Movies à La Queer

(Penelope Cruz and Milena Smit in "Madres Paralelas". Courtesy of IMDB)

"MADRES PARALELAS" / "PARALLEL MOTHERS"

Spain, 2021

Written & Directed by: Pedro Almodóvar

Starring: Penelope Cruz and Milena Smit

Synopsis: Two single women meet in a hospital room where they are both going to give birth. One is middle aged and doesn't regret it, while the other is adolescent and scared. The two women form a strong bond with one another as they both confront motherhood.

(Kodi Smit-McPhee and Benedict Cumberbatch in "The Power of the Dog". Courtesy of IMDB)

"THE POWER OF THE DOG"

Australia / New Zealand, 2021

Written & Directed by: Jane Campion

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Kirsten Dunst

IMDB Synopsis: Charismatic rancher Phil Burbank inspires fear and awe in those around him. When his brother brings home a new wife and her son, Phil torments them until he finds himself exposed to the possibility of love.

(Isabelle Fuhrman in "The Novice". Courtesy of IMDB)

"THE NOVICE"

U.S.A., 2021

Written & Directed by: Lauren Hadaway

Starring: Isabelle Fuhrman, Amy Forsyth, Dilone

IMDB Synopsis: A college freshman joins her university's rowing team and undertakes an obsessive physical and psychological journey to make it to the top varsity boat, no matter the cost.

Happy Holidays, Fam'! This year has been a crazy one and I apologize for the unannounced hiatus. But, Movies à la Queer will return to its scheduled programming next month, in the beautiful new year of 2022. Thanks to those who still ride with me and this little podcast of mine. 

In the meantime, enjoy this re-upload of a new Holiday favorite, "Happiest Season"! 

(Mackenzie Davis and Kristen Stewart in "Happiest Season". Courtesy of IMDB)

"HAPPIEST SEASON"

U.S.A. , 2020

Written / Directed by: Clea DuVall

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Aubrey Plaza

(Jennifer Beals, Kate Moennig, and Leisha Hailey in The L Word Generation Q)

"The L Word: Generation Q" (2019-)

Show Created by: Ilene Chaiken, Kathy Greenberg, and Michele Abbott

Starring: Jennifer Beals, Katherine Moennig, Leisha Hailey, Arienne Mandi, Sepideh Moafi, Leo Sheng, Jacqueline Toboni, Rosanny Zayas 

Wiki Synopsis: Generation Q is set over ten years after The L Word, in the new setting of Silver Lake, Los Angeles. Several actors from the original series returned to reprise their roles alongside a new ensemble of diverse characters. The show centers on a group of diverse LGBTQIA+ characters experiencing love, heartbreak, sex, setbacks, personal growth and success in Los Angeles.

(The cast of The L Word: Generation Q 2019) 

"The L Word: Generation Q" (2019-)

Show Created by: Ilene Chaiken, Kathy Greenberg, and Michele Abbott

Starring: Jennifer Beals, Katherine Moennig, Leisha Hailey, Arienne Mandi, Sepideh Moafi, Leo Sheng, Jacqueline Toboni, Rosanny Zayas 

Wiki Synopsis: Generation Q is set over ten years after The L Word, in the new setting of Silver Lake, Los Angeles. Several actors from the original series returned to reprise their roles alongside a new ensemble of diverse characters. The show centers on a group of diverse LGBTQIA+ characters experiencing love, heartbreak, sex, setbacks, personal growth and success in Los Angeles.

(Izïa Higelin and Cécile de France in 2015's La Belle Saison/Summertime) 

"LA BELLE SAISON" / "SUMMERTIME" 

France/Belgium, 2015

Directed by: Catherine Corsini

Starring: Izïa Higelin, Cécile de France

IMDB Synopsis: A young woman moves from the French countryside to Paris and begins a passionate love affair with a feminist leader in this drama set in 1970s France.

(Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer in Killing Eve) 

"Killing Eve" (US, 2018-)

Season 3 - U.S.A., 2020

Show Creator: Phoebe Waller-Bridge 

Starring: Sandra Oh, Jodie Comer

IMDB Synopsis: After a series of events, the lives of a security operative and an assassin become inextricably linked.

(Abby McEnany and Theo Germaine in Work in Progress Season 1)

"Work in Progress" (US, 2019-)

Season 1 - U.S.A., 2019

Show Creator: Abby McEnany, Tim Mason

Starring: Abby McEnany, Theo Germaine, Karin Anglin, Celeste Pechous

IMDB Synopsis: Abby, a 45-year-old self-identified fat, queer dyke whose misfortune and despair unexpectedly lead her to a vibrantly transformative relationship. 

(Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer in "Killing Eve")

"Killing Eve" (US, 2018-2020)

Season 2 - U.S.A., 2019

Show Creator: Phoebe Waller-Bridge 

Starring: Sandra Oh, Jodie Comer

IMDB Synopsis: After a series of events, the lives of a security operative and an assassin become inextricably linked.

(Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer in Killing Eve) 

"Killing Eve" (US, 2018-2020)

Season 1 - U.S.A., 2018

Show Creator: Phoebe Waller-Bridge 

Starring: Sandra Oh, Jodie Comer

IMDB Synopsis: After a series of events, the lives of a security operative and an assassin become inextricably linked.

(Kiersey Clemons and Jaqueline Toboni in "Easy" 2019)

"Spontaneous Combustion" - EASY (US, 2016-2019)

U.S.A., 2019

Written & Directed by: Joe Swanberg

Starring: Kiersey Clemons, Jaqueline Toboni

IMDB Synopsis: When Chase and Jo's lease is up, Chase admits she's not ready to be in a committed relationship. But making a clean break isn't easy.

(Katherine Waterston and Vanessa Kirby in "The World to Come")

"THE WORLD TO COME"

U.S.A., 2020

Directed: Mona Fastvold

Starring: Katherine Waterston, Vanessa Kirby, Christopher Abbott

IMDB Synopsis: Somewhere along the mid-19th century American East Coast frontier, two neighboring couples battle hardship and isolation, witnessed by a splendid yet testing landscape, challenging them both physically and psychologically. 

(Guinevere Turner and Cheryl Dunye in "The Watermelon Woman"0

"THE WATERMELON WOMAN"

U.S.A., 1996

Written/Directed: Cheryl Dunye

Starring: Cheryl Dunye, Guinevere Turner, Valarie Walker

Synopsis: 25 year old Cheryl is a black, lesbian filmmaker in Philadelphia with a purpose to make a documentary centering on a forgotten 1930’s actress while dealing with issues of race and homophobia. 

(Edward Chen and Jing-Hua Tseng in "Your Name Engraved Herein")

"YOUR NAME ENGRAVED HEREIN" / 刻在你心底的名字

Taiwan, 2020

Directed by: Kuang-Hui Liu

Starring: Edward Chen, Jing-Hua Tseng

Netflix Synopsis: In 1987, as martial law ends in Taiwan, Jia-Han and Birdy fall in love amid family pressure, homophobia and social stigma.

(Alec Secareanu and Josh O'Connor in "God's Own Country")

"GOD'S OWN COUNTRY"

United Kingdom, 2017

Directed by: Francis Lee

Starring: Josh O'Connor, Alec Secareanu

(Saoirse Ronan and Kate Winslet in "Ammonite")

"AMMONITE"

United Kingdom, 2020

Directed by: Francis Lee

Starring: Kate Winslet, Saoirse Ronan

(Kim Tae-ri and Kim Min-hee in "The Handmaiden". Courtesy of Amazon Prime)

"THE HANDMAIDEN"/"AGASSI"

South Korea, 2016

Directed by: Chan wook-Park

Starring: Kim Min-hee and Kim Tae-ri

(Fran Drescher, Blake Lee, & Hugo Spencer in "The Christmas Setup"

"THE CHRISTMAS SETUP"

U.S.A. , 2020

Directed by: Pat Mills

Starring: Ben Lewis, Blake Lee, Fran Drescher

(Mackenzie Davis and Kristen Stewart in "Happiest Season". Courtesy of IMDB)

"HAPPIEST SEASON"

U.S.A. , 2020

Written / Directed by: Clea DuVall

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Aubrey Plaza

(Adriana DeMeo & Nia Fairweather in "A New York Christmas Wedding" 2020. Courtesy of Netflix)

"A NEW YORK CHRISTMAS WEDDING"

U.S.A. , 2020

Written / Directed by: Otoja Abit

Starring: Nia Fairweather, Adriana DeMeo, Cooper Koch

Kiersey Clemons & Jacqueline Toboni in "Easy" (2017)

"Lady Cha Cha" - EASY (US, 2016-2019)

Written & Directed by: Joe Swanberg

Starring: Kiersey Clemons and Jacqueline Toboni

Kiersey Clemons and Jacqueline Toboni in "Easy"

"VEGAN CINDERELLA" - EASY (US, 2016-2019)

Written & Directed by: Joe Swanberg

Starring: Kiersey Clemons and Jacqueline Toboni

Adèle Haenel and Noémie Merlant in "Portrait of a Lady on Fire"

"PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE"/"PORTRAIT DE LA JEUNE FILLE EN FEU"

France, 2019

Written / Directed by: Céline Sciamma

Starring: Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel

(Hannah Gadsby Netflix) 

(Kiersey Clemons & Sasha Lane in "Hearts Beat Loud" 2018)

Mackenzie Davis & Charlize Theron in "Tully" 2018

After 8 months-- your girlfriend breaks up with you due to your commitment-issues!

"I love you?...But I'm just getting to know you!", you reply.

And now you're single-- wait, no you're not. You have a BOYFRIEND. Oh -- and HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND?

Final Rating: 4.2 -- Tune in!

Picture yourself surrounded by wonderfully, happy friends, enjoying their lives and partners while you're stuck in an unhappy  marriage. One of your friends suggests "taking on a female lover."

What do you do?

Final Rating: 2.75