Tag Archives: lesbian movies

7 Romantic Lesbian Movies For Your Next Date Night

Is it just me, or do most romantic movies ignore the fact that lesbians are a real thing?

Lesbian movies definitely exist, but they tend to be particularly low-budget (come on Hollywood, why?!) and therefore not well marketed.

They do exist, though – and some of them are quite good.

Here are some of my personal favorites. Look for them the next time you go looking for a new film for you and your love.

1. Better than Chocolate (1999) – Available on Netflix

Better than Chocolate tells the story of Maggie and Kim, a pair of lesbians in Canada. Kim is an artistic stud who is very out, while Maggie is an adorable femme who still hasn’t come out to her family yet.

Mayhem ensues when Maggie’s mom finds herself in the middle of a divorce and must come live with Maggie in her “spacious apartment” (that actually doesn’t exist).

This movie explores a variety of different LGBT+ groups, including pansexuals and transgendered individuals, without sugar-coating the hardships they face. Definitely a must-watch.

2. But I’m a Cheerleader! (1999) – Available on Netflix

But I’m a Cheerleader! explores what goes on at a “gay recovery camp” called True Directions. Featuring stereotypical pink and blue colors and such highly-recognizable actors as Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, and even (arguably the biggest) gay icon, RuPaul, this movie is sure to make it into your favorites.

What’s even better is that there’s actually a beautiful coming-out story hidden amongst the campy (pun intended) agenda and the cheesy humor. You’ll find yourself falling in love with the characters and caring deeply about how their individual stories turn out. (Plus, Natasha Lyonne… How can you not love it?)

3. Imagine Me & You (2005) – Available on Netflix

Ok, this one might not exactly fall in the lesbian category, as it deals with a woman (played by Piper Perabo) who begins to question her sexuality at her wedding – to a man.

While this may be considered damaging as it hinges on the stereotype of bisexual women being unable to remain faithful in their relationships, it does explore the segment of the gay community who didn’t imagine that they even could be gay until that one person came along and changed their mind.

Piper Perabo and Lena Headey give a stellar performance, and their on-screen chemistry is phenomenal. (As a side note, the first time I watched this movie, I was on an 8-hour plane ride with my father… Before I came out. Pretty awkward.)

4. The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love (1995) – Available on Netflix

Those who watch(ed) The L Word may recognize one of the main characters in this movie as a much-younger Tina Canard – it’s our very own Laurel Holloman, who seems such a good fit to play this young woman.

After falling in love with someone who comes from an entirely different background, Randy (Holloman) finds herself rising above her circumstances in order to chase her true love.

It’s definitely a stereotypical lesbian love story, but that’s not a bad thing when you’re trying to cuddle with your lady, right?

5. Loving Annabelle (2006) – Available on Netflix

Loving Annabelle takes a different approach; this movie tells the scandalous story of a teacher who falls in love with a troublemaker student. Set in a Catholic girls school, there is definitely a huge possibility of things going wrong here – and they definitely do! This isn’t your typical love story, for sure.

This deals with not only the chaos that is present in most homosexual relationships, but also the particular mayhem that occurs when a teacher falls in love with one of their students. Give it a watch if you’re looking for a different type of drama in your life.

6. 5ive Girls (aka “Five Girls”; 2006) – Available on Netflix

Let me start by saying that this movie is nothing like what I expected it to be. (When you hear about five girls stuck together in a Catholic reform school, as a teenage lesbian, it’s pretty much guaranteed that you imagine there’s going to be a lot of sex. There’s not.) However, if you are a fan of horror movies, this one’s sure to catch your interest.

Basically, these five troublemakers discover – after being locked into the school – that they have the powers necessary to beat an evil demon that seeks to take their souls. Oh, and one of the girls is actually gay, so that’s a slight perk. Even though it’s not what it sounds like, if you’re a fan of survival/supernatural horror, this movie is definitely going to send you into the arms of your lady for some much-needed “baby-I’m-scared” cuddling.

7. Chasing Amy (1997) – Available on Netflix

“Chasing Amy” tells a different side of the story – what happens when a straight man falls in love with a lesbian, despite constantly being informed that she had no interest in men?

Well, a lot, apparently. Those who don’t feel that sexuality is fluid might be somewhat offended by this movie, as it operates in the principle that our sexuality is ultimately a conscious decision.

However, director Kevin Smith touches on these subjects gracefully, and actually explains quite well that there are certain criteria in place for these sexually-fluid points in our lives. If you approach it with an open mind, this movie is actually a bit romantic, although that’s definitely not its main intention.

Overall, these movies represent just a small portion of the movies out there that are made for lesbians (and technically the last two don’t even count as lesbian movies). However, they all warrant checking out, and all are available on Netflix (my search only turned up DVD rentals, but you may be able to find them online through other sources as well).

Is there a lesbian movie you think I’ve left out? Let me know in the comments and I will try to check it out!

Here’s Every Lesbian Movie You’ll Want To Stream This Weekend

So it’s film night chicas! It doesn’t matter if you are watching with your boo, your bestie or even your mom, we’ve got a film that is available on Amazon Prime that will suit most of your favourite genres.

Kiss Me

This Swedish film tells the story of a love triangle between Mia, her boyfriend and her soon – to –be stepsister Frida. As the women grow closer Mia begins to question if she should be with Frida or her boyfriend. Heartbreak is inevitable for one of them, but which one?

What it Was

A Hollywood actress, Adina. J, moves back to New York after the death of her sister. She realises her desire for her old flame, Toni, is still there and she has to reconcile her past selves in order to work out what she really wants.

Thick

A crime boss, Theresa James, is fighting off dodgy cops, her own staff and a dangerous rival to stay ahead of her game. To make matters worse she is also dealing with her wife who is cheating on her with a dangerous lover.

Concussion

This film is based on the character of Abby, who is in an accident and suffers a head injury and concussion. She decides as her marriage to Kate is stale and sexless she will find excitement elsewhere and she finds this by becoming a high class escort. The viewer is left on tenterhooks while waiting to discover if Abby’s double life will become exposed.

Ghosted

A German Artist, Sophie, tries to cope when her Taiwanese girlfriend is murdered. She soon meets an investigative journalist, Mei- Li, who is looking into the murder case. Mei-Li tries to seduce Sophie so she returns to Germany but Mei – Li is close behind her. Why is Mei-Li so interested in the murder and who really did kill Sophie’s girlfriend?

You Will Be Mine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvaAk359wCA

This film is a French drama about a gifted music student called Marie who goes to study music in Lyons. She moves in with a family friend, Emma, and their relationship takes a romantic turn. But it turns out that Emma has a secret side to her and wishes to control Marie’s life. Find out if Marie gets away from Emma or if she even wants to.

Little Sparrows

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9khvGbbDzak

Susan discovers her cancer has returned and realises this will be her last Christmas so she gathers her three daughters together to give them some words of wisdom and reveals a secret of her own. Get the hankies at the ready.

Love is Not Perfect

This Italian Romance is about Elena, a successful woman in her thirties with a perfection complex, whose life is turned upside down when she crosses paths with the 18-year-old temptress, Adriana, and Hector, a 60-year-old music producer. Adriana offers her excitement and passion but Hector can offer her stability and security. Who will she choose?

Between Two Women

This historical drama set in Northern England tells the story of Ellen, a working-class mother, who is trapped in a loveless marriage. She soon ends up falling for her son’s teacher Kathy. The attitudes of the 1950s, especially in the narrow minded industrial north, place barriers between the two women, but they cannot keep away from each other. Will Ellen leave her husband? Will Kathy get fired? Can the couple end up together? Watch and find out.

Ravens Touch

The story is set in a remote cabin in the woods. Raven has shut herself away in the cabin after her niece’s death in a tragic car accident that she blames herself for. Meanwhile, Kate has taken her teenagers camping in order to escape a violent ex. When Raven and Kate meet there is an instant attraction and both women must overcome their own fears in order to be together.

My Little Friend

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8kbsH6ltvI

Amy is an artist and her old friend, Emily, comes back into town after 10 years away. Amy has come out since Emily has been gone but Emily is not aware of this. They begin to get close again and the lines between sexual attraction and friendship start to cross over. Emily’s boyfriend is not happy with this at all and tries to split their friendship up.

Next Door

This German film explores the lives of four lesbian roommates and it soon becomes apparent that they are all hiding something from themselves and each other. As the truth starts to get revealed one of them must find the courage to reveal all.

What Are the Responsibilities Of A Lesbian Artist?

Let’s be honest: Most cisgender, heterosexual men write about anything they want. They write about cisgender, heterosexual men. They write about elderly women.

They write about lesbians and transgender men and people in foreign countries.

They consider themselves the experts on all human life.

As a lesbian artist or writer, you might want to focus on cisgender, heterosexual men, but the LGBT community is looking to you to tell their stories.

Is it your responsibility to create art about LGBT people?

No. Artists shouldn’t pigeonhole themselves into one thing.

After all, when your artistic identity comes first, then you’re not “that lesbian artist,” you’re an artist who happens to be a lesbian. As an artist, you can’t grow if you keep creating the same stories over and over. Expand your talents – and your audience.

Yes. If lesbians don’t tell their own stories, who will?

Cisgender, heterosexual men will continue to tell lesbian stories – badly. Many will base their ideas of lesbians on porn, two episodes of Ellen, and that one androgynous gym teacher they had in middle school.

They will use lesbians as a tool: Sexy Lesbians will sell more movie tickets. Butch Lesbians will provide comic relief. Pretty Lesbians will fall in love with the male protagonist. Tragic Lesbians will earn the writer an Oscar for telling heartbreaking stories.

It’s impossible to stop bad representation completely, and for every Transparent, there will always be a Crying Game. But telling our own stories is an important step in the right section. Let’s elbow those cisgender straight men out of the way.

No. Lesbians shouldn’t have to preach.

If a lesbian writes a lesbian story because she thinks it’s her lesbian duty, then the result will be a mess. The story will often be flat, uninspired and preachy. It will read less like a novel and more like a Public Service Announcement. People can tell when lessons are being forced down their throats, and that turns them off even more.

It’s better to create no lesbian art than bad lesbian art.

Yes. LGBT identities are a natural part of life.

If a lesbian artist refuses to include LGBT characters or themes in her art, then she is effectively erasing non-heterosexual, non-cisgender identities from the world.

For hundreds of millions people, being LGBT is a core part of their selfhood. An artist who doesn’t include any LGBT characters isn’t just saying that LGBT stories aren’t worth telling – they’re saying that LGBT identities aren’t worth existing.

In conclusion: It depends.

As an artist, your responsibility is to tell the truth. Not facts, but your philosophical, cultural and moral truth.

You should create art that feels true to your experiences, whatever that may be.

Make the art that you’re passionate about. Maybe today you’re passionate about LGBT rights, but in the future you won’t want to address that anymore. That’s okay. Maybe today being a lesbian isn’t a large part of your identity, but in the future you’ll feel called to write about it. That’s okay.

Create what you want to create. Let your art grow with you.

Your Next Lesbian Date Night Movies

Winter is coming! That means snowflakes, Hanukkah gelt and snuggly movie dates with your girlfriend. What should you watch?

Imagine Me and You (2006)

Lena Headey, who plays Cersei on Game of Thrones, is very familiar with winter. She’s also surprisingly familiar with quirky lesbian romantic comedies.

In Imagine Me and You, she plays Luce, a well-meaning florist with a heart of gold and a knack for winding up in awkward situations. She does the floral arrangements for Rachel’s (Piper Perabo) wedding, and the two women share a long look as Rachel walks down the aisle. Although Rachel marries her husband as planned, over the course of the movie the two women become friends and explore their unexpected chemistry.

This movie doesn’t break the mold of traditional romantic comedies, and it doesn’t intend to. It’s a lighthearted romp that leaves everyone feeling good (except Rachel’s husband), and it will make you and your girlfriend thank the universe for whatever tricks of fate brought you both together.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8jH4qP1Y6Y

Circumstance (2011)

This Iranian family drama is much darker than Imagine Me and You. After it was released, the Iranian filmmaker was banned from returning to the country, and the film itself was banned in Iran.

It follows two upper-class Iranian women whose well-meaning intellectual parents cannot shield them from the pressures of being a woman. Atafeh (Nikohl Boosheri) and Shireen (Sarah Kazemy) become close friends after the death of Shireen’s parents, and spend much of their time partying and pushing the boundaries of social acceptance in Tehran. Their relationship becomes romantic. They fantasize about escaping to Abu Dhabi, but the return of a fundamentalist relative and a surprise arranged marriage make the girls question whether their love can survive in this country.

This is a meditative and realistic look into lesbian romance across the world that will make you reach for the tissue box more than once.

I Can’t Think Straight (2008)

Not all Middle Eastern lesbian movies have to be tragic. I Can’t Think Straight combines the rigid societal questions of Circumstance with the quirky comedy of Imagine Me and You. The tagline? “Just another British, Indian, Muslim, Arab, Christian, lesbian romantic comedy.”

A fiery London-based Jordanian Christian named Tala (Lisa Ray) falls for a demure British Muslim Indian named Leyla (Sheetah Sheth). Sparks fly – and so do some fists. Leyla is dating Tala’s best friend, Ali, and Tala is engaged. Meanwhile, they both have to contend with society’s expectations as Tala considers whether to pursue this romance in England or return to her family in Jordan, and as Leyla debates whether her love for Ali is stronger than her love for her friend.

This movie is full of twists, turns and question marks, and you may need to rewatch several sections to understand what’s going on. But overall it’s a lighthearted take on the romantic comedy drama that will warm your heart. It’s also a book, so if you can’t get enough of the characters, check out Shamim Sarif’s full novel.

12 More Queer Female Sex Scenes We’re Thankful For

Queer representation in films – it’s something we talk about a lot here, but we’re still amazed every time we come across an instance of “good” representation. Truthfully, it’s hard to judge what counts as “good” representation, because in every community there are going to be sub-communities of different opinions – and that’s part of what makes humanity so great.

Sex scenes, however, are a little easier to quantify. Are the women sexy? Are the women having “real” lesbian sex, instead of the male fantasy version? Well… That’s pretty much it. A good sex scene looks like inspiration for your own bedroom routine, or maybe it looks artistic and beautiful (in a more-than-skin-deep sort of way). Maybe we’re just drawn to the idea of writhing female bodies…

Whatever it is, we’ve decided to put together another list of female sex scenes that we loved. Are there more that we’re still missing? Feel free to let us know in the comments!

Helen Shaver and Patricia Charbonneu in Desert Hearts (1985)

I’ll admit: I love artsy sex scenes. I also love happy endings, where the queer characters don’t end up dead or in a relationship with a man. Desert Hearts has both of these things, and that makes it especially great – especially since this movie came out in the 80s! (I’m recently discovering that there are more queer 80s movies than I thought there were, and that makes me so happy.) Shaver and Charbonneu play Cay and Viv, who actually have lovely, artistic, beautiful, and believable sex, and it stands as one of the most pivotal lesbian films of all time.

Maria de Medeiros and Uma Thurman in Henry and June (1990)

Long before Pulp Fiction threw both actresses into the front lines of cinema, Medeiros and Thurman played the bisexual characters Anaïs and June in Henry and June. Okay, so it wasn’t that long before, but since I was only five months old when this movie came out, it seems like so much earlier. For those who love costume dramas (read: garters) and lesbian subplots, it’s so great to see these two women hooking up in such a taboo way. Sure, both women were married to men at the time, which is a stereotype we’d like to get away from, but hey… This one is based on a true story.

Natasha Lyonne and Clea DuVall in But I’m a Cheerleader! (1999)

This is another one of my personal favorites – Natasha Lyonne as Megan is a completely believable representation of those of us who started off completely uncomfortable with our “not-normal sexuality”, but later came to terms and fully embraced every ounce of gay we could muster up. (That one can’t be just me.) Unlike the normal boarding school cliché, Lyonne and DuVall play lesbians forced to attend a conversion therapy camp – something that hits close to home for so many of us. Graham (played by DuVall) is the perfect bad girl to complement Lyonne’s good girl Megan. And then, they break the #1 rule of straight camp: Beautiful, passionate, homosexual sex.

Michelle Williams and Chloe Sevigny in If These Walls Could Talk 2 (2000)

Those who are familiar with the first If These Walls Could Talk will undoubtedly be familiar with the second, and its glorious lesbian storylines. I know, not everyone was a fan of this movie, but the dapper (and gorgeous!) butch Amy (played by Sevigny) manages to seduce the young college student Linda (played by Williams)… After quite a bit of trying. Surely, there’s something special at play here, and while they weren’t the only lesbian couple in the movie (far from it!), their sex scene felt so real and so passionate that it’s hard to find another we like as much as this one.

Piper Perabo and Jessica Paré in Lost and Delirious (2001)

However you might feel about the movie itself (because apparently there are a lot of people who really hated this movie), there’s no denying the fact that these two share a great on-screen chemistry and fully embody the scary, romantic, super awkward moments involved with your first (lesbian) love – including, of course, sharing a love scene. Plus, it takes place at a boarding school, which embodies something I think is most lesbians’ fantasy: The idea of going to an all-girl school, with Piper Perabo… No? Just me?

Naomi Watts and Laura Harring in Mulholland Drive (2001)

I’m a huge fan of Naomi Watts, so the idea that she could, theoretically, play a lesbian/bisexual character makes me really excited – especially when there’s sex involved. Okay, so this one isn’t technically a sex scene. It’s a foreplay scene that’s wrapped up with some wit, some raw honesty, and a whole bunch of sensuality – it actually makes up for the fact that there was no actual “sex” here. And besides, there’s nothing wrong with foreplay – we should really be featuring more foreplay in our movies, so I’m just going to leave this one on the list.

Salma Hayek and Karine Plantadit in Frida (2002)

Personally, this one checks off several of my go-to topics. Bisexual leading character(s)? Check. Historical fiction that’s based on real characters? Check. One of my favorite artists from the past? Definitely check. And Salma Hayek, arguably one of the sexiest women to ever grace the big screen… Big check. While Frida Kahlo (played here by Hayek) was rumored to have many lovers over the course of her life, I was slightly disappointed that she never hooked up with Ashley Judd’s character, despite the obvious sexual tension present… There was only one brief (but beautiful) lesbian sex scene in the movie, with a character referred to on the IMDB page as “Paris chanteuse” – played by Plantadit.

Rachel Stirling and Anna Chancellor in Tipping the Velvet (2002)

Queer movies are still fairly new to the visibility they so greatly deserve. But queer movies based on queer books? Even less visible. Of course, Sarah Waters’ books are part of a very small list of exceptions – and Tipping the Velvet gives an incredible look at the wonderful meshing of historical fiction with an awesome queer storyline. Oh, and there’s a dildo-sex scene that was probably the most risqué view of lesbian life to be shown on television in those days before The L Word. The movie chronicles “male impersonators” in London at the end of the 19^th century, and we get to see Nan (played by Stirling) pleasuring her new sugar mama, Diana (played by Chancellor). It’s probably not the dirtiest sex scene out there, but for a TV movie in the early 2000s, this was pretty racy.

Michelle Krusiec and Lynn Chen in Saving Face (2004)

What do you get when you mix cultural differences, romantic love stories, and the awkwardness of having your pregnant mom move in with you? Saving Face explores the intersection of these three usually-separated topics in a way that feels so real, and simultaneously so surreal. It’s not often that you really can have both, but Krusiec and Chen do such a wonderful job that you can feel the sexual tension through the screen – and you’re just as “relieved” as they are when they finally get to business.

Erin Kelly and Diane Gaidry in Loving Annabelle (2006)

Ah, that forbidden student-teacher romance, at… Wait, is this another boarding school movie? It sure is! I’m sensing maybe I’m not the only one who’s thought about this type of fantasy. Or, maybe it’s a fantasy because of all these awesome queer movies set in boarding schools. Either way, Annabelle (played by Kelly) and her teacher Simone (played by Gaidry) are electric together – and may possibly have ignited that other fantasy of getting it on with your hot teacher. Never personally had that one, myself, but most of my teachers were old, married, and men, so maybe that’s it.

Julianne Moore and Amanda Seyfried in Chloe (2009)

First of all, for those of you who haven’t seen it yet, this movie is seriously twisted, and probably one of my favorites. (It’s also the first movie I saw either of these lovely actresses play a bisexual character.) Anyway, it’s questionable as to whether Chloe (played by Seyfried) ever actually seduced Catherine’s husband, but we do know that she seduced Catherine (played by Moore) and it was completely intense. The entire movie is intense. I’m sure not everyone will like the portrayal of a bisexual character as a raging psychopath, but to me, it feels real. Not because bisexuals are psychopaths, of course, but because sometimes, the crazies are the ones you’d least expect.

Heather Graham and Diane Farr in About Cherry (2012)

For those who really aren’t into that floaty, artistic, gorgeously romantic sex stuff, About Cherry offers a different side of things – the dirty, gritty, opposite-side-of-passion that exists between Graham’s Margaret and her estranged wife Jillian (played by Farr). As much as I’ve loved Ashley Hinshaw (who plays the titular character) and wish she would have gotten some girl-on-girl action in this movie, sadly, she doesn’t – but it’s still nice to see lesbians getting freaky without it being over-feminized. Plus, who doesn’t love Heather Graham playing a queer character? I can’t get enough!

10 Lesbian Movies To Watch For Bedroom Inspiration

The lesbian sub-genre of movies is one that most lesbians will eat up without question. We love to see some lady-on-lady loving, even if the representations we see are all too often unrealistic or completely messed up. We don’t care. We’ll watch it anyway (and the producers know that, too). But some movies are just better than others – and they inspire us to try and do that thing that you saw so-and-so do in that one movie…

I know, I know. Not the greatest way to explain it. But really, we love lesbian films, especially if we need some new ideas, because even the ones that were written and produced by straight people have some ideas that seem pretty exciting, at least to try…

Ahem. Where were we? Oh yes – lesbian love scenes! Love them or hate them (or, love them in secret while pretending you hate them), they’re here to stay as one of the things that can either make or break a lesbian movie. In fact, it’s considered “financially damning” to include lesbian sex scenes in films, because they’re often slapped with the NC-17 rating for showing a vagina. (Coincidentally, you can have as many topless women in a film as you want without getting stuck with that rating, but the first time someone takes their panties off, you’ve got “pornography” on your hands. Go figure.)

If you’re looking for some sexy movies that portrayed lesbian sex the way it was meant to be portrayed, check out our list of the top 10 lesbian sex scenes below.

Kiss Me (2011)

The movie itself might be a bit strange, with the lines between “strange” and “strained” being a bit blurry. For starters, this one is in Swedish with English subtitles, so those who don’t speak Swedish might be forced to choose between watching the actresses or reading the dialogue. Those who stick it out, though, will be shown a bunch of attractive people and some sexy love scenes between a woman and her future step-sister. There is, of course, more going on than that, but you’re going to have to watch it and find out for yourself.

Blue is the Warmest Color (2013)

Now, I’m a little ashamed to admit that I have yet to see this movie. It’s on nearly every list of lesbian movies I’ve ever seen anywhere, and even though it’s gotten some controversial opinions about the use of fake vaginas in the sex scenes, lesbians everywhere seem to eat it up anyway. (Pun only sort-of intended.) Remarkably, despite the prosthetic vaginas, the rest of the movie is said to feel so real – perhaps because of how hard the director pushed the cast. What was originally intended to be shot in about two months ended up taking almost five and a half, and the struggling you see on camera is really the actresses struggling themselves. I can’t wait to watch this one myself and decide for sure.

Bloomington (2010)

https://youtu.be/rSgh-IA6oF8

If you’ve been waiting for a movie that tells the forbidden student-teacher romance story with a lot of sex… Bloomington is that movie. This movie is so steamy, that it’s hard to think of it as anything else. There’s so much going on in this one, and the story itself has quite a few layers that you might not expect, but… Come on. Student-teacher, lots of sex. What more do you need to know?

I Can’t Think Straight (2007)

A passionate exploration of sexual identity – ah, how we love that in our lesbian romances. This movie isn’t exactly a fairy tale movie like you might expect, but instead it offers a rollercoaster you can’t tear yourself away from. As a bonus, both lead actresses are completely gorgeous (as they usually are in lesbian films!) so the sex scenes are going to be pretty steamy, by design. We couldn’t be happier.

The Four-Faced Liar (2010)

Okay, so, the idea of cheating on your partner is pretty much implied in pretty much every lesbian movie, ever… And this is no different. But this particular movie happened to win an HBO Audience Award at Outfest, which means it’s actually a pretty decent movie. It explores the opposing views of society and the heart, and blah, blah, blah… And the passionate sex that can sometimes be missing from our lives. Some pretty good ideas in this one, actually.

Concussion (2013)

I have to admit – I don’t know exactly what this movie is about, but I know it’s got sexy older actresses and one of them is a sex worker. That already implies there are going to be some great sex scenes, but this movie seems like it goes a bit deeper than that. The trailer alone shows quite a few ideas worth noting, so you can imagine how much the movie is going to inspire.

The Girl Who Played With Fire (2009)

This lesser-known sequel to the original The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (in Swedish) shows what happens after the events of the first movie. Of course, just like all the best lesbian films, it’s subtitled into English, but that doesn’t make it any less breathtaking. Plus, you’ve only got to wait about 18 minutes for the first sex scene – no beating around the bush here.

Stud Life (2012)

If you’re tired of lesbian movies that portray femme-femme pairings, Stud Life offers the not-often-touched subject of the femme-stud dynamic. Plus, the stud’s best friend is a gay man. I, for one, am quite interested to see a lesbian movie that deals with something other than the same old thing that everyone else does. If you need some studs in your life, the answer is obvious.

The Guest House (2012)

Please note that this particular movie will not let you pretend that you’re watching for the plot. At all. This one’s pretty cheesy, but the sex scenes are hot and something that most of us have thought of – at least in passing. If you want to watch a porn that’s not quite a porn, this is pretty much it. It feels like a home movie, for sure, but there is lesbian sex, and some inspiring dialogue.

The Gymnast (2006)

https://youtu.be/Y8TbPdlOJQU

Okay, if your mind is most inspired by imagining things and not actually seeing them, The Gymnast is just the movie you need to get your motor running. Truly, we don’t ever actually see the sex scenes, but we can hear them, and they’re still pretty sexy. We are forced to explore our own desires with this one, because it doesn’t show anything upfront – and do we really need it to? Maybe, maybe not – watch it and decide for yourself.

Top 7 Sad Queer Movies That Will Mess Up Your Whole Week

I have a confession to make: I am a sucker for emotional cinema. No matter how heartless I try to pretend I am, the sappy movies make me tear up every time. (I have an aunt who calls this phenomenon “TV eyes” – it helps us keep our hard exterior appearance.)

If you love the movies that bring you to tears, or you consider yourself an emotional stronghold and want to prove it, we’ve found the 7 saddest lesbian movies out there – how many have you seen, and how many actually brought you to tears?

(In order of release – not necessarily indicative of cry-worthy-ness.)

The Children’s Hour (1961)

I’m not sure if this movie exactly counts as a lesbian film, since it centers around a rumor about sexuality, rather than actual sexuality. But, since this movie came out in the early ‘60s and features such huge icons as Audrey Hepburn and Shirley Maclane… We’ll forgive that.

This story centers around a headmistress and a teacher at a boarding school. Everything is all hunky dory for the two BFF’s (actual gal pals, not like the “gal pals” we hear about these days)… Until a student starts spreading rumors about the two women being romantically involved, and students start withdrawing from the school. Yikes!

Mostly, this movie is sad because back in the ‘60s, this was as close as they had to a real lesbian movie. I’m so glad Hollywood has picked up the slack lately, but this movie is pretty much a downer anyway.

Gia (1998)

For all you Angelina Jolie fans out there, this is the one movie where we got to see her as a sexy, emotional creature… Oh wait, that’s true of a lot of her movies. Still, Gia represented an important (and mostly true!) story of the supermodel, Gia Carangi, as she struggled with her career, her mental health, and her own sexuality. Oh, and not to give anything away if you haven’t seen it yet, but she also has AIDS.

Of course, there is the appeal of seeing Angelina Jolie topless, which is one of the big draws of many Angelina Jolie movies in the first place. But once you add in the powerful message behind it and the fact that this is actually based on a true story, it gets heart-wrenching and super painful.

If you start the movie when she’s topless, and then stop it before she gets onto the plane, this movie isn’t so sad – but if you’re into the whole picture, this movie will undoubtedly wreak havoc on your soul.

Boys Don’t Cry (1999)

Okay, if we didn’t have Boys Don’t Cry on our list, I would be seriously upset at myself. Truly, this is one of those movies that most people will either love or hate – and most of us love it. Hilary Swank plays a transman in the midst of homophobia, transphobia, and general ignorance in Nebraska. Did I mention this one’s based on a true story, too?

The scenes in this movie are created specifically to rip your heart into a million shreds, halfway patch these shreds back together, and then rip them to pieces all over again. Seriously – it’s that good. If you haven’t seen it, I don’t want to spoil it, but it’s going to make you cry – guaranteed.

Lost & Delirious (2001)

Let me start by saying that I absolutely adore Piper Perabo, and I probably always will. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way… Technically, the characters in this movie don’t identify as lesbians – but as two young women who are just madly in love with each other. I think it’s beautiful that they don’t have to put a label on it.

That being said, this movie is pretty sad. Partially because the potential of the cast wasn’t fully realized, and partially because someone dies. (Not going to say who, but… You know… Any time you have lesbian romance in a movie and someone dies, it sucks pretty hard.)

I have a soft spot for anything one of my celebrity crushes is in, so I’m tempted to ignore the critic reviews that say this movie was total garbage. All in all, it tells a tale that many of us have been a part of us at one point or another, and the relatability is enough to break your heart, right? Take a look and form your own opinion about this one.

The Laramie Project (2002)

Another TV movie to hit our list – which is still a rarity for the queer community. The Laramie Project isn’t about lesbians, specifically, but it does touch on the murder of Matthew Sheperd – a huge event for the gay community as a whole. With a cast that includes “celebs I wish were my BFFs” such as Christina Ricci and Clea Duvall, this movie promises a stellar performance – and delivers.

Of course, a movie that surrounds the killing of one of the pioneers of LGBT+ visibility, no matter which of our fallen heroes it is, is going to be sad. The Laramie Project is no exception. In addition to the death of Matthew Sheperd, this movie also features survival, against the odds, and the paths we follow to grow as humans.

(Oh, and as a bonus, they also perform a version of “Angels in America”… How meta!)

Angels in America (2003)

Okay, so this one isn’t exactly a movie, but a TV mini-series. Still, this offers an inner look to the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s as it pertains to characters who you’re probably going to love right off the bat just because of the actors who play them. (I’m talking Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, and Mary Louise Parker here.) There are also plenty of intersecting sections of the “at-risk community” shown here, and it will rip your heart out – just like any other movie, TV show, or other type of content that deals with the AIDS crisis.

I have yet to watch this one myself, but after looking into it, I’ll definitely have to add it to my own list.

Monster (2003)

Okay, here’s another mostly-true story that happens to be one of my favorites. Monster tells the tale of Aileen Wuornos (Charlize Theron in a hardly-recognizable get-up) and her girlfriend, Selby (Christina Ricci) through their unconventional and highly criminal relationship.

The scary thing about this movie is that it really was a true story – one that’s been referenced in over two dozen different movies and TV shows – oh, and Charlize Theron won an Oscar for this movie. It’s not too often that Oscars are won by true crime stories, but this movie shows power.

The real Aileen Wuornos was America’s first female serial killer – something that’s not exactly a source of pride for most of us, but personally, it helped me be thankful that I’ve never gone down that path – although parts of it were quite relatable to me. If you haven’t seen it yet, what are you waiting for? This movie is a true classic.

If Lesbian Movies Were Realistic

So as we all know, the only thing worse than having a girlfriend with your sister’s name, is having a girlfriend with my own name. Right?!

But it happens, so here’s one take on what lesbian movies would be like if they were more like real life.

Guys, take a hint.

The Best and Worst Lesbian Movies – Pillow Talk

Watch the ladies of The Gay Women Channel talk about their favourite and least favourite lesbian movies.

Fantastic viewing yet again.

Exclusive Interview with Marina Rice Bader, Lesbian Filmmaker

Tom Sykes: Your new film Anatomy of a Love Seen is about a stormy lesbian relationship. Were you consciously trying to deal with the kinds of challenges that come up in a lesbian relationship or were you just trying to tell a story that happened to have two lesbians at its centre?

Marina Rice Bader: When it comes to relationships women are so very different from men because women have a tendency to engage on every level, if you will. The story is about how nobody can walk away from a lesbian relationship without this rollercoaster of emotions: pain and resentment and bitterness and compassion and love.

TS: Is it a story that’s therefore specifically aimed at lesbians or is there something for everyone?

MRB: I’m not sure if there’s something for every man but there’s something for every woman because even in a straight relationship women want openness and passion and communication and depth of feeling. I think all women have the potential to go where the characters in my movie go.

TS: Anatomy of a Love Seen has an intriguing film-within-a-film conceit. The two characters meet and fall in love while they are acting on a fictional movie set. What inspired that?

MRB: My favourite movies take me to a different time or place, to a world I’m not familiar with. So when I was writing this movie I wondered where I could take an audience? Most people don’t get to experience a movie set. I also liked the notion of two people falling in love at exactly the same time in front of a camera and twenty or thirty people.

Many of us go through a heart-wrenching break-up and we never get the chance to see or touch our ex again. So I was interested in what might happen if these two lovely women went through a break-up and then were not only in the same room together but were back in bed kissing each other. Would that connection transcend all the problems of the break-up in the first place? Would it be a healing measure?

TS: Most independent filmmakers find it hard to fund their projects. Was it difficult to finance Anatomy of a Love Seen?

MRB: It was a very short process. I decided I was going to make the movie in December 2013 and I had it completely filmed by the end of January 2014. We had a two-week pre-prep and we shot over the course of 5 days which is pretty nuts! But I really wanted to make this film and I called an investor I knew who put up the whole budget: $70,000. The financial restrictions forced me to be more creative because I had to work hard to give people a wonderful film with high production values and the best acting possible, but for not much money. Luckily I found an amazing cast and crew who were willing to come on this crazy ride with me!

TS: What’s your estimation of the current state of lesbian cinema?

MRB: It’s hard enough to fund an indie film but funding a lesbian indie film is very very challenging. Most people still view it as a niche market. When people invest in a film they want to know how many people will see it and whether or not they’ll get their money back. Personally I don’t want to compromise what I’m doing to make bigger budget films, but luckily there are a lot of people who have the same interests as me and who want to get these movies made come hell or high water.

I think we will start to see more films with lesbian content and mainstream budgets, although maybe not in the near future. I’m quite hopeful about this upcoming movie Carol, starring Cate Blanchett, which is based on the classic lesbian novel The Price of Salt.

But it’s a double-edged sword. If big studios start making lots of lesbian films that may jeopardise my company, Soul Kiss Films, which exclusively makes lesbian movies. That said, as long as I keep on trucking and stay passionate, it won’t matter who the competition is.

TS: Although our societies seem to be getting more and more tolerant, have you ever experienced any prejudice or bigotry against you or other LGBTs in the film industry?

MRB: I think the industry here is very tolerant. I feel so blessed to live in Los Angeles and to belong to the LGBT community. I had the luxury of entering this community at the age of 52 when I was already confident and didn’t care what people thought of me.

Now people know that we LGBTs are here and we’re staying here so just frigging deal with it! Get out your history books and look at the freedoms our Constitution guarantee us!

TS: Where can we see the film when it comes out?

MRB: Our world premiere is on July 18th in LA and the film will be available worldwide the next day on our website www.anatomyofaloveseen.com.

5 Classic Lesbian Screen Gems

The Killing of Sister George (1968)

One of the greatest – but also most shocking – sapphic screen gems. Beryl Reid portrays George, the cigar-sucking dyke who loses everything before entering into an inadvisable femme-dyke-butch love triangle. The film did terrible business when it came out but has become a cult classic, thanks partly to that X-rated scene.

Another Way (1982)

The time: 1956. The place: Hungary. Two journalists who are campaigning against the corrupt communist regime fall deeply and desperately in love. The first Hungarian film to openly deal with LGBT issues, Another Way caused something of a stir.

Paris Was a Woman (1996)

An insightful documentary all about the bohemian Sapphos who lived in Paris’ chic Left Bank during the early 1900s. You’ll learn a lot about lesbian legends from Collette to Djuna Barnes, Gertrude Stein to Alice B. Toklas.

Bound (1996)

The Wachowksi siblings’ high-octane lesbo-crime-noir-caper written by feminist intellectual Susie Bright. All the masculinist conventions are subverted in this intelligent and wickedly funny story.

Dyketactics (1974)

Barbara Hammer’s explosive short film is a product of its times: liberated lesbians dance naked in a field while psychedelic music plays. Hammer went on to be probably the greatest of all LGBT avant-garde directors and is highly acclaimed for Born in Flames (1983), Desert Hearts (1985), and Go Fish (1994).

Pink Celluloid: The Best LGBT Film Festivals of 2014

The Best LGBT Film Festivals of 2014 – Summer is upon us and the LGBT world is buzzing about the superb range of pink film festivals taking place right around the world. From Germany to Calgary, Athens to Auckland, wherever you are on the globe there’ll be something worth watching near you. Whether you’re into documentaries about leading feminist theorists or biopics of 1960s actors, fact or fiction, contemporary or classic – these festivals have it all!

Outview: Athens Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

Location: Athens (hence the clever name).
Dates: 15th to 30th May.
Our picks: Hot Guys With Guns, Gore Vidal: United States of Amnesia, Test, In The Name Of, Eastern Boys, Pit Stop, GBF and Stranger by the Lake’.

Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival

Dates: 22nd May to 1st June.
Location: Toronto, Canada.
Our picks: Drunktown’s Finest, The Foxy Merkins, The Normal Heart, The Way He Looks, Love Is Strange, 52 Tuesdays, The Dog, Yves St Laurent, The Case Against 8.

Fairy Tales Film Fest

Location: Calgary, Canada.
Dates: 23rd to 31st May.
Our picks: TBA.

QDoc Portland Queer Documentary Festival

Location: Portland, Oregon
Dates: May 25-28
Our picks: Regarding Susan Sontag, The Circle, To Be Takei, The Case Against 8, My Prairie Home, The Dog.

XPOSED International Film Festival Berlin

Location: Berlin, Germany.
Dates: 29th May to 1st June.
Our picks: Turning, She Monkeys, You and the Night.

Out Takes Lesbian and Gay Film Festival

Location: All over New Zealand (Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch).
Dates: 22nd May to 16th June.
Our picks: Test, Geography Club, The Case Against 8, In The Name Of, Tru Love, The Way He Looks, My Prairie Home.

Out Film CT: Connecticut LGBT Film Festival

Location: Hartford, Connecticut.
Dates: 30th May – 7th June.
Programming Highlights: Queen of Amsterdam, The Way He Looks, Boy Meets Girl, Tru Love.