lesbian and gay film festival, now called BFI Flare. Carol, which was released last year and stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, came top of a poll compiled to mark the 30th anniversary of the London lesbian and gay film festival, BFI Flare.
Just behind Carol was Andrew Haigh’s 2011 film, Weekend, followed by Kar-wai Wong’s 1997 Hong Kong romance, Happy Together, and at No 4, Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain. Just behind Carol was Andrew Haigh’s 2011 film, Weekend, followed by Wong Kar-wai’s 1997 Hong Kong romance, Happy Together, and at No 4, Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain.
But it was Carol, an adaptation by Phyllis Nagy’s of Patricia Highsmith’s 1952 novel, The Price of Salt, which topped a poll of more than 100 film experts, which included past and present festival programmers. But it was Carol, an adaptation by Phyllis Nagy of Patricia Highsmith’s 1952 novel, The Price of Salt, which topped a poll of more than 100 film experts that included past and present festival programmers.
It was a film adored by critics, including the Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw who called it intoxicating. He added: “It is almost as if the transgression, secrecy and wrongness must paradoxically emerge in the well-judged rightness and just-so-ness of all its period touches.”It was a film adored by critics, including the Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw who called it intoxicating. He added: “It is almost as if the transgression, secrecy and wrongness must paradoxically emerge in the well-judged rightness and just-so-ness of all its period touches.”
It got six Oscar nominations and nine Bafta nominations, although it came home empty-handed from both award ceremonies.It got six Oscar nominations and nine Bafta nominations, although it came home empty-handed from both award ceremonies.
Tricia Tuttle, the deputy head of festivals at the BFI, said it was no surprise that Carol came out top. “Haynes is an absolutely beloved film-maker inside and outside LGBT cinema circles and this is one of his finest films. Everyone has their favourite Todd Haynes and this is certainly mine, I voted for it. Tricia Tuttle, deputy head of festivals at the BFI, said it was no surprise that Carol came out top. “Haynes is an absolutely beloved film-maker inside and outside LGBT cinema circles and this is one of his finest films.
“Given the relative lack of lesbian content in cinema it is nice to see it come top.” “Everyone has their favourite Todd Haynes and this is certainly mine, I voted for it. Given the relative lack of lesbian content in cinema it is nice to see it come top.”
Haynes said he was proud Carol had been voted top. “Carol is in illustrious company with so many films I love, from Brokeback Mountain and Un Chant d’Amour to Happy Together and My Own Private Idaho.” Haynes said he was proud Carol had won. “Carol is in illustrious company with so many films I love, from Brokeback Mountain and Un Chant d’Amour to Happy Together and My Own Private Idaho.”
Second in the BFI list is Weekend, a 2011 romance is still making headlines in that Vatican-based film evaluers, the Italian Episcopal Conference, this month gave its worst rating for the film, declaring it ”not recommended, unusable and indecent”. Second in the BFI list is Weekend, a 2011 romance is still making headlines in that Vatican-based film evaluers, the Italian Episcopal Conference, this month gave its worst rating for the film, declaring it “not recommended, unusable and indecent”.
Many of Italy’s arthouse cinemas are owned by the church, which severely reduced the number of screens on which it could be shown for its belated Italian release, according to distributor Teodora Film.Many of Italy’s arthouse cinemas are owned by the church, which severely reduced the number of screens on which it could be shown for its belated Italian release, according to distributor Teodora Film.
Many LGBT-themed films end badly, making it striking that the top two films have uplifting endings. Tuttle said it was important that LGBT cinema did not have LGBT stereotypes. “We want dramatically complex, rich, compelling characters.” she said. Many LGBT-themed films end badly, making it striking that the top two films have uplifting endings. Tuttle said it was important that LGBT cinema did not have LGBT stereotypes. “We want dramatically complex, rich, compelling characters,” she said.
The top 10 also includes Stephen Frears’ My Beautiful Laundrette (No 7), Pedro Almodovar’s All About My Mother (No 8) and Gus Van Sant’s My Own Private Idaho (No 10).The top 10 also includes Stephen Frears’ My Beautiful Laundrette (No 7), Pedro Almodovar’s All About My Mother (No 8) and Gus Van Sant’s My Own Private Idaho (No 10).
The oldest film on the list is a 1931 film called Mädchen in Uniform (Girls in Uniform), a Weimar-era German film that tells the story of a schoolgirl who falls in love with her female teacher. “It is incredibly explicit,” said Tuttle. “It is a really terrific film and it is definitely worthy revisiting.”The oldest film on the list is a 1931 film called Mädchen in Uniform (Girls in Uniform), a Weimar-era German film that tells the story of a schoolgirl who falls in love with her female teacher. “It is incredibly explicit,” said Tuttle. “It is a really terrific film and it is definitely worthy revisiting.”
Those polled comprised film-makers, writers and critics, including Mark Cousins, Peter Strickland, Richard Dyer and Laura Mulvey.Those polled comprised film-makers, writers and critics, including Mark Cousins, Peter Strickland, Richard Dyer and Laura Mulvey.
Tuttle welcomed the poll as a means to stimulate debate. Tuttle welcomed the poll as a means to stimulate debate. “For us, it is a moment to look back at the films we have celebrated over the years and look at how enduring so many of them are and look at how important so many LGBT stories are in the history of cinema. They are also a chance to remind audiences of films which might have faded from the memory but deserve to be seen again,” she said.
“For us it is a moment to look back at the films we have celebrated over the years and look at how enduring so many of them are and look at how important so many LGBT stories are in the history of cinema. They are also a chance to remind audiences of films which might have faded from the memory but deserve to be seen again,” she said.