So over the weekend I tried to watch “Room in Rome,” emphasis on tried. Man, that movie was a hot mess, emphasis on mess. And then I also watched “Bloomington,” which in true lesbian fashion I am still processing my feelings about. But what both movies reminded me is of the audacity of hope we have each time we watch a new lesbian movie. Maybe, just maybe, this will be The One. The good lesbian movie, at long last. We have so precious few. So I’m pleased to say there are a few lesbian films (or at the very least lesbianish ones) coming out soon that make me again hope against hope. Interestingly, they’re all foreign films. (Come on America, what happened to “We’re No. 1!”?) But who cares about borders, I’ll watch any lesbian movie from anywhere as long as it isn’t “Bar Girls.” No, seriously, never make me watch “Bar Girls” again. Let one, or with any luck all, of these movies be the bad lesbian movie antidote.
Circumstance
Wow, this movie looks beautiful. And not only beautiful, but importance as it shines a needed light of the plight of lesbians in Middle Eastern countries, in this case Iran. Also, wow, this movie looks beautiful.
Love Crime
So this isn’t so much straight-up lesbian as it is straight-up mind fuck. But there are definite lesbian undertones. Also Kristin Scott Thomas speaks French. So, you know, sold.
Kyss Mig (Kiss Me)
I’ve raved about how good this film looks before. And I’ll rave about how good it looks again. Also, have I mentioned one of my raves made the film’s official movie poster? Does this mean my ticket is free when it finally opens here?
So there you have it. A world of lesbian cinema awaits. Fingers crossed, ladies, fingers crossed.
34 comments:
saw "room in rome" last monday on telly. it would have been better if it were less talk and more action. and the music was dreadful!
I liked rom in rome ;-)
Watched it last night.
And I have a big crush on Elena Anaya now, hm!!
A couple of months ago Room In Rome and Love Crime played back to back in a (not even obscure) theatre in Hong Kong. Let's just say I was glad Love Crime was the last one of the two - it being a million times better than the endlessly frustrating Room In Rome. Also, Kristin Scott Thomas as a power semi-lesbian is worth much more than the price of a cinema ticket. I may have had wet office dreams the night after, may have...
PS Bloomington looked very promising in the trailer - hello, hot teacher - but it was just another disappointment in the end.
I saw 'Kyss Mig' when I went to Sweden last week and absolutely loved it. A little predictable but still the acting was excellent and the passion was most certainly there ;) I also saw your 'rave' on the movie poster so congratulations!
Of these three, I'm definitely most interested in Kyss Mig, although the plot line doesn't sound too original. But I'm predisposed to think good things about Swedish lesbian movies because of Show Me Love, which might be the best lesbian movie I've ever seen.
My must never watch again Lesbian movie is Clare of the moon.
I never really liked Room in Rome either and haven't seen Bar girls since I was a teenager but I rather liked it but then I had only seen about 3 Lesbian movies so didn't have much to go on.
What bothers me most about Bloomington is the student looks like she's in middle school - which makes everything incredibly creepy.
I've been following your interesting blog for the last months and I have to say that I actually enjoy every update!
Thanks for the film recommendations!
I'm getting them right now!
;)
Kyss Mig looks really good! Plus now that I've seen the Millenium Trilogy I recognize the woman who played Erika Berger. And a Robyn song! Yeah I'm pretty much sold.
I saw Circumstance at Newfest (NYC LBGT film festival) recently, and it IS beautiful and amazing. Definitely definitely see it if you can. It is about so much more than the lesbian relationship, but that story of that relationship is beautifully portrayed, and the whole movie is just brutally moving and sad, but so so good. and such an important story to be told, for all the characters. see it, see it.
ugh, Bloomington was a dreadful movie. Why did it have so much hype? The story was dull and the 2 leads had no chemistry. The younger one seriously looked like she was 14 years old which made the erotic scenes totally unwatchable.
Here's to the better movies of the future!
Rationally, I completely agree with the criticism re: Bloomington. But, Allison McAtee is really hot so...
Room in Rome has everything to be a good movie but it isn't because it's also very pretentious, the two actresses are good though, specially the spanish one...oh..and those eyes...
Talking about good movies, what about "i just can't think straight"? it's a british movie, i think, about two women from different worlds that can only be joined in a city like London, but both worlds are hard for women, more so for lesbians.
Greetings from Mexico to you all!
awesome post!
I agree with babs - "room in rome" was not my fave.. I want to se Kyss Mig, though!
We should petition to get a decent lesbian film on Netflix instant.... oh wait - are there any?
Cheers!
http://pudgydyke.blogspot.com
Yeah, it wasn't my fingers that were crossed at the end of that post...legs crossed...pretty sure I shouldn't be this turned on at work. LOL! Great post!
so glad to hear your comment about room in rome. i 1/2 watched it with my gal and we were both so unimpressed and uninspired... i mean, it has to be a crap lesbo-movie when the 2 main actresses are mostly naked and totally not sexy that we stopped it. Imagine Me and You is so much better and I also love I can't think Straight and Saving Face.. but there is a trough of Rom-Com lesbian movies that just break my heart because they are so disappointing. And here's the thing, we don't ask for much in this genre -- 2 cute girls with a little chemistry, some sort of meeting, some reason they can't be together, some big revelation, a little kissing ++ and a happy ending... You would think that this wouldn't be so hard! But seriously, between going crazy/ going straight, and not getting the girl, there are only a very few handful of lezzie movies that succeed and leave us with the warm and fuzzies! Instead, we fantasize about the nearly gay -- such as Rizzoli and Isles and Brittania. I just feel frustrated that we don't have more...
Kristin. Scott. Thomas. Love that she's back after a bit of a hiatus.
Yet another amazing British (French too - she was fantastic in a small part and a bit funny and very gay in 'Tell No One')actress.
The other ones look good too - and I look forward to seeing them - but anything KST does is first on my list.
Roomk In Rome was a Complex Charactger Study, apparently this is lost on audiences that spend their time imagining that lesbian story arcs exist where they do not. Also I doubt that it was intended for audiences that still cling to the U.S.A mantra ("We're #1?" Really min whose deluded universe is true?
Room in Rome was allegorical, the director also utilized a lot of metaphor. It's a great movie if one isn't an emotional 13 year old who considers everything they don't understand a "Hot Mess".
Typos aside you got the gist.
I am well aware Room in Rome was a character study. But it was a hot mess of a character study. IDC what the director intended but it didn't translate well onscreen. It was boring and there was too much sex and not enough dialogue. Using sex as a mentaphor is not original it's seedy.
I can't wait to see Kyss Mig, everyone who's seen it rave on it. I am crossing my fingers for a happy ending.
Going back a pretty long ways, my friend (lesbian) and I (straight man) liked Gwen Turner's "Go Fish" enough to see it three times. It's a cute little story. We noted that "they saved money by hiring real lesbians instead of actors" which lends a sort of indie authenticity :)
I agree wholeheartedly about the hope you feel when a new 'lesbian' film comes out (if you'll pardon the pun).
Bloomington left me feeling a bit 'meh'. I just couldn't get past the fact that I didn't buy their connection from the word go. I guess my suspension of disbelief just never quite got off the ground.
Thanks for the tips on the latest!
Perfect lesbian film? A real tough one. Agree with you never to be subjected to "Bar Girls". Let's see..."Room in Rome" had some hope from a style point of view, I could go on and on on Badem's concept of love and how he tried to tie it up in his film, but ultimately it WAS NOT a lesbian film, but a lesbian-fantasy film. "Bloomington", made the absolute bottom of my lesbo pile...hell..even the psycho-lesbo Romanian "Love sick" was more intriguing than Bloomington! I do look forward to "Kyss mig" , hold great hope on the Swedes (after all it is the land of Bergman), and of course I can take Kristin Scott Thomas in all sauces..even with a little hint of lesbo-anything. She practically owns a shelf in my DVD collection.
I'll watch Room in Rome any day over Bar Girls. Recently saw Elena Undone and loved it.
I had not much expectations about "Room in rome", but I really enjoyed it. Unlike what its trailer promised, it was a movie about falling in love, not about hot lesbian sex. I was actually surprised it was directed by a guy.
Yeah; I agree on that one, it was a film about love after all. And I liked the sex scenes:-)
But It was announced as an "erotic film" so i was not surprised..
Lesbian films: I still love "Mädchen in Uniform"(the one from 1931!!),High Art and Fried Green Tomatoes, of course.
room in rome is not a lesbian movie; its a movie about women and love. And as i said in my blog, if a woman doesnt like it its mostly cause they dont understand themselves or have no intention to do so. Its not a movie for everyone; its meant to be for people that like to analize things. As a woman, I thought it was a fantastic movie and as a gay lady, i just love the sex scenes.
p.s. baaaad ost... i hate "loving strangers" arghhh
Thanks Ms. Snarker! Hey all — Be sure to keep an eye out for Celine Sciamma's new film, TOMBOY which will be released theatrically in November> Read more about it at QMovieBlog.com:
http://queermovieblog.com/festival-fave-tomboy-by-celine-sciamma/
'Room in Rome' intrigues me, but I keep getting put off by the negative reviews, which isn't like me. All-time faves would be 'Desert Hearts' & 'My Summer of Love', but for my money the best-embedded (ha!) lesbian romance in a not-overtly lesbian film is the wonderfully daffy 'D.E.B.S.'
Bar Girls - horrendous! And Claire of the Moon. Of course, after Desert Hearts, anything watched in the two years following was a letdown. I think so far Imagine Me & You has set the bar.
I'm also excited about the three movies mentioned here. But I would also add Pariah, which from the previews, looks to be an honest and poignant movie about the experience of a young lesbian woman of color...bringing two oft-overlooked (especially in Hollywood) minorities to the big screen.
Caught Love Crime on DVD a little while ago and hated it. Sorry :(
It was pretentious and cringe-worthy and even Kristin couldn't save it. And that's saying a lot. Because that woman is preternaturally hot. Oh right, and a phenomenal actress of course! :D
cannot wait for kyss mig!!!!1
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