P3 - Sapphic Movies | Girl Friends of Dorothy

2003 - Monster

Hooker falls in love with a young girl. Tries to find a legit job but has to return to hooking and, starts robbing her clients. In self-defence kills a vicious client, then...

Based on Aileen Wuornos, a Daytona Beach prostitute who murdered 7 of her male clients! Psycho Killer Qu'est-ce que c'est!

Dir: Patty Jenkins | Stars: Charlize Theron & Christina Ricci

2004 - D.E.B.S.

Plaid-skirted hotty schoolgirls are recruited by a secret US government agency to the elite national-defence group, D.E.B.S. They must capture a vexing vixen, the deadliest criminal the world has ever known, without... smudging their perfectly applied lipstick!

D.E.B.S = Discipline Energy Beauty Strength. As a side-line to her writing Robinson (Director ) began to draw comics about the D.E.B.S. in college. Hammy fun!

Dir: Angela Robinson | Jordana Brewster & Sara Foste

2004 - My Summer of Love

Spoilt girl rides her horse and chances upon working-class tomboy, in the Yorkshire countryside. Over the summertime, the two young girls hang out, but can Spoilt girl be trusted?

Based on the 2001 novel "My Summer of Love" by Helen Cross. The movie score was written by mega cool Goldfrapp.

Dir: Paweł Pawlikowski | Emily Blunt & Natalie Press

2004 - Saving Face

Chinese-American surgeon falls in love with the daughter of her boss. She and her traditionalist mother, who is widowed and pregnant, are reluctant to reveal their secret loves.

It was inspired by Alice Wu's own experiences coming out as a gay woman. Classy!

Dir: Alice Wu | Stars: Michelle Krusiec & Lynn Chen

Sapphic Movies: The Journey (Sancharram)

2004 - Sancharram (The Journey)

Two girls meet at a wedding party in Kerala, S. Indian. Though one is Hindu and the other Catholic they become best friends. A student in their class, asks Hindu girl to write love letters to Catholic girl on his behalf...

Inspired by a true story of two Keralan lesbian lovers, Pullappally wanted to depict lesbians living in rural India rather than in urban India.

Dir: Ligy J. Pullappally | Suhasini V. Nair & Shruthy Menon

2004 - The L Word

Really.. do I have to? The loves and lives, of a tight-knit group of gay women living in Los Angeles are chronicled over six TV seasons. Alice's Chart summaries it all!

Spoiler Alert: Why kill off Dana in season 3! Seriously! And call me old-skool - too much bed-hopping for me.

Dir: Various

2005 - Fingersmith

Young thief, participates in an elaborate scam to defraud a young heiress of her inheritance by becoming her maid, in Victorian England. Things take an unexpected turn when maid and heiress..

Based on the novel "Fingersmith" by Sarah Waters who makes a cameo, in the TV series, as one of the servants, in the scene where young Maud arrives at Briars. Later adapated in the slick movie The Handmaiden (2016)

Dir: Aisling Walsh | Elaine Cassidy & Sally Hawkins

2005 - Imagine Me & You

Blushing bride at her wedding meets and starts a friendship with her wedding-florist who was contracted by her Mother. The newly wed ... whose love will win?

Originally, the film was conceived and written as a hetty love story.

Dir: Ol Parker | Stars: Piper Perabo & Lena Headey

2005 - Sugar Rush

15-year-old girl moves with the family to Brighton and develops a crush on her new best friend, street-wise and.. hetty Sugar. Sassy!

Based on Julie Burchill's novel. Shame on C4 for not extending after season 2.

TV series | Stars: Olivia Hallinan & Lenora Crichlow

2006 - Notes on a Scandal

Spinster history teacher befriends the school's new pretty art teacher. She sees the art teacher kissing a teenage student boy. Will she keep the secret?

Adapted from the 2003 novel of the same name by Zoë Heller. The movie featuring stereotyped predatory lessa character was nominated for four Academy Awards.

Dir: Richard Eyre | Cate Blanchett & Judi Dench

Sapphic Movies: The Chinese Botanist's Daughters

2006 - The Chinese Botanist's Daughters

Daughter of a famous Chinese botanist teacher falls in love with a female intern (an orphan of the Tangshan earthquake). Forbidden love - a crime punishable by death! Be careful what you drink.

Due to the topic of the movie it was not allowed to be shot in China and was shot in N. Vietnam.

Dir: Sijie Dai | Stars: Mylène Jampanoï & Xiaoran Li

Sapphic Movies: The Page Turner (La Tourneuse de Pages)

2006 - La Tourneuse de Pages (The Page Turner)

Passionate pianist is distracted at her audition to a Music School because one of the judges, a famous pianist, signs an autograph during her recital. Crying she leaves, and at home locks-up her sheet music and the top of the piano. Years later, girl takes revenge...

Hitchcockian creep-fest psychological thriller with lesbian undertones. Icy

Dir: Denis Dercourt | Déborah François & Catherine Frot

2007 - Daphne

Famous Novelist becomes attracted to the wife of an American publisher and to an actress.

Based on Daphne du Maurier's infatuations with American publishing tycoon's wife Ellen Doubleday and the actress Gertrude Lawrence, in the years between the 'Rebecca' trial and the writing of her short story 'The Birds'.

Dir: Clare Beavan | Geraldine Somerville & Janet McTeer

Sapphic Movies: Itty Bitty T*tty Committee

2007 - Itty Bitty Ttty Committee*

High School Grad's life aint swell: lives with her parents, her girlfriend broke up with her, and her big sis is getting married. Then, she meets Rad Girl and her uber-radical feminist lesbians, hell-bent on raising hell...

Produced by POWER UP, an American non-profit film production company whose mission is "to promote the visibility and integration of gay women in entertainment, the arts, and all forms of media".

Dir: Jamie Babbit | Melonie Diaz & Ana Mercedes

2007 - Ha-Sodot (The Secrets)

Rabi wannabe, convinces her father to postpone her marriage, and be sent to a Jewish seminary for women in the ancient Kabalistic seat of Safe. There, she and rebellious roommate try to help a dying mysterious French expatriate...

Enlightening insight into the orthodox culture where females are forbidden to sing, let alone speak out, let alone fall in love with another girl!

Dir: Avi Nesher | Fanny Ardant & Ania Bukstein

2007 - The World Unseen

Indian South African cafe owner and a married Indian South African wife embark on a dangerous relationship during South Africa's apartheid era and in a racist, sexist, and homophobic society.

The Dubai International Film Festival rejected the movie because "the subject matter doesn't exist".

Dir: Shamim Sarif | Stars: Lisa Ray & Sheetal Sheth

Sapphic Movies: Naissance Des Pieuvres (Water Lilies)

2007 - Naissance Des Pieuvres (Water Lilies)

Coming-of-age story of three girls in a middle class suburb of Paris. Chubby synchronized swimmer develops a crush on François. Her bashful best friend develops a crush on the pretty synchronized swimming team captain who is an aloof wee minx but an odd friendship develops between the two...

A slam-dunk award-winning directorial film debut by Céline Sciamma. My fav Sapphic director.

Dir: Céline Sciamma | Adèle Haenel & Pauline Acquart

2008 - I Can't Think Straight

London-based Jordanian (of Palestinian descent) is preparing for her elaborate wedding in Jordan. Her life changes when she meets her best friend's girlfriend, a British Indian Muslim aspiring writer...

Adaptation of the novel of the same name by (director) Shamim Sarif. Sarif directed the same stars (Sheetal Sheth and Lisa Ray) who also play two women who fall in love with each other in the movie The World Unseen.

Dir: Shamim Sarif | Lisa Ray & Sheetal Sheth

Sapphic Movies: My Friend from Faro (Mein Freund aus Faro)

2008 - Mein Freund aus Faro (My Friend from Faro)

Daydreamer, nearly runs over a pretty hitchhiker and then gives her a lift. It's love at first sight! Oops, pretty chick mistakenly assumes Daydreamer is a boy. So, Daydreamer assumes the alter ego of a Portuguese boy from Faro (inspired by her new co-worker)...

Trans film, or a film about a soft butch? Uncertain - this mirrors Daydreamer's own uncertainty. Regardless - it's worth watching.

Dir: Nana Neul | Lucie Hollmann & Anjorka Strechel

Sapphic Movies: The Wedding Song (Le Chant des Mariées)

2008 - Le Chant des Mariées (The Wedding Song)

Childhood friends live in the same poor tenement building in Tunis in the early 1940s. One of the girls is Muslim, the other Jewish. Can their friendship survive the strains of The Nazi occupation of Tunisia in 1942?

Due to the extensive nudity, director Albou had difficulty casting the role of the Muslim Girl. She intended to cast a Muslim Tunisian girl but had to broaden her search to all Tunisians, then went to Algeria and finally to France to search. Hats off to Olympe Borval who took on the role and learned Arabic for the role.

Dir: Karin Albou | Lizzie Brocheré & Olympe Borval,

2009 - Cracks

Coach, Miss G is idolised by her award-winning diving team at an elite British boarding school, in the 1930s. When a new girl from Spain, arrives and joins the team, Miss G's focus is shifts from them to her, and becomes, an obsession...

Miss G is filmed as being sophisticated and feminine (beautifully portrayed by Eva Green :), however, in the book Miss G is quite manly, wearing overalls, smoking cigars, is completely obsessed and more sexual. Green was up for more... robbed!

Dir: Jordan Scott | Eva Green & María Valverde

2009 - Glee

Talented misfits are roped into the high school's failing Glee club by a passionate teacher who has ambitions for their show choir to win the national finals. Over time, Mean Girl cheerleader develops feelings for her sweet cheerleader friend...

I LOVED the cheerleaders, and the actresses even though they are hetties. Absolutely gutted that Naya Rivera tragically drowned in in 2020.

Dir: Various | Naya Rivera & Heather Morris

Sapphic Movies: Män Som Hatar Kvinnor / The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2009 - Män Som Hatar Kvinnor

Swedish Kick-ass female hacker helps a journalist hunt the killer of a woman who has been dead for forty years. Can they find the killer? (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo).

Män Som Hatar Kvinnor translates as "Men Who Hate Women". Watch this version and not the 2011 Hollywood remake.

Dir: Niels Arden Oplev | Noomi Rapace

Sapphic Movies: The Fish Child (El niño pez)

2009 - El niño pez (The Fish Child)

Wealthy teen living in an exclusive suburb in Argentina is in love with her maid. Dreaming of living together in the maid's hometown in Paraguay they use any means possible to fund their escape...

Puenzo adapted The Fish Child from her 2004 novel of the same name. Killer love-on-the-run thriller

Dir: Lucía Puenzo | Inés Efron & Mariela Vitale

2010 - Black Swan

Passionate Ballerina competes with a newcomer to replace the prima ballerina for the opening production of "Swan Lake" - a dual role of the innocent White Swan and the sensual Black Swan. Rivalry between the two ballerinas transforms into a twisted friendship...

The queer "eating out" sequence - is this explicit desire for Lily or just (sexual) release?

Dir: Darren Aronofsky | Natalie Portman & Mila Kunis

Sapphic Movies: Habitación en Roma (Room in Room)

2010 - Habitación en Roma (Room in Room)

Spanish tourist, on her last night on holiday in Rome and in the last night of summer, meets soon-to-be-married young Russian tourist. She takes her to her hotel room...

Loosely based on Matias Bize's hetty Chilean movie "En La Cama" (2005). A... tour de force.

Dir: Julio Medem | Elena Anaya & Natasha Yarovenko

2010 - The Runaways

Rock chick teen dreams of becoming a rock star. At a club she meets record producer and charms him into starting an all-girl rock band with her. They cruise LA's clubs to find a blonde cherry bomb lead singer...

Based on 1970s legendary rock band The Runaways, with Cherie Currie and Joan Jett (who apparently never wore leather trousers!)

Dir: Floria Sigismondi | Kristen Stewart & Dakota Fanning

2010 - Elena Undone

Well-known out writer and pastor's wife cross paths, several times. The friendship blossoms into something deeper but wise writer tries to disentangle herself before her heart wants what she can't have...

Loosely based on the directors romance with filmmaker Marina Rice Bader.

Dir: Nicole Conn | Necar Zadegan, Thunderbird Dinwiddie

Sapphic Movies: The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister

2010 - The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister

Landowner orphan lives with her aunt and uncle who her anxious for her to marry well. She is betrayed by her lover who succumbs to a lavender marriage so must seek new love...

One sixth of Anne Lister's diaries are encrypted in code which was derived from a combination of algebra and Ancient Greek. It was deciphered by John Lister (a descendant) and his friend Arthur Burrell, in the early 1930s.

Dir: James Kent | Maxine Peake & Anna Madeley

2011 - Albert Nobbs

Timid Butler, while working at the Morrison Hotel in late 19th century, Dublin, has been secretly saving money to buy a tobacconist shop. He is indeed a she. He thinks the young maid could be the ideal wife to run a shop with...

In 1982, Close first played Albert Nobbs on stage and spent 15 years trying to turn it into a movie. Though the movie received mixed reviews it tells a poignant story which received nominations including Academy, Golden Globe Awards...

Dir: Rodrigo García | Glenn Close & Mia Wasikowska

2011 - Cloudburst

Dotty is moved into a nursing home by her granddaughter. She is broken out from the home by her long-time partner and they embark on a Thelma and Louise-style road trip to Nova Scotia, to get married. Que, boy hitchiker...

An adaptation of the play Cloudburst (2010) by Thom Fitzgerald which won the Merritt Award for Outstanding New Play.

Dir: Thom Fitzgerald | Olympia Dukakis & Brenda Fricker

Sapphic Movies: Circumstance (En Secret)

2011 - En Secret (Circumstance)

Iranian teenager, of a wealthy family, and her best friend attend illicit parties while her brother becomes dangerously obsessed with Islamic fundamentalism. The friendship evolves into...

The filmmakers sent a false script to the Lebanese authorities because the Hezbollah (a militant Shia Islamist group, supported by the Iranian government,) operated in Lebanon (the shoot location).

Dir: Maryam Keshavarz | Nikohl Boosheri & Sarah Kazemy

Sapphic Movies: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

2011 - Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (Movie)

A tale of parallel laotongs in time: In 19th-century China, seven year old girls Snow Flower and Lily are matched as "old sames" to be bound together for eternity as kindred sisters. In present day Shanghai...

Spoiler alert - this is a "sisterhood" movie. The movie Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is adapted from the 2005 successful historical novel of the same title by Lisa See. Though the movie received some negative reviews because there is no parallel modern day time line in the book, I ... liked it. Defo, the book is worth a read.

Dir: Wayne Wang | Bingbing Li & Jun Ji-hyun

Slick Sapphic Movies