By RUBY BAUDHUIN
“Love Jones” (1997) – directed by Theodore Witcher
Jazz, dinner parties, and boutique nightclub poetry. “Love Jones” is the kind of movie you want to live in: the friendships and relationships feel rich and authentic and the cast’s chemistry seeps through the screen. The film focuses on the budding relationship between Darius and Nina, as well as the lives and relationships of others in their circle.
“Show Me Love” (1998) – directed by Lukas Moodysson
Lukas Moodysson’s “Show Me Love” is a coming-of-age film that provides a compassionate glimpse into the lives of two teenage girls in their small town of Åmål, Sweden. Agnes is depressed and faces bullying and harassment from her peers for her sexuality. Elin, the girl she’s secretly in love with, is popular but finds her life of boys and partying dull and unsatisfying. After Elin kisses Agnes on a dare, the two girls begin a tender romance. The characters in “Show Me Love” can be messy, angsty, and often very cruel—but this only adds to the film’s realism. Watch for the confronting depiction of female loneliness and lesbian repression, stay for mix-in chocolate milk and a happy ending!
“Down with Love” (2003) – directed by Peyton Reed
This charming spoof of a 1960s sex comedy centers around the life of up-and-coming author Barbara Novak as she moves to New York City to promote her book, ironically titled “Down With Love.” The book, which claims to help women free themselves from the norms of committed heterosexual love, quickly becomes an international bestseller. Meanwhile, award-winning journalist and infamous player Catcher Block dismisses Barbara’s work as frivolous and petty. When Barbara insults him on live television, Catcher concocts a scheme to convince the world that Barbara Novak is a fraud. If the movie’s plot sounds ridiculous, it’s because it is. And yet, the film remains a rom-com classic; cinema has rarely been more clever, more sexy, or more fun.
“Go Fish” (1994) – directed by Rose Troche
Max is a sexually frustrated lesbian disappointed by the queer dating scene in 1990s Chicago. When her roommate sets her up with Ely, an older lesbian, Max is initially dismissive. Max considers Ely to be frumpy, boring, and unattractive. Slowly but surely, Max’s attraction to Ely grows, and the two begin a relationship. Not only does “Go Fish” offer a complicated story of unlikely love, but it also provides valuable insight into the lesbian community and sexual politics of a bygone era.
“Mississippi Masala” (1991) – directed by Mira Nair
“Mississippi Masala” follows the romance between Mina, an Indian American woman, and Demetrius, a Black man. Mina’s family are refugees from the 1972 forceful expulsion of Asian immigrants from Uganda. Understanding that their relationship will only aggravate existing racial tensions between their families, the couple chooses to keep their relationship a secret. Despite the film’s political underpinnings, it is intensely romantic and the chemistry between the leads can be felt through the screen. Also features some of the most lush and vibrant cinematography I have ever witnessed.
Featured image: Clip from Show Me Love; The Austen Chronicle
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