actually yeah can i talk about this gif (context here) like…within the context of the film, it’s the 1920s. things weren’t as strictly heterocentric as they were later in the 40s and 50s since the 20s were largely an era of sexual liberation, including sexual identity and gender identity, but it was still a homophobic and transphobic society. Jerry (left) crossdressed as a result of convoluted events, basically putting himself of a form of witness protection by dressing in drag, so while it was definitely a diegetically transgressive reveal that he identifies and prefers to present as a man, Osgood’s confession is…different. Jerry has a plot-motivated reason for transgressing gender/sexuality norms. Osgood is making a larger and more impactful confession by coming out as someone attracted to men. Pan, bi, gay, whatever the vocabulary he would identify with in modern terms– it’s an explicit confession of queerness, and his expression reflects how big of a deal this is. Jerry’s expression also reflects surprise, revelation, and a small degree of “what have I gotten myself into”…but not necessarily in a homophobic way. He’s realizing that Osgood loves him for who he is as a person, and his personality throughout the film shows that this would be a new thing for him. it’s basically an open-ended romcom will they/won’t they ending, but thoroughly queer. in 1959.
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