Under the new LGBTQ+ law, many films will only be allowed to be seen by people over 18. We’ve picked seven from the list.
The Hungarian Media Council has defined what constitutes a self-serving depiction of sexuality, as reported in our previous article.
The adoption of Law LXXIX of 2021, which also sets out restrictions on homosexuality in addition to measures against pedophile offenders, has caused a huge stir.
According to the document, programs that depict sexuality for its own sake, propagate homosexuality or a change in sexe are classified in age category V, ergo and ipso facto cannot be watched by anyone under 18.
Let’s see 7 of the films and series which are – according to the Hungarian Media Council – aimed at showing inappropriate content of sexual identity , gender reassignment, and homosexuality – including Oscar-winning films.
“Blue is the warmest color”
The “Blue is the Warmest Color” is a 2013 film by Tunisian-born French film director and screenwriter Abdellatif Kechiche.
The film was screened in the competition program of the 66th Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Palme d’Or and the FIPRESCI Prize, awarded by film critics and journalists. It was the first film in the festival’s history to be awarded the prize for which the director was not the only person involved in the film. The movie star Léa Seydoux is also the lead actress in Ildikó Enyedi‘s “The Story of My Wife”.
“Queer as Folk”
“Queer as Folk” is a US-Canadian co-production of an LGBTQ+ series. It was produced by Showtime Networks Inc. and Temple Street Productions, based on the earlier British version.
The series follows the daily lives of 8 gay friends living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Although it is a co-production, it was filmed in Toronto‘s gay neighborhood due to favorable tax rules. The series has survived for five seasons, believe it or not, of course, there were Hungarians on the cast of this series during those five years. Mark Magyar‘s name is quite revealing.
“It’s A Sin”
“It’s a Sin” is a British television drama miniseries written and created by Russell T. Davies and developed by Red Production Company. The five-part series is set from 1981 to 1991 in London. It depicts the lives of a group of gay men and their friends who lived during the HIV/AIDS crisis in the United Kingdom.
“All About My Mother”
“All About My Mother” is a 1999 Spanish-French film drama written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar. The film deals with themes such as AIDS, homosexuality, cross-dressing, faith, and existentialism.
The screenplay is based on a scene from Almodóvar‘s previous film, “Titkom’s Flower”, which featured medical students who are trained to persuade bereaved relatives to donate their relatives’ organs to others, as the focus of the film is the mother of a teenager who died in a car accident.
The film also stars Pedro Almodovar, as well as Penelope Cruz, known for films such as “Pirates of the Caribbean”, “Volver”, and “Queen of Spain”, which happened to be filmed in Hungary.
“Generation”
“Generation” (stylized as “Genera+ion”) is an American dramedy television series that premiered on HBO Max on March 11, 2021. In September 2021, the series was canceled after one season. Featuring an ensemble cast, the story centers on a group of high school students in Orange County, California who explore their sexuality in a modern world. This tests their deeply entrenched beliefs about life, love, and the nature of family in their conservative community.
“Call Me By Your Name”
“Call Me by Your Name” is a 2017 coming-of-age romantic drama film directed by Luca Guadagnino. Its screenplay, by James Ivory, who also co-produced, is based on the 2007 novel of the same name by André Aciman.
The film is the final installment in Guadagnino‘s thematic “Desire” trilogy after “I Am Love” (2009), and “A Bigger Splash” (2015). Set in 1983 in northern Italy, “Call Me by Your Name” chronicles the romantic relationship between a 17-year-old, Elio, and Oliver, a 24-year-old graduate-student assistant to Elio‘s father an archaeology professor.
The co-stars are Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer and it also stars actresses Amira Casar, Esther Garrel, and Victoire Du Bois. Chalamet almost set a record with this production, if he had redeemed his Oscar nomination for an award, but it is rumored that he is also very much in the running for a gold statuette for his performance in “Dune”.
“L Word”
“L Word” is an American television series produced by Showtime. It depicts the lives of lesbian and bisexual women in Los Angeles, their families, and lovers. The series ran from 2004-2009. In 2019, a sequel was announced and made a reality, titled “The L Word: Generation Q”. The series has many main characters, including Jennifer Beals from “Flashdance” and Erin Daniels.
Of course, there are still plenty of films on the banned list, such as “Shameless”, “Skin I Live In”, “Brokeback Mountain”, which has already been banned in several countries.
