Fresh off the retrospective of filmmaker Lionel Baier at the Dublin International Film Festival, Amelhyne O’Regan Fairneau revisits his groundbreaking documentary, The Parade: Our History, which captures the Swiss town of Sion’s first-ever Pride parade. 

Today, I ask you the same question Lionel Baier asked his small-town community 25 years ago. Why are LGBTQ+ pride parades important? Why does queer representation matter?

In 2001, award-winning director Lionel Baier set out on an unanticipated seven-month endeavour to document the first-ever gay pride parade in Sion, Switzerland. The result? The Parade: Our History, a courageous creation, brimming with heartwarming sentiments and a raw, unwavering expression of queer joy.

Baier, a Swiss filmmaker, is the youngest recipient of the Grand Prix Culturel, one of Switzerland’s highest cultural honours, honouring those who have enhanced the country through their innovative work. Currently Head of the Directing Department at La Fémis in Paris, Baier is celebrated for his devotion to his craft and for giving prominence to personal stories.

The documentary delves into the fight to organise the first pride parade in Sion, a canton of Valais, on the 1st of July 2001. The plan? One float. No drag queens. No rave music. No huge pride flags. Just a political statement, a declaration of love and acceptance. With its premise to please authorities with its minimal scale, while still celebrating and representing the gay community, an unexpected issue arises – no one is satisfied.

Facing backlash, threats and blatant homophobia, this documentary does not shy away from the uncomfortable reality of the mission at stake.

With an organisation committee of six women and one man, not everyone is willing to publicly come forward and reveal their identities. This documentary, therefore, centres on Marianne Bruchez, the unforeseen face of the Sion gay community. Despite the hatred she faces not only from her heterosexual neighbours but also from within her own community, Marianne persists.

A raw, unapologetic depiction of Catholic conservative Switzerland, Baier organically captures the core emotion fuelling this documentary – fear. From the onset, faces are concealed, countless issues arise, and the outcome is uncertain. Showcasing the breathtaking landscapes of rural Switzerland, this documentary heavily relies on the candid, unfiltered footage capturedon camera. A stark reminder of the power of film and the significance of a journalistic venture.

The Parade: Our History brings a charm often lost in more recent documentaries. Incorporating shamelessly unrefined reactions alongside calculated statements, one cannot help but remark how interviews capture the unfiltered remarks of the community. The documentary engrosses you in the small-town scandal, the fight for acceptance and underlines the immense power of internalised homophobia. As a gay man himself, Lionel Baier is forced to face his fears, coming face-to-face with individuals who are openly against his existence.

While filmed and released 25 years ago, this documentary can be argued to be as relevant today as it was then. With a steady pace, honest narrative and emotive journey, this documentary is not one to be missed. Baier delivers what he promises – and more.

So, I ask you once more. Why is gay pride important? Why does queer representation matter? Because it saves lives. Because in a world overcome with hatred, love needs to be celebrated. Because without those who are brave enough to show their faces and share their stories, the LGBTQ+ community would not be where it is today.