First released in 2016, you’ll be able to find the film Hidden Kisses – Baisers cachés – on DVD or through a streaming service that specialises in LGBTQ movies.

This is a gay film that’s well worth watching.

Written by Jérôme Larcher and directed by Didier Bivel, Hidden Kisses is a French-language film that gives us the story of Nathan (Bérenger Anceaux). Nathan is 16 and lives with his policeman father Stephane (Patrick Timsit). At a party, Nathan steals a kiss with Louis (Jules Houplain) but someone at the party takes a photo of their intimate moment. While Louis can’t be identified in the photo, Nathan’s secret is out once the photo is posted on social media. Nathan becomes the victim of homophobic bullying at school and he’s forced to navigate being the only gay kid at school while also struggling with his feelings for Louis.

While it would be nice to think that schools today aren’t generally as homophobic as what Nathan is forced to endure, it’s not easy being a queer kid wherever you live. Hidden Kisses intelligently plays out the different journeys that its characters are on – with acceptance and empathy always essential steps in order to move forward towards love.

As Nathan, Anceaux effectively conveys the torment of no longer being in control of your own narrative. As his reluctantly sympathetic father, Timsit is the embodiment of the loving parent trying to do the right thing and not always knowing how to do that.

With the character of Louis, Houplain illustrates how toxic it can be when you feel unable to understand or accept your sexuality, and are forced to try and conceal or deny your feelings.

Hidden Kisses is an important film, reminding us all about the power of love and how essential it is for us all to protect and support young queer kids.

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