Why we need LGBT-positive holiday rom-com "Happiest Season" in 2020...

With everything happening in the world, especially the USA, we are in desperate need of a "super-gay," feel-good holiday movie. 
Directed by the uber-talented Clea DuVall, 'Happiest Season' is about lesbian couple Abby and Harper's trip to Harper's family's Christmas party. Harper is not 'out' to her conservative family. Harper's suppressed identity threatens the intense relationship between Abby (Kristen Stewart) and Harper (Mackenzie Davis).

Director Clea DuVall also co-wrote the script. She wrote from her "own place of truth and telling the story from her own perspective." 
She also started that she has "spent Christmases with partners whose parents didn't know.… I've been 'the friend' at the family function. On a journey like coming out, you have no idea what's going to happen or how people will react, and it's scary. There's a part of your life that changes once you do." 

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​Kristen Stewart gushed about being a part of the movie:
"I grew up watching and loving conventional movies like this. Seeing [marginalized] people loving each other in the middle of something that's so standardized was really exhilarating and freeing. There's a lack of confusion and generalization Clea brings [as a queer woman]. I want people to see that two girls in love is just so fun."

The 2020 pandemic did make production extra challenging, but it sort of helped the main stars to bond. Stewart and Davis got together throughout the pandemic and really worked on their bond. When they returned to set, the bond showed with their characters. Stewart said that "it felt like something just exploded. I fell in love." 

'Happiest Season' is a LGBT movie being released as a holiday rom-com, during a pandemic. While many theaters remain closed, DuVall feels that the movie will be successful. "We're all apart and we can't see or hug our friends, [so] watching these people connect is moving. It's such a human story, and it's humanity we're all confronted with right now. Seeing empathy and compassion modeled [on screen], I've been enjoying it. We all need that kind of embrace."

There is no better time for this movie to come out than now. Everyone is on edge and extra during this pandemic. Also, the currently US election has increased everyone's stress on top of the pandemic stress. There are Politicians out there that threaten to take away the rights of those in the LGBTQIA+ community. Having a feel-good movie, written by a highly respected queer woman is exactly what we need right now. That, and an endless supply of eggnog and ugly holiday sweaters. 

'Happiest Season' premieres November 25 in theaters. 

#HappiestSeason #CleaDuVall #KristenStewart #MackenzieDavis #LGBT #Queer