Lesbian Themed Movie Guide with reviews

Plot Drive: Lesbian Romance Genre: Drama/Mystery HEA

Nutshell (without spoiler): Two women are convinced to connive against one another, yet manage to fall in love along the way.

BBC Historical drama based on the book, and simply the best adaptation of a Sarah Waters work to date (her favourite adaptation, she said so - fact). This story is dynamic and full. It will keep you guessing, and bring out the romantic in you. It will have you shouting at the screen "No!"

There are a whole cast of well-written and well cast characters too, and the story is so perfectly crafted, you will be involved with the full plot.

10/10

Plot Drive: Lesbian Romance Genre: Drama/Tragedy HFAB

Nutshell: Practically married woman meets once famous lesbian druggie photographer, they fall in love, but tragedy awaits.

Seriously good film, despite the incredibly moving ending. Some fantastic acting, notably the supporting role of Greta. Beautifully made, and as artistically shot as the title describes. This art is certainly high. Plus, Ally Sheedy finally playing the role all the lesbians hoped she would, and Rada Mitchell doing it again.

It's not often I enjoy a good heartbreaking movie, there's enough of it in the world, but this reality is depicted so well, I've watched it a few times.

10/10

Plot Drive: Young Lesbian Romance Genre: Drama/Thriller HFAB

Nutshell: Two wacky young women with vivid inner worlds get too close for their families comfort and resort to murder.

Stunning thriller with tragic ending. Beautifully shot, and acted, and reminiscent of Sister, My Sister (incest aside). Teenage, and more about obsession and death than romance.

10/10

Plot Drive: Lesbian Romance. Genre: Drama/Action HEA

Nutshell: Ex-con has lesbian affair with next door neighbour who wants out of her relationship with Mafia man. They plot to steal mafia money, it goes a bit wrong for a long while, then all is well.

Another movie written originally as a straight story, except this one is really good. Great dialogue and characterisation, well shot, fantastic performances ("Laughing at me, laughing at me, *beep* laughing at me!") and stylish despite being mostly set in two rooms.

Tense and erotic thriller, and the ladies do more than just kiss.

9/10

Plot Drive: Lesbian Romance Genre: Comedy HEA

Nutshell: Girl is sent to ex-gay camp after intervention. At camp, instead of becoming straight, she falls in love with another girl and they hitch the underground gay railroad out of there.

Fantastic comedy in parody style. Great set of characters, great ending, and sadly based on the real-life existence of correction camps in the US.

Great music too.

9/10

Plot Drive: Accidental Lesbian Affair/Obsession Genre: Thriller NRH

Nutshell (to clarify the above): Lesbian seduces married woman by manipulation of her jealousy, conjured via a breaking marriage. Does not end well.

This is great psychological thriller really, though you don't quite grasp that til halfway through. Not a happy ending for the lesbian relationship though. Great cast, and performances, and very unique storyline.

9/10

Plot Drive: Lesbian romance Genre: Drama HEA (?)

Well, this is a highly unusual storyline, but I really loved this movie. It somehow captures so many truths. Lots of well-depicted and well-rounded relationships in various states, and ultimately I very believable and stirring romance in my opinion.

Well shot, well acted, interesting script that tackles some great issues - all round, a very good movie.

Plus, the leads are very easy on the eye, which always helps. I think on occasion the translation could have been better, my only quibble.

9/10

Plot Drive: Exploration of Gender Genre: Drama HFAB/HFN

Nutshell: Family moves to new neighbourhood where their young daughter with short hair allows her friends to think she's a boy.

A fantastic snap shot of a week or so in the life of this young girl and her family. Simply astounding acting from a whole group of young actors, not least the younger sister.

The film does not state whether this young woman has gender dysphoria, or is exploring her sexuality, or is simply, as the title suggests, breaking out of the stereotype the only way she knows how. But it certainly does explore by proxy all of those things very well, in a film that is quiet, but will keep you on the edge. It's impossible not to get involved with the characters, you feel like a fly on their wall. Beautifully done.

9/10

Plot Drive: Gay gay gay (well, it is - LGB and T, romance all round) Genre: Comedy HEA

Nutshell: Young (closeted) lesbian woman allows and her mother and brother to move in with her. That makes dating new hot girl hard.

Fantastic portrayal of various gay scenes, from bookstores to clubs, including an array of great characters and lots of sexual explorations. But ultimately a lesbian romance. Very funny, if a bit silly. Bisexual and transgender characters too!

You be singing "I'm not... an effing drag queen!" for days.

9/10

Plot Drive: Romantic self discovery, coming out. Genre: Drama/mockumentary HFAB/HFN

Nutshell: Girl embarks on making a documentary spurred by her gay friends suicide. She has a revelation of her own.

I was incredibly impressed with this movie. The simplicity of the story telling allows the complexity of the underlying issues to be continually pervasive. Everything about this movie feels real, and natural, and allows the viewer a rare opportunity to feel like an actual participant, right there on the sidelines.

I wanted to be in the junk yard searching for shiny things. I felt like I was with these characters at every juncture. The script, and the performances were impeccable. In particular I was astonished to discover that this is/was Heidi M Sallows' first appearance on film.

The dialogue is so natural, I must be forgiven for guessing there may have been a lot of leeway for the actors. And if so, this was not only well-judged, but well-executed.

This film is touching, truthful, at times gritty, and incredibly romantic, in the most ordinary, and therefore accessible of ways. And the ending, though leaving you smiling, is not cliched. Another rarity.

Gentle in many ways, evenly paced, and beautifully shot it may be, but the thing that I enjoyed most about this film, is the manner in which it deals with major issues without judgement, or guidance. Not merely the obvious issues of homosexuality and suicide (the film is dedicated specifically in this vein), but also the broader senses of love and desire, and many levels of intimacy brought under scrutiny.

I found sympathy for every major character, despite my dislike of some of their actions. That is hard to achieve.

9/10

Plot Drive: Weird Lynch Film with lesbian romance (kinda) Genre: Lynch Thriller NRH

Nutshell: Girl goes to Hollywood to seek fame, has a lesbian dalliance on the way, and gets trapped in David Lynch's weird but wonderful and freaky world.

Naomi Watts does more than kiss a girl, but this movie is not about that, its typical frakked up, wonderful Lynch. Often erotic, and depressing. A great movie about obsession for the most part.

9/10

Plot Drive: Lesbian Romance (and sex) Genre: Drama HFN/HEA

Nutshell: 1890s lesbian had multiple adventures and sexual escapades. Finds happiness in the end, despite torrid affair.

Not fully true to the book, but still a great BBC drama. I was put off by a horrendous vocal from the lead, but aside from that it's a great dip into history - something Sarah Waters is very good at bringing to life (so she should be).

Romantic, and thankfully not cliched. Good, and very gay.

9/10

Plot Drive: Murderous Lesbian Genre: Thriller/Biography NRH

Nutshell: Woman with a girlfriend goes crazy in the face of bastards, turns murderous.

Oscar winning performances, seriously good cast, gripping story, well told. Not a nice story, but a good one.

In many ways it's very cruel of the movie makers to cast Charlize Theron as a lesbian, when frankly, she's so utterly unattractive in it. Sacrilege!

9/10

This always seems to appear in lesbian movie lists - I have no idea why, you can read subtext into virtually any female relationship if you want to - I truly don't believe the 'romance' here is one of the sort we'd like. I list it to say as much.

It *is* however a fantastic movie, so you should watch it anyway.

9/10

Plot Drive: The olden days Genre: Depressing Drama NRH

Okay, now there's definitely a strong subtext to the relationship in this movie, which does, as a theme depict the unrequited love of a women for her female friend with whom she has a deep friendship. I list it here to honour that.

This is a classic movie, which will have you bawling your eyes out - and if it doesn't, you weren't concentrating.

It's a slow-mover by the way.

9/10

Plot drive: Obsession Genre: Drama/Thriller NRH

Nutshell: Ballet dancer goes a little coo-coo trying to be the best swan she can (or does she?).

So yes, there's definitely some weird/screwed up lesbianism portrayed in this movie, but you have to watch it to understand why I don't consider this really a lesbian movie.

It is however, a great movie. I really enjoyed it, very thrilling, and very unsettling.

9/10

Plot Drive: Lesbian seduction Genre: Drama/Thriller NRH

Nutshell: Young women falls in love with a charming, seemingly vulnerable woman of the course of the summer. But not all is as it seems.

This film pretty much launched Emily Blunts career. It's well made overall, great actors, characters, nice depictions and lovely shots, and of course twists.

[Loose spoiler alert] The twists are what make this movie so great, and yet are also what sadden me as someone reviewing lesbian content. In a world where we're depicted as normal people for most of the time, this would sit well - but in the world where lesbians and women are type cast in roles of manipulators and crazy people - this is just another one of those movies. Better made, subtler perhaps, but I'm not sure if that makes it better or worse.

Still, a very good movie indeed.

8/10

Plot Drive: Lesbian Obsession Genre: Drama/Thriller NRH

Nutshell: Enigmatic teacher at all girls school falls for new student, fails to seduce her and vows to leave the school. Her students avenge her with dramatic consequences.

Set in the 1930s Ridley Scott's daughter's debut is beautifully shot. A classy take on an old student/teacher obsession cliche. Fantastic performances, tragic ending. Shame the 'lesbian' turns out to be a bit crazy... as so often they do.

8/10

Plot Drive: Lesbian life story including Romance Genre: Drama/Biography HFAB

Nutshell: Angeline Jolie plays the tragic true story of Gia, the drug dependant lesbian model, arguably the first super model.

It's a true story, and it is tragic. There is no happy ending, but the portrayal is beautiful. The chemistry between Gia and her photographer girlfriend is electric. It will make you want to read more about them.

I like to watch this movie and end it before the sad gritty truth comes out, if you're feeling fragile, don't watch the last 15 minutes.

8/10

Plot Drive: Coming out/Lesbian Romance Genre: Drama HEA

Nutshell: Newly engaged woman rediscovers her draw to women when she meets her mother's new husband's daughter (confused? Yes, it's complicated!).

Aka Kyss Mig (subtitled). This is essentially a better version of Imagine me and you. The speed at which these women fall for each other seems at first a little suspicious, until we learn that one has always been gay, and the other has spent her life in denial.

More realistic than you might at first think. Very cute, and quiet movie, with some lovely moments.

8/10

Plot Drive: Lesbian exploration/Romance Genre: Comedy HFAB

Nutshell: Unable to find a man she wants the lead decides to try batting for the other team. Instead of finding a lesbian, she finds another 'straight' woman.

Clever dialogue, well shot, polished hollywood with a hint of the alternative. I enjoyed this mutual exploration between two straight women, who do eventually fall in love, though of course it's never that simple.

A lot of people disliked this movie, but sometimes you have to see past what you *want* to happen, and just enjoy what does. Plus, enjoy decent dialogue when it's handed to you, it's rare. And this is very, very clever.

8/10

Plot Drive: Lesbian Romance Genre: Light Comedy Drama HEA

Nutshell: A chinese widow is trying to wed off her talented young doctor daughter, but her bosses ballet dancer daughter catches her eye instead.

My friends will laugh at me for saying this, but I'm going to say it anyway - I get excited by expensive shots. And this movie opens with one, a tame one, which was unnecessary and therefore excites me all the more, because it bodes well for production value.

And I'm not disappointed either. Lots of great short scene-setting montages, and clever cuts. However, I will say that I did find a few of the scenes between the principals as they were getting to know one another a little staged - but that's minimal criticism.

Joan Chen's performance as the mother is stand out, and this film deals with so much - race, culture, tradition, coming out, shame, age versus youth - I could go on. Many themes, well told.

It's a steady drama, a simple tale of family and love, and I really enjoyed it.

8/10

Plot Drive: Student life with some lesbian romance thrown in. Genre: Comedy HEA

Nutshell: Everything and nothing happens in this movie. A week (or so) in the life of a bunch of Australian students, finding, losing and rediscovering love again. The two leads are lesbian lovers.

I like this movie because no-one ever questions the characters sexualities. No-one comes out, no-one is defined, they just get on with life. Great cast, most of whom quickly became more famous.

A whole host of great characters and dialogue, dipping into the typical pretentious culture that comes with institutional learning. Humour in it for film buffs too. And thankfully a happy ending for all.

I have to be honest though, I have always had a real soft spot for Rada Mitchell, and this movie was my debut view at an LBGT film festival as youngster, so this may have affected my rating. Full disclosure and all that.

8/10

Plot Drive: Lesbian Bed Death Genre: Drama HEA

Nutshell: Modern family of two mothers and two children are rocked when they finally meet the father of their kids.

alert, though if you didn't know this already I'd be surprised, it's in the trailer...] Okay, so I saw quite a lot of vitriol from the gay community about this movie because one of the 'lesbians' (newsflash: being in a same-sex relationship does not mean you identify as lesbian) has an affair with a man. Omgs. This is a tale of real-life people, and actually, in the end they act like adults, get their feelings in order and the person who loses out is the guy... end]

I really liked this movie, it was honest, brutal, sad and tackled some big issues. The cast was great, the characters complete and likeable - the only thing that I'd agree with the (lesbian) critics on is that all the sex portrayed was opposite-sex, when the kernel of the story is a failing same-sex relationship. But then I think about that and think - well, isn't that the point?

Oh, and it's well shot, directed and edited, with appropriate music etc. Basically, it's good quality. You're only gripe is likely to be the plot. I say - get over it ;)

8/10

Plot Drive: Kitchen sink story with a lesbian couple Genre: Drama/Comedy HFN

Very much an indie film. This is really 4 stories of four families whose lives are intertwined. One of the families has a lesbian couple home for thanksgiving.

The whole film is good, drawing on many tensions within community - race, gender, sexuality. It's a tale which aims to highlight the struggle between generations to face up to modern life.

If you ever had a crush on Nurse Hathaway (Er, Julianna Margulies) then watch this - very cute relationship.

8/10

Plot Drive: Lesbian Romance Genre: Historical Drama/Biography HEA

Nutshell: Based on a true historical story of a woman who wrote an account of her affairs with women in code.

Really great drama, romantic, and picturesque. Great performances, and a touching historical tale. Sometimes it really is that simple.

8/10

Plot Drive: Lesbian conversion Genre: Lesbian Romance HEA? Who knows.

Nutshell: At a writers retreat two women (one lesbian) have to share digs. They don't get along, then they do.

Okay, so this is a c-lassic, and if you've not seen it, I recommend you do. After you get over the first few sticky scenes (which are rife with 80s directorial cliches as well as being a little badly executed), the story starts to be revealed, and actually, it's a pretty good one.

After all, it's one of the first, right?

I was surprised by how easy this was to watch, despite the odd bit of corn. All characters were well-rounded, and interesting, and mostly developed well. The love interest is actually quite believable, and even though most of the sex scenes are straight, the best and longest is saved until the end. And (jeans aside... you'll get that joke when you watch it), it's a sensual, romantic and realistic one.

Spattered with discussions of love, sex, sexuality and psychology, it's easy to see why so many films that followed ended up being a bunch of women sat around talking about themselves and relationships.

But this movie held the mystery of self. It didn't puke up babble for the sake of it. And there are so many small, but lovely moments the actors create, little looks here and there. The performances (despite at times what might be described as slightly stilted script), were very, very good.

I rate this whilst pushing the fact that it's dated aside. Sometimes you gotta watch an old film and let it be of it's time.

8/10

Plot Drive: Lesbian Romance Genre: Drama HFAB/HEA(?)

Nutshell: Two women fall in love on set. Then some *beep* happens we don;t know about and they are forced to re-do a love scene together. I mean, I want to write that movie. Genius.

This movie is vastly underrated in my opinion. Set on a movie set, the synopsis was worrying, but fear ye not; this movie is very well executed, and cast.

It's finite in location, with some flashbacks for emphasis. 4 main characters that honestly I felt gave enough material for a series.

This movie isn't the greatest romance ever, but it's a very intrguiing and lovely take on what one might consider a trope in lesbian film making.

I hope to see more from Marina Rice Bader as both a writer and director. She knows how to get the goods.

Also, hot women, and kissing.

8/10

Plot Drive: Getting over the last love of your life Genre: Drama HFN

Nutshell: Professor is depressed after a breakup, moves into new home with friends, and works her way out of her dysfunctional funk.

Interesting introspective analysis of moving on after love has left. Well acted, lots of good characters. The leading lady is quite mesmerising at times, and for once I hoped she'd succumb to her student (who I preferred to the actual love interest).

A quiet movie, for a sunday afternoon when you're feeling thoughtful.

7/10