Midnight Express (1978)

Midnight Express depicts a gay character, Max, within a brutal Turkish prison. While Max shows resilience, the film's pervasive themes of sexual violence and degradation among male prisoners contribute to a problematic portrayal. The narrative focuses on the unrelieved misery of the prison, where male sexuality is often linked to power dynamics and abuse, rather than affirming LGBTQ+ lives or relationships.

The film portrays Turkish institutions and many characters, whose culture is deeply intertwined with Islam, as corrupt, cruel, and unjust. The narrative largely validates the protagonist's xenophobic frustrations and fears, offering little counterbalancing nuance or condemnation of his prejudice against the 'other'.