Watch A Bit of Scarlet

A Bit of Scarlet is a documentary from 1997 that explores the representation of homosexuality in British cinema in the 20th century. The film is narrated by Ian McKellen, who himself is an openly gay actor and activist. The documentary is divided into several chapters, each of which explores a different decade of British cinema. The film begins with a discussion of the silent era, when homosexuality was largely taboo and rarely represented on screen. The documentary then moves on to the 1930s, when censorship laws were introduced that made it increasingly difficult to depict gay characters or relationships. Despite these restrictions, the film explores how some filmmakers were able to subtly allude to homosexuality in their work.

The documentary then moves on to the 1950s, which saw the release of several important films that explored homosexuality more explicitly. The film discusses the groundbreaking impact of the play and subsequent film version of "The Children's Hour," starring Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine as two teachers accused of being lesbians.

The documentary also examines the work of filmmakers like Terence Davies, who explored gay themes in his autobiographical films "Distant Voices, Still Lives" and "The Long Day Closes." The documentary also discusses the emergence of the British New Wave in the 1960s, which brought a more realistic and gritty style of cinema to the forefront.

As the documentary moves into the 1970s, it explores how the gay rights movement had a significant impact on British cinema. This decade saw the release of films like "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "The Naked Civil Servant," which depicted gay characters in a more positive and sympathetic light. The documentary also examines more subversive films like "Nighthawks," which featured a gay vigilante taking revenge on homophobic attackers.

The documentary also explores the impact of the AIDS crisis on gay representation in British cinema in the 1980s and 90s. The film examines how films like "My Beautiful Laundrette" and "Prick Up Your Ears" explored issues of sexuality and identity in the context of the epidemic.

Throughout the documentary, Ian McKellen provides insightful commentary on the films and the cultural context in which they were created. He also reflects on his own experiences as a gay man in the film industry, and how representation of LGBTQ characters has evolved throughout his career.

Overall, A Bit of Scarlet is a fascinating and illuminating documentary that explores the history of homosexuality in British cinema. It provides valuable insight into the way representations of gay characters and relationships have evolved over the past century, and the impact cinema has had on wider cultural attitudes towards LGBTQ individuals.

A Bit of Scarlet is a 2008 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 11 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3.