sasha_feather | Queer movie reviews part 4

Saving Face 2004, Rated R. (Not streaming on Netflix.)

I watched this on a rec from

nny and I loved it! There is everything to like about this movie. It is about a young Chinese-American woman, Wil, who is part of a tightly-knit community, is a successful surgeon, and is a lesbian, but not out to her family. She begins a relationship with another Chinese-American woman in her community, Vivian. Meanwhile Wil's mother gets kicked out of family house for being pregnant and unmarried, and moves in with Wil. So, there is family drama and comedy as Wil's mom tries to find a man to please her own parents, Wil tries to come out to her mom to please her girlfriend, etc. There are almost no white people in this movie. Parts of the movie are in Chinese with English subtitles-- it is particularly cool with Wil and her mom have a conversation that is half in English, half in Chinese. This is an upbeat, romantic movie.

Outing Riley 2004. Bonus point for Nathan Fillion as one of the brothers.

Mostly I liked this movie, it's a funny story about an Irish Catholic man in Chicago who is trying to come out to his brothers. The actors were good, and similar to Saving Face, it was light-hearted and had themes of being closeted vs. out in terms of family and a romantic relationship (where one partner in the relationship is more out than the other). This movie was white and male, though, and I would have liked it better if one extended scene had been cut or rewritten: a scene where two brothers, as a prank, go spy on a neighbor woman (who is naked) through her skylight. This was played for laughs, as harmless/boyish fun, but it skeeved me out completely. The rest of the movie was very funny, and had some realistic moments, so that scene was just a huge disappointment; maybe if you watch this film you can fast forward through that part.

Show Me Love 1998. Swedish with English subtitles.

A story about lesbians in high school. Agnes is unpopular, Elin is popluar; the spin in orbit around each other through the movie. It's sweet and romantic. There is high school drama, parties, fights, etc. Warning for a brief scene of self-harm. Not a great film but I enjoyed it for what it was.