From lingering stares to forbidden dalliances, sit back and enjoy these beautiful love stories!
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGES BY BBC, HBO, BBC TWO, AND CJ ENTERTAINMENT
Are you searching for a bit of escapism? Maybe you want to pretend you’re at a ball, locking eyes with a sapphic love across the room? These 23 films and TV shows are perfect to enjoy if you’re looking to connect with our sapphic predecessors and pair perfectly with a cosy night in. Enjoy!
Portrait Of A Lady On Fire
Portrait Of A Lady on Fire stars Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel in a mesmerising tale of forbidden love set in 18th-century France. Directed by Céline Sciamma, this visually stunning film follows a painter commissioned to capture the wedding portrait of a reluctant bride, unravelling a passionate and poignant affair.
Colette
Keira Knightley dazzles as the charismatic French author Colette, sashaying through Parisian literary circles in a whirlwind of bohemian rebellion. Expect corsets and creativity colliding in this spirited biopic.
The Handmaiden
Park Chan-wook’s visually opulent thriller The Handmaiden unfolds like an intricately woven tapestry of deceit and desire in 1930s Korea. Kim Min-hee and Kim Tae-ri sizzle on screen, turning the art of deception into a tantalising dance of passion and betrayal.
Carol
In this 1950s romance, Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara set the screen ablaze with forbidden love. Todd Haynes orchestrates a symphony of desire and societal rebellion, where the only thing more captivating than the era’s fashion is the electric chemistry between the two leading ladies.
Summerland
Gemma Arterton takes centre stage in this World War II drama. Summerland promises a heartwarming journey as Arterton’s reclusive writer discovers the magic of love in the unlikeliest of places.
Gentleman Jack
Suranne Jones channels 19th-century swagger as Anne Lister, a landowner with a penchant for romance and a top hat. This historical drama packs more punch than a round of fisticuffs, as Lister’s audacious love affairs unfold against the backdrop of Yorkshire’s scenic landscapes.
Vita And Virginia
Gemma Arterton and Elizabeth Debicki sizzle in this 1920s tale of passion and literary prowess. Vita And Virginia invites audiences to a sumptuous soirée where the pen is as mighty as the heart, exploring the intense connection between two iconic writers.
Ammonite
Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan dive deep into the fossilised layers of 1840s England, unearthing a romance as ancient and captivating as the ammonites they excavate. Directed by Francis Lee, Ammonite promises a love story as timeless as the fossils that bind these two souls.
Fingersmith
Sally Hawkins headlines this Victorian classic where deception is an art form and trust is a rare commodity. Brace yourself for a rollercoaster of plot twists and turns as the characters navigate the elaborate schemes and secrets that make Fingersmith a tantalising period piece.
Tell It To The Bees
Anna Paquin and Holliday Grainger navigate the rocky terrain of post-World War II Scotland in a love story that’s as sweet as honey. Tell It To The Bees is a charming tale of love overcoming societal buzzkills, with a hint of countryside magic thrown in.
A Quiet Passion
Cynthia Nixon’s portrayal of Emily Dickinson is a poetic masterpiece. Terence Davies crafts a biographical drama that captures not only the words on the page but also the profound silence that envelops the life of one of America’s greatest poets.
Lizzie
Chloë Sevigny and Kristen Stewart wield axes and attitude in this psychological thriller, rewriting the infamous Borden family saga. Lizzie transforms the historical murder mystery into a gripping exploration of repressed desires and societal constraints.
Elisa And Marcela
Isabel Coixet helms this historical drama that turns the page on conventional romance. Natalia de Molina and Greta Fernández’s love story challenges societal norms in 1901 Spain, proving that history’s most passionate tales often defy the rules.
The Buccaneers
In this lavish period drama, American heiresses set sail to conquer British hearts in Edith Wharton’s world. Prepare for an opulent feast of costumes, courtships, and cunning as these ladies traverse the high seas of 19th-century high society.
The Color Purple (2023)
The Color Purple blooms once more in this dazzling revival, where a stellar cast breathes new life into Alice Walker’s masterpiece. Set against a backdrop of racial and gender injustice, the 2023 adaptation promises an emotionally charged and empowering experience.
The Confessions Of Frannie Langton
Dive into the lush world of 19th-century intrigue and mystery with this adaptation of Sara Collins’ novel. The compelling tale of Frannie Langton, accused of murder, unfolds like a gripping page-turner, revealing secrets and seeking justice in the dark corners of history.
The World To Come
Katherine Waterston and Vanessa Kirby ignite the screen in this 19th-century romance, a passionate exploration of love amid the untamed landscapes of the American frontier. The World to Come promises a journey where emotions run as wild as the wilderness that frames it.
The Favourite
Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, and Rachel Weisz commandeer the royal court with regal wit and scandalous affairs in this darkly comedic period drama. Yorgos Lanthimos directs a deliciously irreverent tale of power plays and palace politics.
Tipping The Velvet
Brace for a romp through Victorian England’s underground lesbian scene in this cheeky adaptation of Sarah Waters’ novel. With a dash of humour and a sprinkle of scandal, Tipping The Velvet promises a rollicking journey through passion and self-discovery.
Bessie
Queen Latifah takes centre stage in this biopic of blues legend Bessie Smith. The film crescendos through the highs and lows of Smith’s life, capturing the raw energy of her music and the indomitable spirit that made her an icon.
Farewell, My Queen
Diane Kruger and Léa Seydoux navigate the turbulent waters of the French Revolution in this visually stunning period drama. Directed by Benoît Jacquot, Farewell, My Queen offers a gripping tale of loyalty, betrayal, and the tumultuous end of an era.
The World Unseen
Set against the backdrop of apartheid-era South Africa, this drama delves into the forbidden love between two women of different races. The World Unseen is a visually striking and emotionally resonant exploration of love in the face of societal prejudice.
The Hours
Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, and Julianne Moore weave a tapestry of emotions across time in this intricately connected narrative. Stephen Daldry’s The Hours is a poetic exploration of the impact of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway on three women navigating the complexities of life.
DIVA magazine celebrates 30 years in print in 2024. If you like what we do, then get behind LGBTQIA media and keep us going for another generation. Your support is invaluable.
