A bit ago many of you asked me to list my favorite Big Gay Movies. And, this still being Pride Week, how could I not oblige? The elusive Good Lesbian Movie does in fact exist. Sure, there may be little flaws here and there. But I was able to pick ten movies that I, for various reasons, love and love to rewatch. A lot of these movies hold sentimental value for me. Some are associated with particular times in my life. But all of them make happy and, yes, gay in some way. So, feel free to share yours with me. Who feels like a lesbo movie marathon? And, more important, who wants to make the popcorn?
1. Imagine Me and You
Because I dare you to love me. And, of course, No. 9 is indeed a wanker.
2. When Night is Falling
Makes you want to run away and join the circus. Or enroll in a Christian College. Nope, I take that back – just the first one.
3. All Over Me
If you ever were in love with your best friend growing up, this movie will bring every single one of those raw emotions rushing right back. Also baby gay Leisha Hailey with the pink hair always makes me smile.
4. Fried Green Tomatoes
This isn’t subtext, straight America.
5. The Kids Are All Right
Yes, I know some of you hated this movie. I did not.
6. Saving Face
Asian-American lesbians in love? Like this wouldn’t make my list.
7. The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love
If nothing else, seeing a young Laurel Holloman and a young Ari Parker together is an adorable treat.
8. Pariah
A wonderful film more people should see. Hint, hint, hint.
9. Show Me Love/ Fucking Amal
Lesbians should love this movie almost as much as IKEA.
10. Bound
Please. Corky and Violet on the couch? Repeat, forever.
Because I dare you to love me. And, of course, No. 9 is indeed a wanker.
2. When Night is Falling
Makes you want to run away and join the circus. Or enroll in a Christian College. Nope, I take that back – just the first one.
3. All Over Me
If you ever were in love with your best friend growing up, this movie will bring every single one of those raw emotions rushing right back. Also baby gay Leisha Hailey with the pink hair always makes me smile.
4. Fried Green Tomatoes
This isn’t subtext, straight America.
5. The Kids Are All Right
Yes, I know some of you hated this movie. I did not.
6. Saving Face
Asian-American lesbians in love? Like this wouldn’t make my list.
7. The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love
If nothing else, seeing a young Laurel Holloman and a young Ari Parker together is an adorable treat.
8. Pariah
A wonderful film more people should see. Hint, hint, hint.
9. Show Me Love/ Fucking Amal
Lesbians should love this movie almost as much as IKEA.
10. Bound
Please. Corky and Violet on the couch? Repeat, forever.
43 comments:
I am in agreement on almost all of these movies. Haven't seen Pariah yet, and count me among The Kids Are Alright haters. I would switch that out with Kissing Jessica Stein...or But I'm a Cheerleader. Oooh, tough decision. I'll flip a coin.
LEADING LADIES. you have got to get on the leading ladies train. it's on netflix and it's about a ballroom dancing lesbian and it is the BEST. THING. EVER.
Great list, i'd probably have about the same.
'Saving Face', 'When Night is Falling' and 'Imagine Me and You' can be watched on repeat and repeat.
I still haven't seen 'Pariah', it's not available in Australia :(.
You can count me in the loving Kids category.
Only extra's I can think of are the great Australian film with Radha Mitchell and Frances O'Connor playing a couple called 'Love and Other Catastrophes', that and 'When Night is Falling' were my big time coming out movies in the mid 90's.
I'd maybe squeeze 'D.E.B.S' in there too, for a bit of camp fun.
I agree with all films on your list, even with The Kids, but one of my alltime favorites isn't included and therefore I would switch The Kids are alright with Desert Hearts!
Lost and Delerious and The Four Faced Liar are my favorites.
I can't think straight!!!
I liked Loving Annabelle(even with the cliched ending...)
The Secrets [Israeli film]. Absolutely gorgeous film.
I had a very similar experience as portrayed in " The Secrets". I am not nearly as religious Naomi. My Michal broke my heart by marrying a guy. She was never going to live outside religious practice and I didn't fit in that world with her. The movie makes me cry everytime. You should watch it if you have ever had your heartbroken.
here are my two cents worth....High Art with Slly Sheedy and Radha Mitchell and two great shorts from Germany..absolute smashers from Karola Clever and Petra
" Lady Pochoir" and their newest collaboration, which is hilarious.."Mermaids" a German football team of women....lots of twists and lots of great acting and music.
Desert Hearts
Elena Undone
Better than Chocolate
My Normal
The Aggressives
(Imagine Me and You made me want to break my TV into tiny little bits. It's a tough one to watch when you're ACTUALLY coming out later in life from within a marriage and dealing with what it's REALLY like - those parents who are actually supportive like they are in the movie are like alien creatures in my universe, unfortunately.)
Love Fucking Amal, Imagine me and you, and Saving face.
I would like to add Debs I also really loved the short of this, But I'm a cheerleader, and part 3 of Tipping The velvet.
I just wanted to thank you endlessly for leaving that insufferable, latter-day "lezzies WILL be punished" reboot known as "Loving Annabelle". Aside from the whole, slightly questionable adult/minor thing at the heart of this cesspool, naturally it ends with teacher being taken away to face all kinds of unspecified, but certainly life-fucking punishment. I HATE having that sold to me as heroic when it's the same old shit we've been getting since before we were born. "Loving Annabelle" is to Lesbian Cinema as "Thelma and Louise" is to Feminist Cinema, bullshit at presenting positive images. Fuck that shit and I hate that lesbians and feminists still fall for that shit. Also, LA just ins't very good in every other way other than titillation.
Shout out for the olde school "Desert Hearts". Also "Fire" and "Chutney Popcorn".
But "High Art" is so beautiful...
Amanda
Great list!
I'm going to add a few...
The Hunger(ok, maybe not a lesbian movie but I'm counting girl on girl action...or should I say woman on woman for this one...)
Liquid Sky
High Art
Fire - by Deepa Mehta
I've Herad the Mermaids Singing
Chopper Chicks in Zombie Town
Aimee y Jaguar
Go Fish
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
Gia
Desert Hearts
Personal Best
P.S. I know I have repeated some of the same movies as other commenters but I just wanted to send out the list of my fav's
All good except fo The Kids are allright. I despised that.my number one favorite movie is I've heard the mermaids singing. Fire is very good. High Art was also great and I even liked The Killing of Sister George just for watching film history. My favorite Gay movie is Big Eden-fantastic.
I like most of your favorites and some are on my list to see for first time.
I did see "Pariah" a week ago. I am still not over that movie. It is a strong movie as I thought it would be.
Yet for me, I've heard way too many real life accounts from my lesbian family as to WHAT parents and others do to you when you come out or are forced out in an ugly UNFORGIVING straight world. This movie is not for the feint of heart who have been through it and bear the scars. It will bring back memories.
The poem "Broken" was unveiled in this movie. And it's one of the strongest poems I've heard ever.
http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/pariah?before=1321919835
P.S. sorry for being a debbie downer
Really great list Dorothy, except for Kids which can't be far enough away from me. I think Saving Face is almost a perfect movie. I watch it when I'm depressed as a pick me up.
"The Kids Are Alright" is not a lesbian movie - on the contrary, it's extremely damaging to lesbians. It's really discouraging to see lesbians promoting such homophobic filth.
You missed this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL0up-CNCHg
One of the best.
If MLP would say Bee Charmer to me I would die a happy woman.
'Pariah' is at Redbox. I know there's no excuse but I'm not ready to cry.
Kyss Mig- is awesome.
Heavenly creatures and summer of love are good if you go for the slightly cruel. Heavenly creatures was based on a true story.
Orange are not the only fruit based on Jeannette Winterson's book
Why not me? (Pourquoi pas moi? French movie)- granted a group of French people of all sexualities but awesome movie.
Gotta show some love for Boys on the Side. Bonus with the appearance of the Indigo Girls.
no "Gray Matters" ? i love bridget moynahan on that one.
I'm so happy to see Fucking Amal on the list! Brilliant movie.
Did you ever see Kyss Mig? Also pretty good, and sweet jesus, Liv Mjönes in that movie. I dare you to watch it and not dream of her after. :P
I really liked 'The Gymnast'
LEADING LADIES. Yes. Very much.
YES! Carla, Yona, and Anonymous are totally right on. Kyss Mig (Swedish title, Kiss Me, is the English title) is one of the best lesbian movies I have seen (and I think I've seen them all!).
The movie is complex (not your cliche storyline or ending!)...and the actresses are BEAUTIFUL and TALENTED! It's touring festivals right now, but hopefully it will come out on DVD soon, so we can all enjoy it!
Carla posted the full trailer, so you should definitely check that out. But here's another teaser trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x89C6wLZv6E
See Producing Adults. It's a lovely lesbian film from Finland (i think). Also The Gymnast, I'd watch Drea Weber in anything. I had my first inkling of gayness when I saw The Hunger. I actually learned to speak fluent French because of Catherine Deneuve in that movie. You know just in case I ever ran into her... and she asked me something...and I answered in French and then she would fall in love with me...I was very young...
HollyRocket
Not quite a movie, but I have always loved the anime K-On! with all its adorable yuri-ish subtext.
"But I'm a Cheerleader!" is also great, as others have mentioned. I also recommend "Spider Lilies" and "Love My Life."
A Marines Story and the Gymnast both with the same actress who is remarkable.
Lainna and Desert Hearts!
I'm with you on Kids. I thought it was magnificent. A Marine's Story, just because a friend of mine worked on it. For sure Aimee y Jaguar. It's a little tragic (lesbians and tragedy? WHAT?! Shut the front door!), but it's SO.GOOD.
I like Gray Matters, Puccini for Beginners and Imagine me and you, because they are light, sweet and fun. The four faced Liar is entertaining as well.
I used to be obsessed with High Art, But I'm a cheerleader, Two Girls in Love and All over me, when I was younger.
Recently I enjoyed Pariah and Circumstance.
And I had a serious crush on Michal Shtamler after seeing "The Secret" or Ha-Sodot. Also a great movie.
Lots of great movies listed here, but I have to give a little more love to D.E.B.S. - because lesbians need silly movies too!
Love Saving face and Imagine me and you.. also for me there's Bloomington & I can't think straight.=)
Good list, except TKAAR, because aside of reenacting stereotype that lesbianism is all about emotional attachment between women and as for real sex, there has to be a man involved, one way or another, that was really not interesting movie.
"The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love" is one of my all-time lesbian faves. I also love, love, love "But I'm A Cheerleader!" - it's so delightfully cheesy.
I liked "The Kids Are All Right" so I'm surprised when people don't. However, I didn't care much for "When Night is Falling".
Imagine Me & You...Definitely the best romantic comedy, and one I can't get tired of (re)watching...
I'm with MakingSpace on The Aggressives and everyone who said DEBS; I also love By Hook or By Crook very, very much.
Dude, what about, "World Unseen" and "Can't Think Straight"? Besides super awesome plots, you get to see the same two hot ass ladies smooch.
"Can't Think Straight" and "Yes or No" are also brilliant movies
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