It does, though? Fritz in his voice over/inner monologue while watching the deserter being punished early in the movie refers to Katte as "my lover", there is no room for ambiguity in the German term used.
There is a liiiiitttle ambiguity when he asks fictional G. to stay after the role play in that we don't see them do anything non-platonic, but the cut is to sister Amalie in bed with Friedemann Bach the morning after, which certainly draws a direct comparison visually. And still later, when Fritz catches Amalie and Friedemann having sex in the stables with Amalie dressed as a man, after she's left, the none-too-subtext of the short conversation he has with Friedemann certainly read to me:
Fritz *circling Friedemann and invading his space like none's business*: You totally went for the wrong sibling there, Son of Bach. Shame. We could have had something.
Friedemann: Nah. Not because you're a man, or because you're a royal, though I snark about royals throughout this film. Because you're too much of a jerk.
Fritz: OUT!
(Johann Sebastian later picks up his wayward son on the road.)
Anyway, these later occurances could maybe explained by desperate Denialists in a non-gay way, but "lover" is "lover" is "lover", and once he's called Katte that in his thoughts, which he does before any of the other scenes happen, that settles that, imo.
ETA: Okay, here's a direct transcription of the scene after Fritz told Amalie to leave, because it's even gayer than I remembered:
A *while leaving*: Coward. *note: it's not clear whether she means Fritz or Friedemann, who has earlier refused to run away with her, but Fritz clearly takes it to mean himself as what he says is a reply to her*
Fritz *speaking in her departing direction*: A Prussian Princess is an item in the market that's supposed to bring in money. The market sets the price and not an organist from the provinces.
*walks towards a horse, with his back turned to Friedemann, but now adressing him*
Fritz: Friedemann Bach. Your music is higher valued than mine. Congratulations.
*cut to Friedemann, listening*
Fritz: Nethertheless, whether you like it or not -
*he turns around, now looking at Friedemann, starting to walk towards him with the following words*
Fritz: Your music is no match for that of your father, and it never will be.
(*note: Fritz is using knowledge gained from his last conversation with J.B. Bach here who when Fritz confessed his own father issues confided in turn he's worried about what he's been doing to his sons by dooming them to follow him in the same profession*)
*now starts the circling around Friedemann closer and closer walk*
I envy you. To inherit such musical know how without having to lift a finger! You just bend over and pull it out of the stores.
*with his next word, he switches the mode of adress from "Sie" to "Du" while stopping toe to toe, face to face to Friedemann*
You can be doubly grateful to your father. Without him, this adventure would get you the punishment for deserters - 300 lashes for three days. One survives that. But somewhat... weakened.
*with the last word, he starts circling Friedemann again*
Friedemann: I'm grateful.
*Fritz stops, standing still, with his back to Friedemann, but still standing very close*
Friedemann: To my father.
*now Friedemann takes a step closer to Fritz, lowering his voice*
Friedemann: But above all to your majesty.
Fritz: Friedemann Bach. Bold in music and reckless in love. Free.
*he turns around towards Friedemann*
Fritz: A freedom we could have shared.
*moves closer to Friedemann, definitely close enough to kiss*
Fritz: in music and... who knows.
Friedemann: You honor me, your majesty. *now he's doing the circling around Fritz walk, and once he's completed the circle, he puts his hands on Fritz' cheeks and cradles his face; Fritz just stares at him, wide-eyed*
Friedemann *still speaking softly and close enough to kiss*: They say that you play your flute after your battles, surrounded by corpses.
* abruptly pulls his hands back and smiles; yep, Friedemann is that kind of a bastard in this movie*
Fritz *stunned*: You will leave us. Quickly and without delay.
Friedemann: *strolls away, while fictional servant G. arrives*
Son of ETA: Fritz catches them at sex at 1:20:46, if you want to see that scene only.
Re: Crackfic
It does, though? Fritz in his voice over/inner monologue while watching the deserter being punished early in the movie refers to Katte as "my lover", there is no room for ambiguity in the German term used.
There is a liiiiitttle ambiguity when he asks fictional G. to stay after the role play in that we don't see them do anything non-platonic, but the cut is to sister Amalie in bed with Friedemann Bach the morning after, which certainly draws a direct comparison visually. And still later, when Fritz catches Amalie and Friedemann having sex in the stables with Amalie dressed as a man, after she's left, the none-too-subtext of the short conversation he has with Friedemann certainly read to me:
Fritz *circling Friedemann and invading his space like none's business*: You totally went for the wrong sibling there, Son of Bach. Shame. We could have had something.
Friedemann: Nah. Not because you're a man, or because you're a royal, though I snark about royals throughout this film. Because you're too much of a jerk.
Fritz: OUT!
(Johann Sebastian later picks up his wayward son on the road.)
Anyway, these later occurances could maybe explained by desperate Denialists in a non-gay way, but "lover" is "lover" is "lover", and once he's called Katte that in his thoughts, which he does before any of the other scenes happen, that settles that, imo.
ETA: Okay, here's a direct transcription of the scene after Fritz told Amalie to leave, because it's even gayer than I remembered:
A *while leaving*: Coward. *note: it's not clear whether she means Fritz or Friedemann, who has earlier refused to run away with her, but Fritz clearly takes it to mean himself as what he says is a reply to her*
Fritz *speaking in her departing direction*: A Prussian Princess is an item in the market that's supposed to bring in money. The market sets the price and not an organist from the provinces.
*walks towards a horse, with his back turned to Friedemann, but now adressing him*
Fritz: Friedemann Bach. Your music is higher valued than mine. Congratulations.
*cut to Friedemann, listening*
Fritz: Nethertheless, whether you like it or not -
*he turns around, now looking at Friedemann, starting to walk towards him with the following words*
Fritz: Your music is no match for that of your father, and it never will be.
(*note: Fritz is using knowledge gained from his last conversation with J.B. Bach here who when Fritz confessed his own father issues confided in turn he's worried about what he's been doing to his sons by dooming them to follow him in the same profession*)
*now starts the circling around Friedemann closer and closer walk*
I envy you. To inherit such musical know how without having to lift a finger! You just bend over and pull it out of the stores.
*with his next word, he switches the mode of adress from "Sie" to "Du" while stopping toe to toe, face to face to Friedemann*
You can be doubly grateful to your father. Without him, this adventure would get you the punishment for deserters - 300 lashes for three days. One survives that. But somewhat... weakened.
*with the last word, he starts circling Friedemann again*
Friedemann: I'm grateful.
*Fritz stops, standing still, with his back to Friedemann, but still standing very close*
Friedemann: To my father.
*now Friedemann takes a step closer to Fritz, lowering his voice*
Friedemann: But above all to your majesty.
Fritz: Friedemann Bach. Bold in music and reckless in love. Free.
*he turns around towards Friedemann*
Fritz: A freedom we could have shared.
*moves closer to Friedemann, definitely close enough to kiss*
Fritz: in music and... who knows.
Friedemann: You honor me, your majesty. *now he's doing the circling around Fritz walk, and once he's completed the circle, he puts his hands on Fritz' cheeks and cradles his face; Fritz just stares at him, wide-eyed*
Friedemann *still speaking softly and close enough to kiss*: They say that you play your flute after your battles, surrounded by corpses.
* abruptly pulls his hands back and smiles; yep, Friedemann is that kind of a bastard in this movie*
Fritz *stunned*: You will leave us. Quickly and without delay.
Friedemann: *strolls away, while fictional servant G. arrives*
Son of ETA: Fritz catches them at sex at 1:20:46, if you want to see that scene only.