This is my entry for The Bechdel contest, hosted by @lilyraabe. Thanks to lilyraabe for hosting this contest and best of luck to all the entrants! Find the contest at @lilyraabe/the-bechdel-con-test-does-your-favorite-film-pass-3spd-on-the-line
All photos in this post are either stills from the film or from promotional material for the film and used for review purposes
But I’m a Cheerleader, directed by Jamie Babbit
I was very excited to hear about this contest because I recently re-watched a classic movie that came out when I was a teenager that I felt would be perfect. The film I chose to feature is But I’m a Cheerleader, directed by Jamie Babbit and Starring Natasha Lyonne (you may know her from Orange is the New Black, Slums of Beverly Hills etc.). The film, released in 1999, was a groundbreaking work, written for a queer audience and addressing queer issues at a time when only around 30% of Americans even supported gay marriage and the portrayal of queer youth in Hollywood was still very rare.
The tale follows the life of high-school cheerleader, Megan. Megan leads a pretty normal, straight-laced American life. She has a typical ‘jock’ boyfriend and regularly hangs out with her cheerleading cohort. She goes about her life in the only way she really knows how to, emulating those around her, without any real idea that there are alternatives. Despite this, her friends and family are growing very concerned. They see ‘signs’ that something isn’t right about Megan. She doesn’t really seem ‘into’ her boyfriend, or any boys for that matter. She hangs up pictures of pretty girls in her locker and generally just doesn’t act ‘right’. There is only one explanation…She must be a lesbian!
Megan’s friends and family hold an intervention for her, after which she is immediately hurried off to True Directions, a conversion therapy camp that is determined to cure troubled youths of homosexual tendencies and teach them how to have ‘normal’ relationships and sex lives. It quickly becomes apparent that True Directions fails at living up to its mission. From some of its, obviously not quite converted, staff to the rogue impromptu shelter across town that hosts kids who manage to escape from the camp, evidence of True Directions failure to convert is everywhere.
Once at True Directions and introduced to other queer youth, Megan comes to realize that she does indeed identify as a lesbian. She meets, and ultimately falls in love with, Graham (played by Clea Duvall). The most prevalent example of the movie passing the Bechdel test is found in Megan and Graham’s relationship. They grow very close during their time there, and Megan learns much about her own identity by finally spending time with other people like herself. Ultimately, Megan and Graham reach a point where they have to decide between being with each other and having acceptance from their families. What will happen?!?!? I don’t know. Watch the movie!
This film did receive some criticism, particularly for its portrayal of gay men, which is admittedly a bit over the top and stereotypical and for being a bit campy, with some comparing it to films by John Waters. However, it helped bring to light some very important and especially taboo issues during its time, including the existence of queer youth (which a lot of people still denied in the 1990’s), the problems with conversion therapy, and the tough and often unfair choices that queer youth would face growing up in an unaccepting culture. And it did all of this in a fairly comedic and light-hearted way.
I hope you enjoyed my entry. Good luck everyone!
Best wishes,
veckinon
photos from:
https://i.ytimg.com
https://galoremag.com
https://queerty-prodweb.s3.amazonaws.com
https://thesouloftheplot.files.wordpress.com
https://i.kinja-img.com/