LGBT Dramas/Films That Aren't Offensive and Weird

Night Flight is a film which has been ever-present in the back of my mind since the first time I watched it.  It conveys the  isolation and loneliness of growing up as a gay person in an intolerant society with a jarring combination of sensitivity and brutality. The ending ripped my heart out and stomped on it but the message it sends is so important and needs to be heard.

In this drama, Ayano Go plays a gay man named Kurosaki Yu who is the roommate of the main character so he is present throughout a lot of the episodes even if he is not the primary focus. What I love most about Ayano's portrayal of Yu is that he fleshes him out into a fully realized character with a sensitivity and finesse that I never tire of watching. Fair warning though, the straight characters are pretty insufferable in this one.

Tootsies is a fun and ridiculous drama about the lives of four friends (three gay men and a lesbian) as they attempt to navigate the rocky terrain that is their respective love lives. The relationships of the main characters feel authentic and although the show focuses heavily on the gang's shenanigans, it handles the poignant, heartwarming moments with just as much care and attention.

The gay character in this film appears somewhat briefly but he leaves an impression. As the second character on this list played by Ayano Go, Kato is the titular Yonosuke's university friend. As a supporting role, Kato's characterisation could have easily fallen by the wayside but is thankfully spared such a fate by Ayano's portrayal. Kato is a layered, interesting character who fits in seamlessly with the film's seemingly disjointed narrative. 

Based on the popular manga by Rihito Takarai that I have actually never read and as such can't attest to the faithfulness of the adaptation. The two leads have really nice chemistry but for some reason the intimate scenes fall flat. Aside from that, they play off each other very well and their onscreen rapport really makes you root for the couple. I always recommend this one because it's cute and wholesome and has a happy ending.

Clever and poignant, Close-knit is a heartwarming exploration of the nature of gender expression and motherhood.   

I was hesitant to include this considering there isn't actually a canon LGBT character but Kuranosuke enjoys crossdressing and Suda's portrayal of him offers a somewhat interesting look at gender presentation. Plus, he expresses confusion when he thinks he may be attracted to a girl so I think there's something not entirely straight going on there.

I appreciate this film for delivering an honest take on a relationship affected by illness and stigmatisation. Although this is a low-budget endeavour, the actors all deliver very high quality performances and their characters feel believable. 

I feel like I don't even need to write a description for this one, y'all already know why it's on this list.

Ai no Kotodama presents a sweet and domestic slice of life narrative with great chemistry between the two leads.