You're Just a Bee Charmer

Remember a bit ago when there was a small flurry of movies about queer women being made and it felt a bit like Lesbian Christmas (or, you know, whatever favorite holiday you celebrate)? And it was duly dubbed The Carol Effect? Well we’ve been treated to the first footage from the Anna Paquin and Holliday Grainger lesbian romantic period piece “Tell It To The Bees.”

Set in 1950s Britain it stars Anna as a doctor who returns to her small hometown to take over her late father’s practice and Holliday as a recently single mother. If you’re keeping score at home, yes, this is the second film about a lesbian/bisexual/queer women returning home because of their father’s death (the first being “Disobedience”/that spitting movie).

Now this is just a clip, not a trailer. But already I’m into it because a) lesbian historical romance is awesome, and b) I’m a sucker for ladies who love ladies having lazy pastoral picnics together on a blanket. You can thank Idgie and Ruth for my affinity for the latter.

Also, kudos for getting hero points for the dramatic toy boat rescue and engaging in a tasteful wet T-short contest. Now, Anna just needs to give Holliday a jar of honey and it’ll be a done deal.

The Carol Effect

They say three makes a trend. And here we have three lesbian romances coming to our big screens. I call it the Carol Effect, this new slew of movies about ladies who love ladies is – of course – very welcome. The films are in various stages of production from the just announced to the already finished. I have no idea which will be good or even great or remotely worth passing the torch from “Carol.” But I am happy to handicap the field here, based on gloved lunch possibilities.

“Tell It to the Bees”

Just announced this week, the period drama is based on the book by the same name by Fiona Shaw. Set in 1950s small-town Britain it stars Anna Paquin as a young doctor who returns home to take over her late father’s practice who starts a relationship with a young mother, played by Holliday Grainger. A 50s lesbian romance? We are talking major glove lunch opportunities.

“Disobedience”

Completed and set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, this film is based on a novel by the same name by Naomi Alderman and is set in present-day London. It stars Rachel Weisz as a rabbi’s daughter who returns home after her father’s death (hold up, I sense a theme) and then rekindles a relationship with her friend, played by Rachel McAdams. From set photos, they may be wearing gloves, but somehow I don’t think they’ll be ordering poached eggs over creamed spinach for lunch anytime soon.

“Vita & Virginia”

Apparently still in pre-production, this film is based on the lives and love of literary greats Virginia Woolf and author Vita Sackville-West. The writers first met each other in 1922 and they had a decade-long affair. Eva Green ETA: Elizabeth Debicki will play Woolf and Gemma Arterton will play Sackville-West. A love story set in the roaring 20s? Gloves lunches and flapper skirts galore!

So, which lesbian (or bisexual – I don’t know how everyone personally identifies) romance are you most excited about? And, yes, I realize these are all very white couplings. Bring a little color into your romances, Hollywood. Alas, baby steps. Still, be sure to remember to lay a fresh glove on your “Carol” alter at home in thanks of this cinematic bounty.