A Lesbians Guide To The Cinema

It Was A Queer And Sultry Decade

By Caroline Ray

The ‘90s was a pivotal decade for lesbians. Despite the political difficulties facing the queer liberation movement, an influx of independent queer filmmakers appeared, telling stories of hope and pushing the boundaries of acceptance. Although most were not box-office hits at the time, this set of gritty and imperfect films have become cult classics in the queer community and pioneered the way for modern queer media. These are some of my favorites. Watermelon Woman (1996): Part fiction, part memoir, part documentary, Watermelon Woman tells the story of Cheryl Dunye as she tries to document the untold story of “The Watermelon Woman” – an unnamed Black actress from the 1930s. This film, set in a video store and told partly in homevideo style, is filled with charm and heart. It’s a true artifact of indie queer film. Bound (1996): Before there was The Matrix, the Wachowskis made their debut feature film with Bound. This erotic crime thriller follows Corky, a very gay handyman, and Violet, a mafia wife. Together, they scheme to free Violet and steal two million dollars. The film is a fully immersive spiraling rollercoaster of tension and feminine rage. I barely blinked for the entire two hour run time. Chutney Popcorn (1999): A sweet and funny story about Reena, an out lesbian, who decides to be the surrogate mother for her sister. A film about different types of love, it explores the challenges Reena faces within her relationship and family as her pregnancy develops. The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love (1995): This classic high-school rom-com is radical in how simple and conventional it is, complete with every high-school romance trope you can think of. It tells the story of two girls, Randy and Evie, as they begin a relationship and navigate the mundane horrors of growing up. I still remember the healing and 6 joyful experience of watching this for the first time.