Fire: A Queer Film Classic delves into the controversial 1996 lesbianlove story by Indian-born director DeepaMehta. Set in a contemporary middle-classHindu household in the heart of Delhi, Fire is the story of Radha and Sita, the wives of twobrothers, who fall in love with one another.Crisis overtakes the extended family when aservant discovers the relationship and tells oneof the husbands; overcoming both a literal andallegorical "trial by fire," the two women leavetheir marriages to make a life together.

This book examines the controversy that divided a nation, but which ultimately led to counterprotests among the film's supporters, resulting in its successful and uninterrupted run in Indian theaters. The book also considers Fire's scathing attack on both heterosexism and Hindu practices in India that oppress and marginalize women, as well as its revolutionary treatment of female characters, whose traditional duties are imbued with an unprecedented sensuality.

The QUEER FILM CLASSICS series, begun in2009, consists of critical yet populist monographson classic films of interest to LGBT audienceswritten by esteemed film scholars and critics. The series is edited by authors Thomas Waugh (Out/Lines, Lust Unearthed) and MatthewHays (The View from Here).