Queer as Folk

Queer as Folk is explicit in every sense of the word. It’s graphic in its portrayal of sexual activity, of the violence and blood, and of the reality that members of the LGBTQ+ community face on a daily basis. This reboot series explores the multiple layers of these experiences, from the tangled messes of queer sexual relationships, parenthood as a trans individual, juggling career prospects and self-identity issues, navigating age gaps and unrequited love, and the mending of past relationships and broken families. On top of all that is the harrowing truth of American shootings and discrimination against queer individuals. While overwhelming at first, there is some genuinely heartwarming moments sprinkled throughout each episode, with the community continuously there for each other.

The writing is not afraid to be blunt and honest; witty dialogue has no qualms poking fun at the characters and the situation at hand, and sharp tongues emphasise how patronising some allies can be to the community. The script is funny and each character is vibrant in personality, not solely defined by their gender identity or sexual orientation – something most mainstream media often does in low-effort “representation”. There’s a lot of nuance in the portrayal of being a minority, exploring layers of privilege in certain parts of the self – status, class and race – and being a minority in other senses, such as being gay. There’s also the capitalisation of trauma victims and how homophobic family members can profit from LGBTQ+ deaths because of ally ignorance.

While the script is bright and humorous, the visuals and audio are the main drivers for tone and storytelling. Fantastic neon filters and intense translucent lights really sell the party and night life, blurring the lines of fantasy, reality and psychedelic visions induced by drugs. It’s an extremely versatile technique that creates suggestions of subgenres like thriller and horror, without undermining the trauma of the characters. Cinematography allows for quick successions and foreshadowing via visual clues, while maintaining enough surprises with subversive irony and sleek editing to subvert expectations. Parallelism helps highlight emotions without the need for words. The soundtrack is amazingly sensual, tying together the humour, trauma and sex.

Watching Queer As Folk will elicit many different emotions, but the one that really sticks is the horror that can never be unseen after witnessing everything the main characters go through.

Mae Trumata

Queer as Folk is released on 1^st July 2022.

Watch the trailer for Queer as Folk here: