Peaches' Realm

Everything I know about Dyke Drama

Dyke Classics

Anne Trister, 1985

Melancholic and sad, a story where the love between the two women Anne & Alix is never fully realized, though they both leave their boyfriends behind. Directed by Lea Pool.

 

 

The Ballad of Little Jo, 1993

A woman dresses like a man in the wild west and gets away with it ~ but when she dies, the truth comes out. Based on the life of Jo Monaghan. Directed by Maggie Greenwald. (have taped this from telly recently, will edit when I have seen it)

 

Bar Girls, 1995

A friend of mine says -  can't remember much but I quite enjoyed this. Do recall that it showed lesbians with long hair & even makeup and I liked that, rather than the stereotypical short haired thing! Cameo by Chastity Bono, Cher's lesbian daughter. Directed by Marita Giovanni.

 

Bastard Out of Carolina, 1996

An amazing and heartbreaking film directed by Anjelica Huston. Based on Dorothy Allison’s book. A story about child abuse, that will tear you apart. Not a lesbian film, but there is a lesbian in the story. Jena Malone is outstanding as Bone, and Jennifer Jason Leigh as her mother gives her best performance so far.

Better Than Chocolate, 1999

Maggie works and lives in a bookstore, meets new love Kim, and then her mother suddenly appears on her doorstep… Romance, lesbians, transgender, fighting censorship, exploring sex toys, and coming out to your mother in a hilarious mix. Only downside is the toilet scene, which makes me think of bad porn flicks. Directed by Anne Wheeler.

 

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, 1970

Cult classic about a girl rock band. Some action in this one. Directed by Russ Meyer.

 

The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant, 1972

Fassbinder's classic tale of lesbian love and lust.

 

Born in Flames, 1983

A lesbian-feminist classic, directed by Lizzie Borden.

 

Bound, 1996

Corky (Gina Gershon) is out of prison, gets a job as caretaker through local mobster, who's girlfriend Violet (Jennifer Tilly) does her best to seduce the ex-con. A classic mobster story with a lesbian touch. The only downside is Tilly's voice. Directed by Andy & Larry Wachowski. This is one of my fave films ever. I love mobster films and as such, Bound is genius. Beautiful cinematography ~ the blood in the white paint, the camera following the wire when the phone rings. Excellent!

 

 

Boys Don't Cry, 1999

Hilary Swank won an Oscar for her role as transsexual Brandon Teena (Teena Brandon). Based on a true story, we follow the events that lead up to the brutal murder of Brandon Teena. Hilary said in her Oscar speech: "I want to thank Brandon Teena for being such an inspiration to us all. His legacy lives on through our movie to remind us to always be ourselves, to follow our hearts, to not conform. I pray for the day when we not only accept our differences, but we actually celebrate our diversity." Directed by Kimberly Peirce.

 

Butterfly Kiss, 1995

Roadmovie with Amanda Plummer as psychopathic Eunice, on the road towards destruction. Saskia Reeves is her forgiving companion, Miriam. Directed by Michael Winterbottom.

 

Celine and Julie Go Boating, 1974

Original title: Celine et Julie vont en bateau. Lesbian subtext in this surreal & dreamlike story of intimate friendship between two women. Directed by Jaques Rivette.

 

The Children's Hour, 1962

Shirley MacLaine and Audrey Hepburn stars in this story about two teachers at a boarding school, accused of being lesbians. Adapted from Lillian Hellman's 1930s play and directed by William Wyler.

 

 

The Color Purple, 1985

Movie adaptation from Alice Walker's book. The lesbian love between Celie and Shug is much more obvious in the book, but this film with Whoopi Goldberg as Celie is a wonderful film and a must. Read the book, watch the film. A piece of beauty by Steven Spielberg.

 

The Conformist, 1971

Original title: Il Conformista. Directed by fabulous Bernardo Bertolucci, this is not exactly a lesbian film, and as far as I know, no real lesbian subplot, but a scene where two women share a sensual dance. It's listed under lesbian films on PopcornQ Movies. I haven't seen it, but I would think this is an incredibly beautiful film. Bertolucci films often are.

 

Depart to Arrive, 1982

Original title: Weggehen um anzukommen. A German classic about losing love and finding yourself. Directed by Alexandra von Grote.

 

Desert Hearts, 1985

A friend of mine says - classic though I haven't seen it for some years. Well made, realistic in many ways (or at least not making you think "No way!"), good acting, sex scenes again tasteful yet pretty believable, overall a real groundbreaker. Tasty actresses. Loved the scene with the driving backwards very fast in her car, cool or what! Directed by Donna Deitch.

 

The Dozens, 1981

A young woman returns to her hometown after spending time in prison. Husband expects a reunion, her mother doesn't want to deal with the reality ~ and our young heroine misses her lesbian prison lover. Directed by Christine Dall & Randall Conrad.

 

The Einstein of Sex, 1999

Not a lesbian film, but a film about the first man who fought for homosexual rights: Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld. Directed by Rosa von Praunheim, this is a must for anyone interested in the history of gay rights, according to PopcornQ Movies.

 

Extramuros, 1985

Religion, love, stigmata and passion among nuns at a convent in 16th century Spain. Carmen Maura, of Women on the Verge-fame, stars in this beautiful film directed by Miguel Picazo.

 

 

The Farewell, 1980

Finnish/Swedish story about finding your way through life and love, just after WW II. Directed by Tuija-Maija Niskanen. Original title: Avskedet.

 

Female Perversions, 1996

Tilda Swinton as successful and sexy lawyer. Directed by Susan Streitfeld.

 

The Fox, 1967

One of those "lesbian-meets-a-man-and-her-lesbian-lover-dies" kind of films. Directed by Mark Rydell.

 

Fried Green Tomatoes, 1996

Warm and funny and sad, this is a beautiful film about women today, and women in the past. We meet Idgie (Mary Stuart Masterson) & Ruth (Mary-Louise Parker), two lovers who stand by each other no matter what, their story told to us by Ninny Threadgoode (Jessica Tandy).

This movie is an adaptation of Fannie Flagg's novel with the same name, and in the book it is made clear that Idgie & Ruth are lovers. Fannie Flagg herself is open about her sexuality and lives with her lover of 20 years, the actress who plays the mother in US soap The Bold and the Beautiful…. Directed by Jon Avnet. Another one of my fave films.

 

Gertrude Stein and a Companion, 1986

About Gertrude Stein and Alice B Toklas. Directed by Ira Cirker.

 

Gia, 1998

Angelina Jolie as lesbian super model Gia Marie Curangi, who died of AIDS in 1986. Directed by Michael Cristofer.

 

Go Fish, 1994

Most of us have been there... Max (played by out lesbian Guinevere Turner) has it all ~ there's just one thing. She hasn't had a date for ten months, so her friends decide it's time to fix her up with the perfect woman. Directed by Rose Troche. It's not one of the best I have ever seen, but I still recommend it.

 

The Handmaid's Tale, 1990

Movie adaptation of Margaret Atwood's novel. Directed by Volker Schlondorff and starring Robert Duvall, Natasha Richardson and Elizabeth McGovern.

 

Heavenly Creatures, 1995

Bizarre film based on a true story. The story in itself is quite fascinating, but the acting seems to be a bit too much. As if Mr Jackson thought we couldn't appreciate and understand the fantasy the girls lived in without them playing their roles rather hysterically. I'd rather read a book about the real story, than waste time watching this one again. I am a fan of Kate Winslet but her acting seems too hysterical in this one. Shame on a fascinating story. Located in New Zeeland in the 1950's. Kate Winslet in one of the leads. Directed by Peter Jackson.

 

High Art, 1997

Ally Sheedy as lesbian photographer Lucy, who meets young Syd. Directed by Lisa Cholodenko.

 

 

Hotel New Hampshire, 1984

Classic film where a young Jodie Foster has a fling of sorts with an equally young Natassja Kinksi. Directed by Tony Richardson.

 

I, The Worst of All, 1990

A film about real-life nun and poet, Juana Ines de la Cruz, who lived and loved in 17th century Mexico. Directed by Maria Luisa Bemberg.

 

If These Walls Could Talk II, 2000

Three stories in one. The first story is about an elderly lesbian couple in 1961, Vanessa Redgrave is magnificent in this story about loss and sorrow. The second story takes place in the 1970's with Michelle Williams as feminist dyke who meets Chloe Sevigny's baby butch ~ a love affair not appreciated by Williams' feminist friends. The third story takes place in the present, and we meet lovers Ellen DeGeneres & Sharon Stone as they prepare for parenthood. An excellent film.

Directed by Jane Anderson (1961), Martha Coolidge (1972) & Anne Heche (2000).

 

 

Johnny Guitar, 1954

Not a lesbian film really, a western that is anti-western, with some tension between Joan Crawford & Mercedes McCambridge. Directed by Nicholas Ray.

 

Julia, 1977

Jane Fonda & Vanessa Redgrave in a film about friendship ~ or is it a love story? Directed by Fred Zinneman.

 

The Killing of Sister George, 1968

A true lesbian classic. I haven't seen it yet, but intend to find it. Directed by Robert Aldrich.

 

 

The Last Island, 1990

Five men and two women survive a plane crash on a deserted island, and eventually become aware that they are the sole survivors after a world disaster. Directed by Marleen Gorris.

 

Les Biches, 1968

Bisexual love triangle with a depressing ending. Directed by Claude Chabrol.

 

Maedchen in Uniform, 1931

Directed by Leontine Sagan

Maedchen in Uniform, 1957

Directed by Geza von Radvanyi

The lesbian classic about a schoolgirl's crush on her teacher, the original made in 1931, and the remake of 1957. Try to find them, or one of them.

 

The Nun, 1966

Two convents, three abbesses, one asexual nun. Based on Diderot's 1796 novel, this is a story about corruption, abuse of power, and uninhibited sexual behaviour. Original title: La Religieuse. Directed by Jaques Rivette.

 

Olivia, 1950

Also known as 'Pit of Loneliness'. Not as well-known as Maedchen in Uniform, but a similar story. A young woman's love for her teacher at a boarding school. Directed by Jacqueline Audry.

 

Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, 1990

Adaptation from the book by Jeanette Winterson. We meet marvellous actress Charlotte Coleman in the lead as Jess, a young lesbian who grows up in a highly religious family. Directed by Beeban Kidron.

 

 

Pandora's Box, 1928

Louise Brooks as Lulu, a femme fatale who seduces both men and women. Directed by G. W. Pabst.

 

Persona, 1966

Ingmar Bergman puts Liv Ullman & Bibi Andersson together, hinting at lesbian desire, in this Swedish classic.

 

Personal Best, 1982

Mariel Hemingway as the lesbian athlete who falls in love with her team mate. Trouble starts when the coach interferes. Directed by Robert Towne.

 

 

Picnic at Hanging Rock, 1975

A group of young women at a boarding school in Australia goes on a trip to Hanging Rock. Three of the girls, and one teacher, disappear mysteriously. Set in 1901, this film is based on a novel by Joan Lindsay, and it is a remarkable and enchanting story with a hint at a lesbian romance. Directed by Peter Wier. I do recommend this one. 

 

Prey for Rock & Roll, 2003

This could well become a modern classic, if it's as good as it sounds. Gina Gershon as the bisexual lead singer of a rock band, Lori Petty and Shelly Cole as the lesbian couple in the band. Directed by Alex Steyermark and based on the autobiographical musical by Cheri Lovedog (founder of L.A. punk rock band Lovedog).

 

Queen Christina, 1933

Greta Garbo as the Swedish Queen Christina (17th Century). Not quite true to the real story, the film states that Queen Christina was straight, when in real life she gave her throne up to be with the Countess Ebba Sparre. Directed by Rouben Mamoulian.

 

Salmonberries, 1991

Adorable k.d. lang in the lead... directed by Percy Adlon.

 

Show Me Love, 1998

Swedish film about the two teenagers Agnes and Elin. Agnes is the angst-ridden outsider, desperately in love with popular Elin. Sweet, funny, empowering. Wish there would have been a film like this when I was a teenager. Directed by Lukas Moodyson. Original title: Fucking Åmål.

 

 

The Sticky Fingers of Time, 1997

A female author in the 1950's goes out to buy coffee, and ends up in the 1990's where she meets another woman. According to Sylvia.se American independent film at its best!

Directed by Hilary Brougher.

 

Strangers in Good Company, 1990

A film that allows us to meet a group of women in their 70s and 80s. None of the women are actresses, and still it's not a documentary, even though the women play themselves, more or less. Directed by Cynthia Scott.

 

Sylvia Scarlett, 1936

Katherine Hepburn in cross-dressing drama with one woman-on-woman kiss. Directed by George Cukor.

 

The Watermelon Woman, 1996

Lesbian actress Guinevere Turner in one of the leads in this film by Cheryl Dunye.

 

Therese and Isabelle, 1968

Based on the novel 'Le Batarde' by Violette Leduc. Directed by Radley Metzger.

 

Times Square, 1980

Two young girls become friends, and the film hints at more than friendship. Directed by Allan Moyle.

 

When Night is Falling, 1995

Patricia Rozema has made a poetic & beautiful film where Camille, who is a teacher at a Christian college, and engaged to a man who works at the same college, meets free spirit Petra, who travels with a circus. Twisted, weird, and beautiful, about romance, passion, and love. I recommend this one!

 

Make a free website at Freewebs.com