An excellent, heartwarming yet heartbreaking and always poignant documentary focusing on the lives of 26 queer people, all interviewed in talking-heads segments throughout. I can just imagine how groundbreaking this representation was for the 70s (because of this, it was inducted into the National Film Registry), especially being directed by 6 gay people. There isn’t a straight gaze at all in the doc, and it doesn’t feel made just to educate straight viewers. We just see these people recount what it is like for them to be part of the LGBTQ+ community at the time, and it just feels authentic. Rather than focusing just on the trauma and homophobia of the time, the doc includes these talking heads’ discussions about their love lives and their resilience within the community. Even being a somewhat dated doc, Word is Out remains relevant and inspiring to watch decades later, yet an underrated film that more people need to see.
An excellent, heartwarming yet heartbreaking and always poignant documentary focusing on the lives of 26 queer people, all interviewed in talking-heads segments throughout. I can just imagine how groundbreaking this representation was for the 70s (because of this, it was inducted into the National Film Registry), especially being directed by 6 gay people. There isn’t a straight gaze at all in the doc, and it doesn’t feel made just to educate straight viewers. We just see these people recount what it is like for them to be part of the LGBTQ+ community at the time, and it just feels authentic. Rather than focusing just on the trauma and homophobia of the time, the doc includes these talking heads’ discussions about their love lives and their resilience within the community. Even being a somewhat dated doc, Word is Out remains relevant and inspiring to watch decades later, yet an underrated film that more people need to see.
