Queer cinephiles are ready to reap the rewards. As more filmmakers approach queer narratives, the message that representation behind the camera is just as important as the stories being told is slowly being received. Not so this year: Marielle Heller’s “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” is also in the running for awards. In years past, the one standout queer film ends up eclipsing every other very good one. To have a brazenly queer film in the awards conversation four years running would have been unheard of ten years ago, even after “Brokeback Mountain.” The wave started in 2015 with “Carol,” which led to a historic Best Picture win for “Moonlight” in 2016, followed up by last year’s “Call Me by Your Name.” This year, Yorgos Lanthimos’ “ The Favourite” is already dominating the conversation, with its three leads in the running for acting nominations. It seems like an embarrassment of riches, but queer cinema has steadily grown to become one of the leading forces in film over the last five years.
