A Love Letter to Cinema

The year was 1991, and it was my first time at the Angelika Film Center in NYC. It was a film festival of sorts, and I went to see Pedro Almodóvar's classic film Que he hecho yo para merecer esto (What Have I Done to Deserve This?). I was hooked with the storytelling from jump. I talk about Almodóvar in a different essay, but my love for cinema runs deep. Back then, I consumed films voraciously, each frame teaching me something new about humanity, desire, identity, and the possibilities of visual storytelling. I don't watch as much as I did back then life has a way of filling up the spaces once reserved for pure passion but I'm getting back into it, rediscovering that electric feeling of surrender when the lights go down and a new world flickers to life. Cinema has always been more than entertainment for me; it's been a mirror, a window, a sanctuary, and a teacher all at once.

My Top 10 Films of All Time

1. Paris Is Burning (1990) - Jennie Livingston

This movie has a special place in my heart. It reminds me of a time of unapologetic creativity, raw aesthetics, and real, authentic storytelling.

Every time I see this movie, I cry for those amazing folks we lost. A film that chronicles the vibrant ball culture of 1980s New York City, capturing the dreams, struggles, and fierce resistance of Black and Latino LGBTQ+ individuals who created "houses" and "balls" as spaces for family, self-expression, and finding "realness" against a backdrop of poverty, racism, homophobia, and the AIDS epidemic.

2. Punks (2000) - Patrik-Ian Polk

I caught this at the San Francisco Film Festival and it blew my mind a groundbreaking romantic comedy that was centered on African-American gay men in West Hollywood.

The film follows four close-knit twentysomething gay Black men exploring friendship, relationships, and the search for "Mr. Right," and served as a template for Polk's later work, including my beloved TV series Noah's Arc.

3. Hawaii (2013) - Marco Berger

Berger's romantic drama follows two former childhood friends, Martín and Eugenio, who reunite during a summer in the countryside and work together to restore a summer home.

With minimal dialogue and a focus on unspoken emotions, the film explores the subtle game of power, desire, and sexual tension that develops between these two men from different social backgrounds.

4. My Own Private Idaho (1991) - Gus Van Sant

Van Sant's surreal character study follows two young male hustlers—the sensitive, narcoleptic Mike Waters (River Phoenix) and Scott Favor (Keanu Reeves), the rebellious son of a wealthy mayor through the Pacific Northwest.

Their friendship becomes a poignant journey through a world of drugs, hustling, and homelessness as Mike searches for the mother who abandoned him and both seek belonging in a world that offers little mercy.

5. Tampopo (1985) - Juzo Itami

This delightful Japanese "ramen western" comedy follows widow Tampopo who, with the help of truck driver Goro, strives to create the perfect bowl of ramen to make her late husband's noodle shop successful.

The central plot is interspersed with hilarious and sensual vignettes that explore humanity's relationship with food, creating a film that's both a satire and a love letter to the art of eating.

6. Handsome Devil (2016) - John Butler

This Irish coming-of-age comedy-drama centers on two teenage boys, Ned and Conor, who are forced to share a room at a rugby-obsessed boarding school.

One an outcast, the other a star player. The film beautifully explores their unlikely friendship, self-discovery, and acceptance within a traditional masculine environment, with support from their inspiring English teacher, Mr. Sherry.

7. The Crying Game (1992) - Neil Jordan

Neil Jordan's British thriller begins with IRA volunteer Fergus forming an unlikely bond with British soldier Jody during a kidnapping,

then traveling to London to find Jody's girlfriend, Dil, after tragedy strikes. What unfolds is both a political thriller and a complex love story exploring identity, loyalty, and sacrifice—famous for its shocking plot twist and Jaye Davidson's remarkable performance that sparked crucial conversations about gender and identity.

8. Beautiful Thing (1996) - Hettie MacDonald

This tender British coming-of-age romantic comedy follows two teenage boys, Jamie and Ste, who fall in love over a hot summer in a South-East London housing estate.

one shy and unpopular, the other athletic but abused. With Jamie's supportive mother offering refuge, the film navigates first love within a working-class environment with humor, warmth, and a realistic portrayal that made it a beloved LGBTQ+ classic.

9. My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) - Stephen Frears

Set in Thatcher-era London, this British dramedy follows young Pakistani man Omar as he transforms a rundown laundrette into a thriving business

with help from his childhood friend and lover Johnny, a former street punk. The film masterfully explores love, identity, race, and class through their relationship against economic upheaval and social tension, launching Daniel Day-Lewis's international career in the process.

10. Plan B (2009) - Marco Berger

Berger's film follows Bruno, who after being dumped by his girlfriend Laura, hatches a plan to win her back by making her new boyfriend Pablo fall for him.

only to develop unexpected real feelings for Pablo. Known for its naturalistic style, slow-burning pace, and subtle exploration of male sexuality and friendship, the film offers a novel take on emotional complexity and self-discovery.

Honorable Mention

Get Real (1998) - Simon Shore

This British film follows high school student Steven Carter, a model student secretly struggling with his homosexuality, who falls for popular classmate John Dixon after a secret encounter in a park.

Set against the backdrop of the UK's Section 28 legislation, the film realistically portrays adolescent emotions with a perfect balance of humor and poignant drama, capturing the challenges of coming out and navigating identity in late 1990s Britain—distinguished by its authentic performances and honest approach that made it a cult classic for its time.