Lesbian, WLW & Sapphic Movie Reviews

『A Portrait of Courageous Love Beyond Differences and Boundaries』 🎥 Movie Overview 🎬 Title: Polarized (2023) 🌍 Country: 🇬🇧 UK – 🇨🇦 Canada co-production 🎞️ Genre: Drama / Romance / Queer ⏳ Runtime: 109 min 📢 Director: Shamim Sarif 📺 Platform: Tubi (as of June 2024, regionally restricted) 👩‍💼 Cast: Holly Deveaux – Lisa Maxine Denis – Dalia 🧩 Deep Dive into the Story (Spoilers) 🌾 A Clash of Extremes: Race, Religion, and Economic Backgrounds The most distinctive feature of 《Polarized》 is the stark contrast in the protagonists’ backgrounds. This goes beyond a simple narrative device to symbolically reflect the film’s theme of a 'divided world.' Dalia: A member of a successful Palestinian immigrant Muslim family, she is the manager and overseer of an urban farm. She struggles under the burden of carrying on her family’s success while facing religious and familial pressure to marry her designated fiancé. Lisa: From a poor white f...

『In the Midst of Chaos, Discovering the True Self and the Boundary Between Friendship and Love』 🎥 Movie Overview 🎬 Title: Am I OK? (2022) 🌍 Country: 🇺🇸 USA 🎞️ Genre: Drama / Comedy / Queer ⏳ Runtime: 86 minutes 📢 Directors: Tig Notaro, Stephanie Allynne 🖋️ Screenplay: Lauren Pomerantz 📺 Platform: HBO Max (currently Max) 👩‍💼 Cast: Dakota Johnson – Lucy Sonoya Mizuno – Jane Kiersey Clemons – Brittany 🧩 In-Depth Story Exploration (Spoilers) 🌱 Honest Answers to the Question “Am I OK?” in One’s 30s The film Am I OK? (2022) is the joint directorial debut of married comedian couple Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne, based on the real-life experiences of writer Lauren Pomerantz. It deeply resonates by focusing on two central themes: the delicate psychology of a woman who discovers her sexual identity later in life , and the shifting dynamics of a long-standing best friendship . 🌈 Coming Out Later in Life: A Universal Story of Growth and Self-Accept...

『Wounds and Secrets Buried in the Snow, and the Quiet Blossoming of Love Between Two Women』 🎥 Film Overview 🎬 Title: Despite the Falling Snow (2016) 🌍 Country: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🎞️ Genre: Spy Drama / Romance / Queer Narrative ⏳ Runtime: 97 minutes 📢 Director: Shamim Sarif 🖋️ Screenplay: Shamim Sarif 📖 Based on: Novel of the same name by Shamim Sarif 📺 Platform: Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, etc. 👩‍💼 Cast: Rebecca Ferguson – Katya / Lauren Antje Traue – Marina 🧩 In-Depth Story Exploration (Spoilers) ❄️ Hidden Love and Pain in a Cold Era Against the vast backdrop of Cold War tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States, the love between spy Katya and Foreign Ministry official Alexander (Sasha) was destined to involve danger and sacrifice. Their secret relationship, betrayal, and Katya’s sudden disappearance remained a long-standing mystery. Lauren, Sasha’s niece and an artist, prepares for her exhibition in Moscow while uncovering her...

『Between Truth and Rumors, the Anxiety and Solidarity of Queer Relationships』 🎥 Series Overview 🎬 Title: Rumors (2024) 🌍 Country: 🇺🇸 USA 🎞️ Genre: Drama / Queer / Relationships 🗓️ Production & Broadcast: American web series, 5 episodes ⏳ Runtime: 20–30 minutes per episode 📢 Directors: Matthew Darcy Vieira, Nicole Vernarec 🖋️ Writer: Nicole Vernarec 📺 Platform: Official YouTube, other web streaming platforms 👩‍💼 Cast: Nicole Vernarec (Cat) Ashley Saint George (Lindsey) Jodi Moore Lewis (Trina) Cheyenne Rey Hernandez (Lucy) 🧩 Story Deep Dive (Spoilers) 🎭 The Beginning of a Relationship Amidst Anxiety Cat suffered from rumors and prejudice during her school years, but as an adult she pursues her dream of becoming an actress and starts a new life. After moving from Boston to LA, she meets Lindsey at an audition. They quickly become close, move in together as roommates, and become a source of comfort and support for each other. At first, Lind...

『A Fierce Coming-of-Age Drama Where Competition and Love Collide』 🎥 Movie Overview 🎬 Title: Personal Best (1982) 🌍 Country: 🇺🇸 USA 🎞️ Genre: Sports / Romance / Queer ⏳ Runtime: approximately 109 minutes 📢 Director & Screenplay: Robert Towne 👩‍💼 Cast: Mariel Hemingway – Chris Cahill Patrice Donnelly – Tory Skinner 🧩 Story Deep Dive (Spoilers) 🏃‍♀️ Physical Intimacy and Queer Narrative: The Edge of Innovation and Controversy The most groundbreaking and controversial aspect of this film is its portrayal of the relationship between the two female protagonists, Chris and Tory . Natural depiction of sexual fluidity: The film treats the lesbian/bisexual relationship between the two athletes as a natural part of life rather than a shocking event . In early 1980s mainstream Hollywood, it was extremely rare to portray a same-sex relationship so casually and openly. Their first kiss occurs after a grueling arm-wrestling contest, an extension of th...

『A Story of Women Finding Their Path Between Familiarity and Genuine Feelings』 🎥 Movie Overview 🎬 Title: The Four-Faced Liar (2010) 🌍 Country: 🇺🇸 USA 🎞️ Genre: Comedy / Romance / Drama ⏳ Runtime: 88 minutes 📢 Director: Jacob Chase 🖋️ Screenplay: Marja-Lewis Ryan 👩‍💼 Cast: Emily Peck – Molly Marja-Lewis Ryan – Bridget 🧩 Story Deep Dive (Spoilers) 🌆 The Meaning of ‘The Four-Faced Liar’ The movie’s title comes from the Irish-style pub that the protagonists often frequent. The pub’s name originates from an Irish clock tower whose four faces all show different times, making it ‘a liar on all sides.’ This symbolizes the film’s central theme of lies and deception —the falsehoods the four protagonists tell each other and themselves about their relationships and desires. At its core, The Four-Faced Liar follows the fiery trajectory of the relationship between the two women protagonists, Molly and Bridget . Their meeting and romance go beyond the typ...

『An Emotional Experiment of 24 Hours Exploring the Density and Speed of Love』 🎥 Movie Overview 🎬 Title: Duck Butter (2018) 🌍 Country: 🇺🇸 USA 🎞️ Genre: Drama / Romance / Experimental ⏳ Runtime: 90 minutes (approx.) 📢 Director: Miguel Arteta 🖋️ Screenplay: Miguel Arteta, Alia Shawkat 👩‍💼 Cast: Alia Shawkat – Naima Laia Costa – Sergio 🧩 Story Deep Dive (Spoilers) ⏳ The 24-Hour Emotional Experiment Naima and Sergio meet by chance and feel an immediate attraction. Seeking to escape the superficiality and dissatisfaction of past relationships, they attempt an experimental bond: staying awake for 24 hours and having sex every hour . In this single day, they experience what feels like years of a relationship condensed—ranging from euphoric intimacy to intense conflict. 🦋 Emotional Resonance and Meaning 💔 The 'Acceleration' and 'Collapse' of Intimacy The film’s core revolves around Sergio’s suggestion: " We can skip tim...

『A Quiet Revolution of Becoming Oneself Through Love』 🎥 Movie Overview 🎬 Title: Lianna (1983) 🌍 Country: 🇺🇸 USA 🎞️ Genre: Drama / Queer / Coming-of-age ⏳ Runtime: 110 minutes 📢 Director: John Sayles 🖋️ Screenplay: John Sayles 📺 Platform: Kino Lorber, Criterion Channel, etc. 👩‍💼 Cast: Linda Griffiths – Lianna Massey Jane Hallaren – Ruth Brennan 🧩 Story Deep Dive (Spoilers) 🧍‍♀️ Isolation Within Family and Inner Conflict Lianna is a mother of two, living what appears to be a stable life with her husband Dick, a college professor. Yet beneath this exterior, she feels deep isolation as her emotions and desires are ignored . Dick is absorbed in his own academic success, showing indifference toward her inner struggles. This dynamic gradually leads to identity confusion and a restless search for self within the confines of marriage. 📚 The Encounter with Ruth, Opening the Door to Self By chance, Lianna takes a psychology course at a local coll...

『The Moment When Family Became Love』 🎥 Drama Overview 🎬 Title: Transit Girls (トランジットガールズ, 2015) 🌍 Country: 🇯🇵 Japan 🎞️ Genre: Romance / Drama / Queer / Youth 🗓️ Production: Fuji TV, Terrace House production team, total of 8 episodes ⏳ Runtime: Approximately 25 minutes per episode 📢 Director: Yoshihiro Fukagawa (深川栄洋) and others 👩‍💼 Cast: Itō Sairi (伊藤沙莉) – Sayuri Hayama (葉山小百合) Sakuma Yui (佐久間由衣) – Yui Shimamura (志田唯) 🧩 Deep Dive into the Story (Spoilers) 🏠 Living Together as a New Family, A Story Beginning with Conflict Due to their parents’ remarriage, Sayuri and Yui end up living under the same roof, revealing an immediate emotional distance . The awkwardness of being “new family” and the weight of their personal pains push them apart, but as their daily lives intertwine, they begin to sense each other’s voids. When Yui reaches out to Sayuri in her moments of hurt, their relationship gradually surpasses the conventional definition of ‘family’ ....

『A Journey Where Love Completes Life, Rediscovering Family and Identity』 🎥 Movie Overview 🎬 Title: Love My Life (ラブマイライフ, 2011) 🌍 Country: 🇯🇵 Japan 🎞️ Genre: Queer / Romance / Coming-of-Age / Youth ⏳ Runtime: 96 minutes 📢 Director: Koji Kawano (河野 耕二) 🖋️ Original Work: Manga Love My Life by Ebine Yamaji (山路えびね) 👩‍💼 Cast: Yoshii Rei – Ichiko (一子) Imajuku Asami – Eri (エリ) 🧩 Story Deep Dive (Spoilers) 👩‍❤️‍👩 Coming Out and a Shocking Secret Ichiko gathers the courage to tell her father that she is dating her girlfriend Eri . Contrary to her expectations, her father not only accepts her relationship without hesitation but also reveals a shocking truth: he is gay , and Ichiko’s late mother was a lesbian . The two had married as friends in order to have a child. 🧠 A Temporary Separation and Reunion Eri suggests they temporarily break up so she can focus on preparing for her exams, and the couple parts ways. During this time, Ichiko begins tr...

『A Portrait of a Woman Crumbling at the Crossroads of Love and Power』 🎥 Movie Overview 🎬 Title: Die bitteren Tränen der Petra von Kant (The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant, 1972) 🌍 Country: 🇩🇪 West Germany 🎞️ Genre: Psychological Drama / Queer / Theatrical Mise-en-scène ⏳ Runtime: 124 minutes 📢 Director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder 🖋️ Screenplay: Based on Fassbinder’s play of the same name 👩‍💼 Cast: Margit Carstensen – Petra Hanna Schygulla – Karin Irm Hermann – Marlene 🧩 In-Depth Story Exploration (Spoilers) 🎭 A Theatrical Chamber Drama: The Stage of Power The most striking feature of the film is that the entire setting is confined to the bedroom-cum-studio of fashion designer Petra von Kant . This originates from Fassbinder’s adaptation of his own stage play, but once translated into cinema, it creates a powerful sense of claustrophobia and symbolizes the emotional prison of the characters . Mise-en-scène and Symbolism: The luxurious and decad...

『Desire and Identity Crumbling at the Border of Dreams and Reality』 🎥 Film Overview 🎬 Title: Mulholland Drive (2001) 🌍 Country: 🇺🇸 USA / 🇫🇷 France 🎞️ Genre: Psychological / Mystery / Thriller / Queer ⏳ Runtime: 147 minutes 📢 Director: David Lynch 🏆 Awards: Best Director at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival, NYFCC Best Actress Award, etc. 📺 Platforms: Watcha, Apple TV, Google TV, etc. 👩‍💼 Cast: Naomi Watts – Diane Selwyn / Betty Laura Harring – Camilla Rhodes / Rita 🧩 In-Depth Story Exploration (Spoilers) 🌌 The Möbius Strip of Dreams and Hollywood Nightmares David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive is regarded as one of the greatest films of the 21st century, and at the same time one of the most enigmatic. Rather than following a straightforward narrative, the film operates as a labyrinth where the audience is constantly navigating the boundaries between dream and reality, illusion and desire . On the surface, it appears like a neo-noir mystery expos...