Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Now when I say “sad lesbian isolation,” you say “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” — SAD LESBIAN ISOLATION! (Portrait of a Lady On Fire!) Hulu answered our gloomy prayers and dropped Céline Sciamma’s artful, Sapphic, cinematic masterpiece Thursday night. The film, set in eighteenth century France, is quite literally about a wealthy queer woman, Héloïse (Adéle Haenel), who’s confined to her large home with her mother. That is, until Héloïse’s mother hires a painter, Marianne (Noémie Merlant), to paint her portrait. However, Héloïse’s mother and Marianne lie to Héloïse, and tell her that Marianne is there to accompany her on her walks to the sea. Basically, this movie is more relatable than ever before (even though it was only released one month ago), because it’s a romantic tale of an isolated, sad lesbian whose highlight of her day is…a walk outside. Sound familiar?
Booksmart
Released in 2019, Booksmart is one of my favorite high school movies ever. It’s one of those classic teenage sex comedies like Superbad or American Pie — you know, those you guys, this is our last chance to (lose our virginity, party, etc.) movies. What sets it apart from the others, though, is that one of its two leads, Amy (Kaitlyn Dever), is a lonely gay! Now, I wouldn’t necessarily call Booksmart a “sad lesbian movie” — it’s brimming with so much joy, fun, and hijinks — it’s the only thing I’ve watched This Pandemic that’s pulled me out of my depression hole. The comedy is currently streaming on Hulu with the specific intention of cheering you up. Don’t miss this chance to hear a lesbian teen perform a karaoke rendition of “You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morissette.
