A short video clip has gone viral online over the past few days and prompted debate about how different generations of queer people experience Pride.
Appearing on the Instagram account @unlimitedleighe (among others), it notched up over 80,000 likes and many comments. In a caption, the account holder says, “Older gay generations aren’t repressed… it was an essential survival tactic that’s really hard to let go. This is beautiful/touching.”
The video shows two, older gay men ascending an escalator. One of them notes an older heterosexual couple with their arms linked.
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The other one notes a loud and proud group of young people who are going or returning from a Pride event.
As they reach the top of the escalator, the men hold hands and kiss. Such a public display of affection is clearly rare for them.
Watch below.
“This video is beautiful”
“I’m straight asf but damn it makes me happy seeing a gay couple, because it means they found someone who loves them the same way they love, and it’s beautiful,” was one well-liked comment.
One man said, “In our country, we are still condemned by society, by the government. We lived a thirty-year relationship in secret so that we could have peace. My partner was 25 years older than me. He was my friend, lover, father, we gave each other a beautiful full life of love, understanding, tolerance. He taught me, shaped me, protected me. Last year, the love of my life died. But he is still with me, his energy. I am moving on with life and my dream is for the fear of expressing love to disappear. I long to hold hands and not be afraid to live freely. This video is beautiful, exactly what I long to do, to be free.”
One woman added, “It kinda hit me right now, that generations of homosexual lovers couldn’t love each other they wanted to. The longing, the fear, the suffering…. Even nowadays. ❤️😢”.
‘Luigi & Vincenzo’
The video is actually a clip from a four-minute Italian film that came out in 2013. Called Luigi & Vincenzo, it was written and directed by Giuseppe Bucci. The actors are Francesco Paolantoni and Patrizio Rispo (the whiter-haired of the two). One commentator on Instagram commented, “Two popular Italian straight actors/comedians. It was really nice to see them in a ‘different’ role.”
The film screened at dozens of queer film festivals when it first appeared and won several awards. It’s great to see it now reaching a whole new audience via Instagram.
Thankfully, you can watch the whole four-minute short on YouTube. It takes place on the day of Napoli Pride. It finds the couple rethinking how public they can be about their long-running, clandestine relationship. Do watch it all the way through to its poignant, thought-provoking ending.
Check it out below.
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