The only thing that makes me hopeful about the queer situation in Russia, is no matter how much they try and oppress us and delete everything from the media, queer themes still sprout in even the most ‘family oriented’ stories even from the most ‘appease the government’ people.
I have watched a russian movie recently, called ‘Marusya Forever’, and it’s about a 20something careless party-lover guy finding out he has a 7 years old daughter, and that her mom just died, so he has to take care of her. And yes, in the movie he obviously finds a woman to complete this traditional family… only it’s not. Not a traditional family. A much bigger part in the movie play his two best friends, who immediately upon finding the news accept Marusya (the daughter) as their own as well, and do everything to help raise her, including the fact that they literally live on the boat of one of those friends. Not once in the movie they are pushed back in their care or treated as less than the woman he finds. In fact, at the end where the main character finally properly gets custody of his daughter, both of his friends and his girlfriend meet them to go home. And it is queer. At least to me.
Another movie (well, 2 movies, there’s a sequel) is a story of two 10ish years old girls whose parents decide to get married and they unexpectedly forced to live together and be sisters. Also seemingly the most cishet perfect family story ever. It is. But also one of the girls in both movies ends up being at some point dressed as a man, including her having a man’s jacket and drawn mustache (and rainbow socks!) at the end of the first one during her parents’ wedding. Yes, it’s the most minimal thing ever and definitely was not planned to be anything but a funny gag. But yet, something about it makes me feel like it will be okay sometime someday.
