Lesbianism in Film: A History - Alphabetical List
Alphabetical Listing of Films
NOTE: Titles in the alphabetical and chronological[1] lists annotated with "[H-Histsex: <name>]" were listed by members of the H-Histsex forum[2] in a thread commencing 10th October 2008 and accessible via H-Net's on-line discussion logs for H-Histsex[3]. The thread began with a general query about the history of lesbianism in film, so contributions ranged widely across genres and regions, and encompassed films featuring lesbian central characters and plots, as well as those with only minor characters or scenes; or in which the lesbian theme appears as an assumption, suggestion, suspicion, or accusation, or as an experiment or a possibility not or not fully realized. There are also some listings, marked as "[TV]", for made-for-television films, feature-length episodes of television series, and series with lesbian principal characters or themes. Documentary films are marked "[Documentary]", and posters to H-Histsex recommended The Celluloid Closet[4] and Fabulous![5] listed below as documentaries on the history of homosexuality, male and female, in film. An attempt has been made to give a basic indication of the relative importance of lesbian characters, themes, and plot-elements in the various titles, where known.
Additions and Corrections: Those wishing to make minor additions or corrections to this list, but not to edit this page, can send contributions by e-mail to an address specifically created for that purpose[6] - please note that this e-mail address is a personal one created solely to facilitate additions to the lists below, and has no connection with the hosts, administrators, or owners of OutHistory.org, or indeed those of H-Histsex or H-Net on which the original lists of films were posted. For new titles, please include as much information as you know; and please indicate clearly whether you wish to be personally identified as the contributor of information, or would prefer your contribution to be included anonymously (in which case it will be marked as "by correspondence").
101 Reykjavík (2000) [IMDb][7] - [H-Histsex: Svanur Pétursson] (principal characters and plot-element)
Abnormal Beauty: see "Sei mong se jun"
After Sex (2000) [IMDb][8] - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer] (principal characters)
All About My Mother: see "Todo sobre mi madre"
Alucarda, la hija de las tinieblas (1978) [IMDb][9] - [H-Histsex: Julie Peakman]
Attachments [TV] (2000-2) [IMDb][10] - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer] (principal and secondary characters)
Bend It Like Beckham (2002) [IMDb][11] (assumption about principal character)
Better Than Chocolate (1999) [IMDb][12] - [H-Histsex: Margaret Robinson]
Between the Lines [TV] (1992-4) [IMDb][13] - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer] (principal and secondary characters, significant sub-plot)
Bitter Moon (1992) [IMDb][14] - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer] (principal characters, brief sequence)
Bitteren Tränen der Petra von Kant, Die ["The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant"] (1972) [IMDb][15] - [H-Histsex: Svanur Pétursson]
Blue Gate Crossing: see "Lan se da men"
Bound (1996) [IMDb][16] - [H-Histsex: Margaret Robinson, Terrence Lockyer] (principal characters)
Büchse der Pandora, Die ["Pandora's Box"] (1929) [IMDb][17] - [H-Histsex: Emma Vickers, Lesley Hall]
But I'm A Cheerleader! (1999) [IMDb][18] - [H-Histsex: Margaret Robinson]
Butterfly: see "Hu die"
Candy Rain: see "Hua chi liao na nu hai"
Celluloid Closet, The [Documentary] (1995) [IMDb][19], based on book by Vito Russo (1981, 1987) - [H-Histsex: Donna Knaff, Benjamin Kahan, Svanur Pétursson, Margaret Robinson]
Chasing Amy (1997) [IMDb][20] - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer, Margaret Robinson] (principal character)
Children's Hour, The (1961) [IMDb][21] - [H-Histsex: Tracy Penny Light]
Ci qing ["Spider Lilies"] (2007, Taiwan) [IMDb][22] [IHT article][23] - [H-Histsex: Leon Antonio Rocha]
Comedy In Six Unnatural Acts, A (1975) [IMDb][24] [Frameline][25] - [H-Histsex: Trista Kendall]
Coup de Foudre (1983) [IMDb][26] - [H-Histsex: Lesley Hall]
D. E. B. S. (2003/4) [IMDb 2003][27] [IMDb 2004]
[28] - [H-Histsex: Margaret Robinson]
Dalziel and Pascoe (season 9, episodes 5 and 6): The Dig [TV] (2005) [IMDb - part 1][29] [IMDb - part2][30] (significant characters and minor sub-plot in episode)
Dalziel and Pascoe (season 7, episode 1): The Unwanted [TV] (2002) [IMDb][31] (significant character in episode)
Desert Hearts (1985) [IMDb][32] - [H-Histsex: Tracy Penny Light] (principal characters)
Devils, The (1971) [IMDb][33] - [H-Histsex: Julie Peakman]
Dr T and the Women (2000) [IMDb][34] - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer] (significant characters and sub-plot)
Drifting Flowers: see "Piao lang qing chun"
EastEnders [TV] (1985- ) [IMDb][35] (character of “Naomi” played by Petra Letang in 106 episodes, 2005-7[36], various plot-elements in daily serial with ensemble cast)
Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema [Documentary] (2006) [IMDb][37] - [H-Histsex: Donna Knaff, Svanur Pétursson, Margaret Robinson]
Fei yue qin hai ["Love Me, If You Can"] (2003, Taiwan) [IMDb][38] - [H-Histsex: Leon Antonio Rocha]
Fingersmith [TV] (2005) [IMDb][39], based on novel by Sarah Waters (2002) - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer] (principal characters)
Fire (1996) [IMDb][40] - [H-Histsex: Lesley Hall; by correspondence: Ivan van Laningham]
Fish and Elephant: see "Jin nian xia tian"
Florida Enchantment, A (1914) [IMDb][41] [Frameline][42] - [H-Histsex: Trista Kendall]
Frida (2002) [IMDb][43] - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer] (title character)
Gaudi Afternoon (2001) [IMDb][44], based on novel by Barbara Wilson (1990) - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer] (significant characters)
Ghost Squad, The (season 1, episode 4): Greater Good [TV] (2005) [IMDb][45] (principal character and plot-element in episode)
Girlfriend (2004, India) [IMDb][46] [BBC report][47] - [H-Histsex: Leon Antonio Rocha] (Hindi-language; principal characters)
Go Fish (1994) [IMDb][48] - [H-Histsex: Lesley Hall]
Goo waak chai ching yee pin ji hung hing sap saam mooi ["Portland Street Blues"] (1998, Hong Kong) [IMDb][49] - [H-Histsex: Leon Antonio Rocha]
Haijiao tianya ["Incidental Journey"] (2000, Taiwan) [IMDb][50] - [H-Histsex: Leon Antonio Rocha]
Heavenly Creatures (1994) [IMDb][51] - [H-Histsex: Julie Peakman, Terrence Lockyer] (principal characters)
High Art (1998) [IMDb][52] - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer] (principal characters and plot)
Ho yuk ["Let's Love Hong Kong"] (2003, Hong Kong) [IMDb][53] - [H-Histsex: Leon Antonio Rocha]
Hours, The (2002) [IMDb][54] - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer] (principal characters, significant plot-elements)
Hu die ["Butterfly"] (2004, Hong Kong) [IMDb][55] - [H-Histsex: Leon Antonio Rocha]
Hua chi liao na nu hai ["Candy Rain"] (2008, Taiwan) [IMDb][56] - [H-Histsex: Leon Antonio Rocha]
I, the Worst of All: see "Yo, la peor de todas"
Ice House, The [TV] (1997) [IMDb][57], based on novel by Minette Walters (1992) (suspicion / assumption about principal characters)
If These Walls Could Talk 2 (2000) [IMDb][58] - [H-Histsex: Margaret Robinson, Noreen Giffney] (principal characters)
Imagine Me & You (2005) [IMDb][59] - [H-Histsex: Margaret Robinson] (principal characters, plot)
Incidental Journey: see "Haijiao tianya"
Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls In Love, The (1995) [IMDb][60] - [H-Histsex: Margaret Robinson] (principal characters and plot)
Inspector Lynley Mysteries, The (season 1, episode 4): For the Sake of Elena [TV] (2002) [IMDb][61], based on novel by Elizabeth George (1992) (secondary characters and minor sub-plot in episode)
Inspector Lynley Mysteries, The (season 3, episode 4): If Wishes Were Horses [TV] (2004) [IMDb][62] (significant secondary character and plot-element in episode)
Intimates: see "Ji sor"
I've Heard the Mermaids Singing (1987) [IMDb][63] - [H-Histsex: Lesley Hall]
Ji sor ["Intimates", "Self Comb"] (1998, Hong Kong) [IMDb][64] - [H-Histsex: Leon Antonio Rocha]
Jin nian xia tian ["Fish and Elephant"] (2002, China) [IMDb][65] - [H-Histsex: Leon Antonio Rocha]
Joy of Life, The (2005) [IMDb][66] [Official site][67] - [H-Histsex: Trista Kendall]
Kamikaze Hearts (1986) [IMDb][68] - [H-Histsex: Lesley Hall]
Killing of Sister George, The (1968) [IMDb][69] - [H-Histsex: Julie Peakman, Lesley Hall]
Kissing Jessica Stein (2001) [IMDb][70] - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer, Margaret Robinson] (principal characters and plot-element)
L Word, The [TV] (2004- ) [IMDb][71] (principal subject)
Lan se da men ["Blue Gate Crossing"] (2002, Taiwan) [IMDb][72] - [H-Histsex: Leon Antonio Rocha]
Les Filles du Botaniste (2006, French-Canadian production) [IMDb][73] - [H-Histsex: Leon Antonio Rocha]
Let's Love Hong Kong: see "Ho yuk"
Lianna (1983) [IMDb][74] - [H-Histsex: Lesley Hall]
Libertin, Le ["The Libertine"] (2000) [IMDb][75] - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer] (secondary characters)
Love and Sex of the Eastern Hollywood: see "Oi joi yue lok guen dik yat ji"
Love Me, If You Can: see "Fei yue qin hai"
Mädchen in Uniform (1931) [IMDb][76] - [H-Histsex: Lesley Hall]
Marple: The Body in the Library [TV] (2004) [IMDb][77] - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer] (significant characters, minor sub-plot in episode)
Marple: A Murder Is Announced [TV] (2005) [IMDb][78] - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer] (significant characters and plot-element in episode)
Mei li zai chang ge ["Murmur of Youth"] (1997, Taiwan) [IMDb][79] [NYT review, free registration required][80] - [H-Histsex: Leon Antonio Rocha]
Midsomer Murders (season 1, episode 4): Faithful Unto Death [TV] (1998) [IMDb] [81] (significant characters and plot-element in episode)
Midsomer Murders (season 4, episode 6): Tainted Fruit [TV] (2001) [IMDb][82] (significant characters and plot-element in episode)
Monster (2003) [IMDb][83] - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer] (principal characters and plot-element)
Murmur of Youth: see "Mei li zai chang ge"
My Summer of Love (2004) [IMDb][84] - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer] (principal characters and plot-element)
My Wife's Lover: see "Tai tai de qing ren"
Oi joi yue lok guen dik yat ji ["Love and Sex of the Eastern Hollywood"] (1998, Hong Kong) [IMDb][85] - [H-Histsex: Leon Antonio Rocha]
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit [TV] (1990) [IMDb][86], based on novel by Jeanette Winterson (1985) - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer] (principal character and plot-element)
Pandora's Box: see "Büchse der Pandora, Die"
Peony Pavilion: see "Youyuan jingmeng"
Persona (1966) [IMDb][87] - [H-Histsex: Ivan Crozier]
Personal Best (1982) [IMDb][88] - [H-Histsex: Lesley Hall]
Piao lang qing chun ["Drifting Flowers"] (2007, Taiwan) [IMDb][89] - [H-Histsex: Leon Antonio Rocha]
Portland Street Blues: see "Goo waak chai ching yee pin ji hung hing sap saam mooi"
Potluck and the Passion, The (1993) [IMDb][90] - [H-Histsex: Trista Kendall]
Pretty Persuasion (2005) [IMDb][91] (secondary character, plot-element)
Red Doors (2006) [IMDb][92] - [H-Histsex: Leon Antonio Rocha]
Sam dung ["Tempting Heart"] (1999, Hong Kong) [IMDb][93] - [H-Histsex: Leon Antonio Rocha]
Saving Face (2004) [IMDb][94] - [H-Histsex: Margaret Robinson, Leon Antonio Rocha]
Sei mong se jun ["Abnormal Beauty"] (2004, Hong Kong) [IMDb][95] - [H-Histsex: Leon Antonio Rocha]
She Must Be Seeing Things (1987) [IMDb][96] - [H-Histsex: Lesley Hall]
Showgirls (1995) [IMDb][97] - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer]
Shuang zhuo ["The Twin Bracelets"] (1989, Taiwan) [IMDb][98] - [H-Histsex: Leon Antonio Rocha]
Silence, The: see "Tystnaden"
Silent Witness (season 4, episode 3): A Good Body [TV] (1999) [IMDb][99] (minor characters and plot-element in episode)
Sirens (1994) [IMDb][100] - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer]
Spider Lilies: see "Ci qing"
Tai tai de qing ren ["My Wife's Lover"] (1992, Hong Kong) [IMDb][101] - [H-Histsex: Leon Antonio Rocha]
Tank Girl (1995) [IMDb][102] (principal characters, single scene)
Tears of the Goddess (2007, China) - [H-Histsex: Leon Antonio Rocha]
Tempting Heart: see "Sam dung"
Three Strange Loves: see "Törst"
Three Times: see "Zui hao de shi guang"
Tipping the Velvet [TV] (2002) [IMDb][103], based on novel by Sarah Waters (1998) - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer] (principal subject)
Todo sobre mi madre ["All About My Mother"] (1999) [IMDb][104] - [H-Histsex: Svanur Pétursson]
Törst ["Three Strange Loves", "Thirst"] (1949) [IMDb][105] - [H-Histsex: Ivan Crozier]
Truth About Jane, The [TV] (2000) [IMDb][106] - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer] (principal subject)
Twin Bracelets, The: see "Shuang zhuo"
Two Mothers for Zachary [TV] (1996) [IMDb][107] - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer] (principal subject)
Tystnaden ["The Silence"] (1963) [IMDb][108] - [H-Histsex: Ivan Crozier]
Unexpected Love, An [TV] (2003) [IMDb][109] - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer] (principal subject)
V for Vendetta (2005) [IMDb][110] - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer] (secondary characters)
Waking the Dead (season 2, episodes 5 and 6): Special Relationship [TV] (2002) [IMDb - part 1][111] [IMDb - part 2][112] (secondary characters, significant sub-plot in episode)
Watermelon Woman, The (1996) [IMDb][113] - [H-Histsex: Tracy Penny Light]
Working Girls (1931) [IMDb][114] - [H-Histsex: R. Ertug Altinay]
Yo, la peor de todas ["I, the Worst of All"] (1980) [IMDb][115] - [H-Histsex: David Sonenschein]
Youyuan jingmeng ["Peony Pavilion"] (2001, Hong Kong) [IMDb][116] - [H-Histsex: Leon Antonio Rocha]
Zoe (2001) [IMDb][117] - [H-Histsex: Terrence Lockyer] (fleeting suggestion / assumption in single scene)
Zui hao de shi guang ["Three Times"] (2005, Taiwan/France) [IMDb][118] - [H-Histsex: Leon Antonio Rocha]
