The Male-Inspired Lesbian Orgasm

BELOW HER MOUTH

April Mullen, 2016

Below Her Mouth was marketed as "a lesbian movie that finally has the female gaze." And then there's Erika Linder as one of the lead characters. I was excited to watch the film because of its alleged female gaze and the androgynous beauty of Miss Linder. Unexpectedly, my lezzie excitement turned into dykey disappointment.

Allow me to explain why.

Jasmine (Natalie Krill) and Dallas (Miss Linder) are two women on the opposite sides of everything. If we're talking about stereotypes, Jasmine is the femme and Dallas is the butch. Jasmine works in the hyper-feminine fashion industry, while Dallas has an uber-masculine carpentry business. Jasmine is engaged to a man, while Dallas just broke up with her girlfriend. Want labels? Okay. Jasmine is straight (or so she thought), and Dallas is a lesbian (with a certain fascination for the phallic — f*ck that sh*t).

The moment their horny worlds collide, Jasmine and Dallas begin a salacious love affair. From there, we watch and listen as the film stumbles and mumbles its way into boredom and underachievement. To begin with, the film has the usual "straight-girl-falls-for-a-lesbian" plot. Nothing new. Audiences have already seen Piper Perabo fall for Lena Headey in Imagine Me & You. And if you're a well-versed lesbian, chances are you've already seen such plot in Desert Hearts.

Nevertheless, such tale as old as time could've been less predictable and more exciting if the director only knew how to tell it in a different, more original way.

A Failed Promise

CAROL
Todd Haynes, 2015

Rare is it in life when we have an instant attraction with a stranger. No such thing as love at first sight, just "like at first sight," which eventually leads to something deeper. That's exactly what happens in Todd Haynes' latest film, Carol.

Haynes' homage to old America (the 1950s in Far from Heaven and the 1930s in HBO's Mildred Pierce) continues in Carol.

Two women at a different point in their lives cross path, become friends, and have an affair in 1950s New York. Carol Aird (Cate Blanchett) is going through a rough patch with her soon-to-be-ex-husband (Kyle Chandler). Meanwhile, Therese Belivet (Patricia Rooney Mara) is a young woman with a brighter future: a marriage proposal from a clingy pseudo-boyfriend and a potential career in photography. Carol is a housewife. Therese is a shopgirl. Two women cloistered by society's sexist box.

We see most of the film from Therese's point of view. She's a young woman who initially evaded taking risks, avoiding taking photos of people because she has some affinity issues. And then she meets Carol. Therese finally opens up her heart for the very first time. And she's now taking photos of people, of Carol to be exact. (So she has Carol to thank for that.)

Lez Do It: The Best Lesbian Music Videos I've Seen

Ain't love such a lovely feeling? So lovely, like women. Love and women are basically synonymous with each other; they are both beautiful, fascinating, sweet, moody, and unpredictable. Love and women are a many-splendored thing, but most of all they can make you go insane.

When two females fall in love with each other, it's like a super-gay-lactic explosion of milk and honey, a pretty rainbow you can't take your eyes off. Ever since Blue is the Warmest Color was released... ever since Ellen Page came out... and ever since same-sex marriage was legalized in the US, lesbian and bisexual women are starting to be seen and recognized and, maybe, accepted. Heck, even Philippine TV had its very first lesbian-themed show.

Fave LGB-Themed Movies

And the song goes: "Measure your life in love." In celebration of SCOTUS' historic decision on same-sex marriage, I compiled my ten favorite LGB-themed movies.

(In no particular order.)

Fried Green Tomatoes

Jon Avnet, 1991

An all-time fave movie of mine, Fried Green Tomatoes is a delicious film about the struggles and triumphs of women. To appeal to a wider range of audience, the film discusses lesbian love in a very discreet manner, presenting Ruth and Idgie (Mary-Louise Parker and Mary Stuart Masterson) as BFFs more than lovers. (I suggest checking out the novel to get a clearer picture of Ruth and Idgie’s love story.)

Fave Movie Moments: Blue is the Warmest Color

While watching Blue is the Warmest Color, I can't help but be enthralled by the beauty of that lady. And I'm not talking about Léa Seydoux. Not even Adèle... Ex... Exer... Exa... Exarch... Exarchopu — wait, I can do this — Exarchopoulos.

I was talking about this lady...

(Image source here.)

Da who? Actress is Alma Jodorowsky, Alejandro's granddaughter. Her character in the film is called Béatrice, the first "blue" lady to bring warmth into Adèle's la vie.

Dykon: Romy Schneider

Romy Schneider is a cinematic icon. Wait. Who? Rob Schneider? Romy. Schneider, Romy Schneider. She was an Austrian-born actress who held German and French citizenship. (Yes, I read Wikipedia. Just like all of you out there.)

When Women Flirt with Women

So, you're a lesbian (or maybe a bi female). You love women. You enjoy munching cupcakes. And rainbow is your favorite color. Oh yes. You love anything sapphic. However, you dread the obligatory viewing of The L Word and its evil offspring The Real L Word.

As a lady-loving female, you like flirting — just like any other human being, gay or straight. The L Word had a lot of flirting moments in it. But if you don't have enough time to have The L Word marathon, why not check out these films?

In celebration of the LGB Pride Month, allow me to present to you my five fave lesbian flirting moments in cinema.


BOUND

Sexy neo-noir thriller about two women who conspire to steal the mafia's money, while falling in love with each other in the process.

She Loves Her

And these are my fave stories about women who love women. Lesbian movies aren't as popular as their gay counterpart, are they? Thank God for Blue is the Warmest Color, lesbian cinema is now gaining some attention.

(In alphabetical order.)