DIVA caught up with the filmmaker and actor following the film’s BAFTA longlist selection
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGES BY SISTER WIVES
It’s likely that you’ve seen a clip of the latest viral sapphic short film to take the film festival scene by storm. Sister Wives, directed by and starring Louisa Connolly-Burnham, tells the story of two sister wives, married to the same man, who start to develop feelings for each other.
Inspired after watching the Netflix documentary Keep Sweet: Pray And Obey, Louisa’s short film offers queer audiences a brand-new sapphic storyline that doesn’t end in tragedy. Alongside Mia McKenna-Bruce, the short film dives into sapphic longing, love, and liberation with a humanity and softness that we have been begging for on screen.
After being selected for the BAFTA Short Film longlist, we caught up with Louisa to find out more about the importance of telling these stories.
You shared your reaction to getting BAFTA longlisted on TikTok. What was going through your head in the moment?
I really wasn’t expecting it! It was really emotional. I’ve been in the industry for a really long time – I’ve been an actress for 20 years. BAFTA was always the dream. It’s the sort of thing you dream about getting even one shot at for your whole life. It was momentous. Even if we don’t make the nomination, it will still be the best moment of my career to date.
Sister Wives has had a brilliant run during the awards season so far, what has that felt like? What have been some of your favourite audience reactions?
Every film festival, city, and country is different. Festivals like the Iris Prize are so special because they are for the LGBTQIA community. Sister Wives is a love letter to our LGBTQIA audiences. Queer audiences are so expressive in the most beautiful way. They are more comfortable in their skin to express how they feel and what it means.
Sister Wives provides us with a queer storyline we don’t often see. What were some of the things you prioritised when filming to make sure it felt genuine?
While Sister Wives is inspired by the FLDS community, it’s also meant to represent a slightly more ambiguous group of people. I wanted to show that despite how deeply conditioned you can be living in a community like that, you are not sans empathy, emotion, or desire. I wanted there to be parallels to the FLDS but I didn’t want it to be a mean caricature. I wanted it to still have nuance and heart.
What was it like working with Mia McKenna-Bruce? How did you work together to build that chemistry?
I am really lucky in the sense that I have known Mia for about 12 years. We grew up through CBBC together. In 2021 we were cast in a show called Vampire Academy together which required us to live in Spain. I completely fell in love with her. I just thought she was so fun, talented, kind, and silly. After we wrapped, I started writing Sister Wives and she was always in my mind for that role. When it got to filming, we were already good friends. We really do love each other as people which I think does come across in the film.
Having a happy ending for this film is so powerful because often queer stories are not given those types of conclusions. Why was that important for you?
Sapphic films in particular never seem to get a happy ending. Someone always gets syphilis and dies. We’re in a dark time for women’s rights and bodily autonomy, especially in America where the film is set. I think that if we have an opportunity to spread a bit of joy and light, I want to take it. I wanted to have that symbolism that love conquers all. Women from these communities do get out and escape. A lot of them do choose to leave. We wanted to give lesbians a happy ending.
Audiences are left wondering what happens to Galilee and Kaidence, do you think there would ever be scope for a longer film?
A feature is coming…
That is very exciting. What is one message you hope LGBTQIA viewers can take from this?
I always want to be careful how I say this as I realise that I am very lucky because I am a white, able-bodied, cisgendered queer woman who lives in London. I would encourage you where possible to be your authentic self, love freely, and challenge societal norms that tell you you shouldn’t be doing that. Look after the queer people in your life. Watch more queer media. Post about it. Sing it from the rooftops. Be gentle and kind to yourself.
You can watch Sister Wives on Channel 4 now.
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