Looking for a new film to fall in love with?
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY ZEITGEIST FILMS
Tired of rewatching Carol and But I’m A Cheerleader? Why not check out some of these lesser-known sapphic stories to find your new fave flick? From tender coming-of-age romances to thrillers, there’s something in here for everyone.
The Duke Of Burgundy (2014)
This erotic drama follows the story of a professor, Cynthia, and her devoted partner, Evelyn. The pair live in a country estate populated entirely by women. Together, they play out their own elaborate sadomasochistic power games of maid and mistress. But what happens when one of them finds these games to be a bit stale?
Circumstance (2011)
Maryam Keshavarz’s coming-of-age film sees an Iranian teenager called Atafeh enter a lesbian relationship. At the same time, her brother becomes increasingly conservative.
Fire (1996)
Deepa Mehta’s romantic drama film was one of the first mainstream Bollywood films to feature a lesbian relationship. The film follows two sisters-in-law who are trapped in loveless marriages. Their bond quickly becomes romantic, the pair finding solace in each other.
Kajillionaire (2020)
This crime-comedy film tracks Old Dolio, the daughter of two scam artists, who is invited to join her parents on their new scheme. But everything changes when a stranger, Melanie, is brought onto the plan.
Mosquita y Mari (2013)
This coming-of-age film follows two Chicana high schoolers, Yolanda and Mari. The film watches as the pair form a deep, intimate connection that neither has the words to describe.
The World To Come (2020)
This spellbinding romance tells the story of two women who form a close connection on the American frontier in 1856. Both stuck in joyless marriages, the bond the pair form soon turns intimate in this testing landscape.
The Half Of It (2020)
You may have come across this Netflix rom-com. But if you haven’t seen it, what are you waiting for?! This beautiful film follows Ellie Chu, an introverted high schooler. When a jock asks her for help writing a love letter to a girl named Aster, Ellie can’t help falling for the recipient.
Porcupine Lake (2017)
Set in a hazy summer, this Canadian film follows two pre-teen girls as they develop an unexpected romantic connection. It’s a tale of small-town summer love.
Signature Move (2017)
Looking for something a bit different? Try this rom-com all about the world of wrestling. 30-something Zaynab finds herself falling for Alma, opening a world of love, life, identity, and wrestling.
Cloudburst (2011)
Stella and Dotty head on an adventure of a lifetime to get married after Dotty is moved to a nursing home. The pair go on a road trip where they meet Prentice, a hitchhiker travelling home to meet his dying mother.
The Novice (2021)
This sports thriller follows queer college freshman Alex as she develops a dangerous, all-consuming obsession with securing a spot on the university’s varsity rowing team. Willing to push her body and mind to the limits, this film is all about what it takes to make it to the top.
Stud Life (2012)
This British film is iconic for a reason. The romcom directed by Campbell X follows JJ and her gay best friend, who work as wedding photographers. Their tight-knit bond is threatened when JJ falls for a girl named Elle.
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