Recently I discovered an important figure in the LGBT, specifically Lesbian, community, Edythe Eyde. Many who know of her know her as “Lisa Ben”. This is quite possibly my favorite thing ever. Dumb puns are my oxygen. She has been involved in two films, both as someone providing music for them. The first of which is Before Stonewall. Those wanting a lot of Lisa will be disappointed, but those wanting a lot of Lesbians won’t be. This film is a fascinating study of gay people from a time many alive now aren’t familiar with or at least struggle to comprehend.
Various people give their stories of being gay in a world that doesn’t appreciate that. It’s great seeing these people progress and discuss the changing tides. The film’s structure is like many non-documentary films. Here, the underknown group of people scratch at the surface of public knowledge until it breaks. They then start growing their roots, very slowly. However, there’s various points where progress moves forward, then it moves back due to some problem. The lens of people’s stories can get you into the stress and reward of it all from a human perspective. You’re glad when these people are glad. This film is especially moving as these people are real. The film’s approximating how these individuals lived and they covered numerous topics related to that. This is emphasized by scenes of these people having a life or relaxing. These scenes show their humanity.
Several amusing clips of movies and songs were utilized. It was fun trying to spot them. Gay life was portrayed to varying degrees in films like, A Florida Enchantment (1914), Different from the Others (1919), and The Wizard of Oz (1939). One can come to realize that these films are an important avenue in how gay people were represented. Many of these clips played near the beginning of this film and they get the audience to understand and feel the world we’re in. Media is a big reflection of culture. Culture has its ups and downs. Gay people aren’t always portrayed negatively but often they are. These clips show a clash of ideas in how various people perceive Homosexuality. Another interesting portrayal of gay people is when one guy says, “I had a size advantage when I was very young, and the fact that I had an aunt, Kate, and an uncle, Vince, who were both gay.” This line, which is from the beginning of the film, show that gay people will still get in straight relationships due to pressure and will still encourage the younger generation. It also shows that being in a straight relationship doesn’t get rid of one’s Homosexual tendencies.
Everyone is painted in a very human light. There’s many ties to other civil rights movements, mainly black civil rights. This leads to a feeling of community. The end of the film is very uplifting. Several people from the film reunite and catch up. There’s tons of catharsis to seeing them just be able to live a little and not using any methods to hide their sexuality. The film paints a picture between when Homosexuals were being slandered as Communists in the 1940s and the contemporary 1980s. The film ends with lots of optimism for the future. One point of interest is that one woman that is interviewed is filmed in darkness so she couldn’t be seen. This shows that this time isn’t as progressive as one might hope as she doesn’t want to be shown. Another point was when two black women discussed how they feel that they were somewhat marginalized among other Lesbians, as if there’s a racial component. This brings up memories of The Watermelon Woman (1996) which is about black Lesbians and one of the older ones in that film mentions that they only have each other.
There’s several elements of note here. For starters, gay marriage is never brought up. I was expecting someone at the end to say, “We’re so close to equality, but we’re waiting on marriage!” You’d think that’d be on their minds. Perhaps it wasn’t what the filmmakers wanted to focus on. Secondly, Stonewall was barely mentioned, as well as goings on after 1969, when Stonewall happened. Once Stonewall is mentioned briefly, the film is basically over. This does work here, as this is about the story of “the past”. The film leaves on the note that this is the end of this story, but the beginning of the story for younger people.
Thirdly, some have criticized the film for not discussing Transgender people, who were instrumental to Stonewall. While I understand that people might not like the lack of representation, this isn’t a story about Stonewall or the Trans story. While Trans people are an important part of LGBT history, the film is about the perception and mindset of Homosexuals. Anyone in the interview that I could find info on was Homosexual and not Bisexual with the exception of one Heterosexual who did a lot of research into Homosexuality. Point being that any gender non-conforming person was excluded other than Homosexuals. This lack of mention didn’t personally bother as the film so well painted this very particular tale. Lastly, it would’ve been interesting to see a discussion of gay pornography. That’s a very intimate thing that might out someone at the time. Videographic pornography (including Homosexual porn) has been around since give or take the 1920s. By 1984, gay porn was relatively normal, with Lesbian sex often portrayed in porn for straight men, who are the biggest demographic for porn. Someone interviewed for this film might have had an interesting thought on the subject. Did they watch that stuff in their youth? How’d they hide it? This isn’t a slight against this film as it’s simply “Not porn’s story”, but it was something that entered my mind.
OVERVIEW
Before Stonewall effortlessly shows life before “the modern era” of gay rights activism. It’s a humble and human tale of perseverance and what humans can do if they put their minds and hearts to something. The film ends on a very comforting note with a Lisa Ben song which discusses how being gay is a good thing and not something to be ashamed of. It kept me and hopefully many others optimistic about positive changes in the future.
The Filme Diary 