Films about love between women have recently taken a strong place in world cinema. This topic of forbidden same-sex relationships is attracting an increasing number of directors who seek to find their answers to questions, what are the characteristics of such love, how society reacts to it. In this article we will talk about several of the most remarkable paintings with such a plot, including "Adele's Life", "Heavenly Creatures", "Handmaiden", "Misfit Hearts", "High Art", "Children's Hour", "Tomboy", "Carol".
"Adel's life"
Among films about love between women, one of the most high-profile works of recent times was the 2013 melodrama Abdelatif Keshish's "Adele's Life". The tape became the owner of the "Golden Palm Branch" of the Cannes Film Festival. Together with the director-triumph, the award was given to the leading performers Lea Seydoux and Adele Exarcopoulos.
This film about the love between women tells about the 17-year-old Adele. She meets a guy who immediately falls in love with her, but the girl herself unexpectedly for herself begins to regularly dream with an unknown girl with blue hair. Shortly before that, she accidentally met her on the street. Adele understands that the stranger beckons her, and can already do nothing with her desire to learn about her as much as possible.
In the reviews of critics about this film about love between women, it was noted that, despite its duration (the timing of the picture is almost three hours), she is constantly in suspense thanks to phenomenal and unexpected plot twists. Many appreciated the passion and sexuality, which were shown as naturally as possible.
"Children's hour"
A large number of films about love between two women began to be shot recently, but in American cinema this topic has been addressed for a long time. William Wyler’s Children's Hour drama with Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine starred in 1961.
This is the story of two college friends who open a private school for girls in New England. Their life began to crumble rapidly after an unfair accusation of a lesbian connection made by one of the students, embittered by the character Hepburn.
The film about the love between a woman and a young student was a rather bold experiment for that time, although the lesbian relationship was based on false testimonies. The main characters strive to prove their innocence, but soon become social outcasts.
At the same time, a personal tragedy unfolds between them, since Martha is in love with Karen, who does not reciprocate with her, remaining faithful to her fiancé.
"Heavenly creatures"
In the list of films about love between women, it is necessary to mention the biographical crime drama of Peter Jackson in 1961, "Heavenly Creatures." The picture is based on the diaries of a New Zealand assassin Pauline Parker, who in 1954 actually killed her mother. Starring in the picture appear Kate Winslet and Melanie Linsky.
This is an exciting tape that is on the verge between the detective and the horror. It tells about the romantic relationship of two teenage girls who at some point begin to have a passion for each other. Their relationship causes fear among the mother of one of the heroines, a woman tries to protect her from the harmful influence of her friend, but she herself becomes a victim.
Critics praised the tape, she received the Academy Award for Best Screenplay.
"Handmaid"
One of the most striking paintings of 2016 was the thriller Pak Chan Uk "The Handmaid", which was even nominated for the "Golden Palm Branch" of the Cannes Film Festival.
Events in this erotic tape unfold in the 30s of the XX century in the territory of South Korea. The count sends his maid to the house of a wealthy Japanese woman, who should help him win the favor of the mistress, because he wants to marry her. But only further events in the film begin to develop completely unpredictably, turning the film into one of the main cinematic revelations about same-sex love.
The main roles in it were played by Kim Ming-hee and Kim Tae-ri. This is a vivid film about the love between an adult woman and a girl who did not leave critics indifferent. The film received excellent reviews from the audience.
Misfit Hearts
Donna Ditch’s 1985 melodrama "Hearts of Hearts" starring Helen Shaver and Patricia Charbonneau is an adaptation of Jane Rule’s novel, Desert of the Heart.
The main character comes to Nevada to file a divorce from her husband. It is noteworthy that the film takes place in America in the 50s, a very Puritan era when the theme of same-sex love was actually banned.
In Nevada, Vivian settles on a ranch, where he met with the adopted daughter of a mistress named Kay. The young lady does not hide her lesbian nature. The ranch owner is trying in every way to interfere with communication between the girls, but between them, nevertheless, a romantic relationship begins.
It is worth noting that the picture turned out to be very sincere, without a hint of vulgarity, so most viewers are worthy of attention.
"High art"
Among the best films about love between women, many critics immediately recall the debut work of American director Lisa Kholodenko. This is the drama "High Art" 1998.
At the center of the story is the 24-year-old Sid, played by Rada Mitchell. She works as an editor in the journal of art photography, lives with a young man. Everything changes when a neighbor begins to flood on top of her. So, Sid meets Lucy Berliner (actress Ally Sheedy). Her photographs immediately conquer the main character, who was once a famous photographer, but recently abandoned her profession.
Sid persuades Lucy to take a series of pictures for her magazine, soon the relationship between them goes beyond the professional.
"Tomboy"
The French melodrama "Tornado" in 2011 was directed by director Celine Skyamma. This is a story about a family that moves to a new place at the very beginning of the film.
10-year-old Laura is a typical “bomb”, she has a short haircut and wears boyish clothes. In the new company, in the courtyard he appears as Miguel and starts playing football with the boys on equal terms.
Laura convinces everyone around that she is a guy, even her contemporary Lisa falls in love with her.
"Carol"
In 2015, American director Todd Haines directed the melodrama Carol. The premiere of this tape took place at the Cannes Film Festival, the film was nominated for an Oscar in six nominations.
The action of this picture, in which the main roles were played by Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, takes place in New York in the 1950s. A young saleswoman in a store called Theres meets a chic, mature and compelling Carol.
Gradually, the women get closer, soon Theres realizes that she has finally fallen in love with her new girlfriend. At the same time, Carol herself is married, but she is in a divorce stage with her husband. At this time, her husband begins to use the romantic relationship between women as an argument to get custody of their 5-year-old daughter, Rindi.
Critics praised this picture. Many called it a true masterpiece, one of the best new films about love and a real aesthetic pleasure of the season. At the same time, it should be noted that none of the six nominations for the Academy Award was won. But Rooney Mara received a prize at the Cannes Film Festival for Best Actress. The tape was recognized as the best film by the American Institute of Motion Picture Arts.