The Birdcage

The film The Birdcage argues same sex relationships should be accepted in American culture and society.  Gays and lesbians have been battling for the right to live “openly” without discrimination for decades. In the '80s, conservatives attempted to reverse a decline in “traditional family values” brought on by the political and cultural relativism of the previous decade, which had inspired some degree of tolerance toward homosexuality (victoryfund.org). The change in political views called for the attacking of gay people as sexual predators and threats to the family. At the same time, president Reagan made a public announcement about the AIDS epidemic.  In the early '90s, conservatives were advocating the idea that there was a secret "gay agenda" to make homosexuality acceptable to mainstream society (VictoryFund.org). It was during this time The Birdcage was produced. The film delivers its message through its humorous plot.  The characters Val Goldman and Barbara Keeley are engaged. Though their families are extremely different.  Val’s parents are two homosexual men that own a nightclub in South Beach Florida. While Barbara’s parents are ultra conservatives.  Her father, Kevin Keeley is an Ohio senator and co-founder of the “coalition of moral order.”   Immediately Val tries to camouflage his parents’ sexuality and lifestyle so Barbara’s parents will accept the marriage.    In the end the truth comes out and the two families find a neutral ground and the kids are married.  The director Mike Nichols uses slapstick humor, hefty political criticism and many visual tropes in his work of art to encode a message to the audience; come as you are.  

This film was a character driven film. Its main focuses were acceptance, equality, and family.  The entire film is summarized by the Sister Sledge song, "We Are Family." Nichols used the trope bookends to teach the audience the lesson of acceptance. I really enjoyed this film.