So the recently released Sonam Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao and Anil Kapoor starrer Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga has created quite a stir not only in mainstream Bollywood cinema, but also among the aam janta. It has literally shattered all glass enclosures and given way to more and more films being made on subjects that are considered a taboo in our country.
While it’s a bold and brave step in filmmaking, such films are pretty new to Bollywood but there have been many international films made on the subject of same sex relationships. Let’s take a look at some of our top picks of must watch international films about lesbians.
1.I Can’t Think Straight: An adaptation of a book by the same name
This 2008 film is adapted from a book by the same name. Directed by Shamim Sarif, the film stars Lisa Ray and Sheetal Sheth. The film is about Tala a London-based Jordanian who falls in love with Leyla who’s a British Indian woman. Both Lisa and Sheetal have caught the little nuances very well. The film is an interesting insight into the relationship they share and it’s an interesting watch.
2.Gia:The life story of a lesbian model
Gia is a biography on the life of model Gia Marie Carangi.Directed by Michael Cristofer, the film stars Angelina Jolie, Faye Dunaway, Mercedes Ruehl, and Elizabeth Mitchell.The film follows the rise and fall of the lesbian model Gia brilliantly played by Jolie.The film is shot like a documentary with commentaries by people who were close to the model.
3.Blue Is The Warmest Colour: A captivating coming of age film
This French coming of age drama is also widely known as Adele:Chapters 1 & 2. Directed by Abdellatif Kechiche, the film stars Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos in the lead. This is an award winning film which won the Palme d’Or from the official jury and the FIPRESCI Prize at the 2013 Cannes.The film is about a teenager;Adele and it’s all about discovering freedom and hidden desires.
4.The World Unseen:A historical drama
Yet another film on the subject of lesbians by director Shamim Sarif. This one though is an adaptation of her own book. The film is a historical drama set in the 50s during the beginning of apartheid, it’s based in Cape Town, South Africa. This one like too stars like I Can’t Think Straight stars Lisa Ray and Sheetal Sheth as two Indian South African women who fall in love with each other.
5.Carol: A haunting tale of forbidden love
Carol is based on a book called The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith and is set in the 50s in New York City.The film stars Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson and Kyle Chandler and directed by Todd Haynes. The film has been shot all across Ohio. It’s a beautifully made film about how two women from completely different backgrounds find love.
6.Desert Hearts: A not too subtle lesbian love story
Directed by Donna Deitch, and starring Helen Shaver and Patricia Charbonneau, Desert Hearts is anything but subtle! The film is based on the novel Desert of the Heart by Jane Rule.It’s about a woman in her 30s who finds passionate love in another woman. The most talked about scene is the famous sex scene between the two women which has been so realistically shot.
7.Kissing Jessica Stein: Is there ever a perfect man?
Kissing Jessica Stein is produced by the film’s stars, Jennifer Westfeldt and Heather Juergensen. It’s an American independent romantic comedy based on the broadway play Lipschtick. It’s about a woman’s search for a perfect man but ends up meeting the perfect woman instead! (We women are always perfect aren’t we?). Their relationship starts with a friendship but ends up in a relationship.
8. Saving Face: It’s always the fear of not being accepted
Saving Face is an American romantic comedy about a NYC Chinese-American surgeon, who fears that her family will not understand her relationship with her dancer girlfriend and hides her lesbian relationship form them. The film is well made and the images of lesbian sex are artfully shot, there are some highly emotional scenes too in the film.
9. Imagine Me And You: When friends become lovers
Like the title Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga was taken from a song by the same name, Imagine Me and You too is the first line of the song called Happy Together. Directed and written by Ol Parker, the movie was originally titled Click.The film is a love triangle of sorts.
Homosexuals and more so lesbians have been coming out slowly not only in real life but also on celluloid. It’s time to people learned to accept people for what they are and films are an excellent medium when it comes to taking the message across to the audience.
