Narrowing down the best movies in any genre is tough, but for lesbian films you have to begin with a reductive question: What is a lesbian film? What, in fact, is a lesbian?.
Must the film focus primarily on a gay storyline, or can it feature strong lesbian characters doing something entirely different than just being lesbians? Is subtext enough, or must the sapphic be explicit? How much cinephile wrath will rain down on us for the absence of a certain recent Oscar winner?
Compared to the stand-outs of queer television, the best lesbian movies have relatively little time to convey their perspective on the vast, varied, (sometimes) vaginal lesbian experience. And yet, ultimately, the best lesbian films honor not just their own perspectives, but also the glory and traditions of all of queer cinema. Strong women, high entertainment value, and bold visuals reign supreme.
The following tales of mini...
Must the film focus primarily on a gay storyline, or can it feature strong lesbian characters doing something entirely different than just being lesbians? Is subtext enough, or must the sapphic be explicit? How much cinephile wrath will rain down on us for the absence of a certain recent Oscar winner?
Compared to the stand-outs of queer television, the best lesbian movies have relatively little time to convey their perspective on the vast, varied, (sometimes) vaginal lesbian experience. And yet, ultimately, the best lesbian films honor not just their own perspectives, but also the glory and traditions of all of queer cinema. Strong women, high entertainment value, and bold visuals reign supreme.
The following tales of mini...
- 6/21/2023
- by Jude Dry and Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
by Murtada Elfadl
Rafiki is the second feature film from Kenyan filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu. It made its debut at last year’s Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section, to critical acclaim. Initially banned in Kenya for its positive portrayal of queer romance, Rafiki won a landmark supreme court case chipping away at Kenyan anti-lgbt legislation. It tells a sweet hopeful love story between two women Kena (Samantha Mugatsia) and Ziki (Sheila Munyiva), who meet and fall in love as they are waiting to hear the results of their university entrance exams. Set in Nairobi and bursting with the colorful street style and music of the city’s vibrant youth scene, Rafiki is tender, cheerful despite the challenges for acceptance that its characters face from their families and society at large. Accordng to the film's press notes, Rafiki means friend in Swahili, and often when Kenyans of the...
Rafiki is the second feature film from Kenyan filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu. It made its debut at last year’s Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section, to critical acclaim. Initially banned in Kenya for its positive portrayal of queer romance, Rafiki won a landmark supreme court case chipping away at Kenyan anti-lgbt legislation. It tells a sweet hopeful love story between two women Kena (Samantha Mugatsia) and Ziki (Sheila Munyiva), who meet and fall in love as they are waiting to hear the results of their university entrance exams. Set in Nairobi and bursting with the colorful street style and music of the city’s vibrant youth scene, Rafiki is tender, cheerful despite the challenges for acceptance that its characters face from their families and society at large. Accordng to the film's press notes, Rafiki means friend in Swahili, and often when Kenyans of the...
- 4/22/2019
- by Murtada Elfadl
- FilmExperience
There are a lot of reasons why “Rafiki,” which played in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival last spring, is a significant movie. It’s the first Kenyan film ever to make Cannes’ main selection, for one thing. It is a rare same-sex romance to come out of Africa, where intolerance for homosexuality runs strong (and has been encouraged by religious-right westerners). And it was banned in its home country in the weeks before Cannes, making its international exposure even more important.
None of this has anything to do with the quality of the film — but it gives Cannes viewers reasons to give “Rafiki” the benefit of the doubt, which its premiere audience at the Salle Debussy did. Second-time director Wanuri Kahiu, one of a larger-than-usual contingent of female directors in the main selection, has crafted a modest, at times striking drama that is perhaps more...
None of this has anything to do with the quality of the film — but it gives Cannes viewers reasons to give “Rafiki” the benefit of the doubt, which its premiere audience at the Salle Debussy did. Second-time director Wanuri Kahiu, one of a larger-than-usual contingent of female directors in the main selection, has crafted a modest, at times striking drama that is perhaps more...
- 4/19/2019
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Some will dismiss Wanuri Kahiu’s Rafiki as derivative simply because they refuse to see what makes it so special. They’ll mention its Romeo and Juliet parallel as far as having the children of opposing political candidates fall in love. They’ll compare it to generic love stories—and generic gay love stories—because that’s what it is at its core. And when the subject of prejudice and violence towards these young lovers arises, they won’t shy from deeming it already treaded territory. What such reductive takes ignore, however, is that this isn’t just a gay love story between two women who should be diametrically opposed to one another due to their fathers’ ambitions. The fact it takes place and was shot in Nairobi, Kenya makes it so much more.
This truth isn’t reliant on the political ramifications spawned upon its Cannes release either—although...
This truth isn’t reliant on the political ramifications spawned upon its Cannes release either—although...
- 4/16/2019
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
"I've seen how you look at me." Film Movement has released an official Us trailer for the acclaimed indie drama Rafiki, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last year and received quite a bit of attention as the first film from Kenya to ever play in the festival. From writer/director Wanuri Kahiu, the film is about a romance between two young girls in Kenya, still considered a taboo and choice that likely may lead to violence. Samantha Mugatsia and Sheila Munyiva star as the two leads, named Kena and Ziki, and the full cast includes Neville Misati, Nice Githinji, Charlie Karumi, Muthoni Gathecha, and Vitalis Waweru. This received mixed reviews out of Cannes (here's mine), as it's a bit conventional and cliche, but has some incredibly colorful style and it's an important milestone for Kenyan cinema. Check this out below. Here's the official Us trailer (+ poster) for Wanuri Kahiu's Rafiki,...
- 1/28/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Over the last decade, American film and TV has made great strides towards better representing Lgbtq characters and stories. From “Moonlight” to “The Favourite” to “Love, Simon,” there has never been such a wide array of critically beloved and commercially viable queer films. It would be easy to forget that homophobia still exists in many parts of the world, but international cinema can offer a vital window into queer lives across the globe. No film more embodies this reality than the tender teen romance “Rafiki,” the sophomore feature from Kenyan filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu.
“Rafiki” first made headlines after its 2018 Cannes Film Festival debut for being the first Kenyan film to attend the festival. Despite this honor, the Kenyan Film Board originally disavowed the film, banning the film from playing Kenyan theaters. But since a film must have a theatrical run in its home country in order to qualify for the Oscars,...
“Rafiki” first made headlines after its 2018 Cannes Film Festival debut for being the first Kenyan film to attend the festival. Despite this honor, the Kenyan Film Board originally disavowed the film, banning the film from playing Kenyan theaters. But since a film must have a theatrical run in its home country in order to qualify for the Oscars,...
- 1/24/2019
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
The 17th Marrakech International Film Festival (Nov 30 – Dec 08) has set a jury comprising Suspiria star Dakota Johnson, Indian actress Ileana D’Cruz (Barfi!), Lebanese filmmaker and visual artist Joana Hadjithomas (I Want To See), Brit director Lynne Ramsay (We Need To Talk About Kevin), Moroccan director Tala Hadid (House In The Fields), French director Laurent Cantet (The Class), German actor Daniel Brühl (Rush) and Mexican director Michel Franco (April’s Daughter). As previously revealed, director James Gray will serve as jury president.
A total of 80 films will unspool at the festival, with Julian Schnabel’s Van Gogh biopic At Eternity’s Gate among gala screenings and also the festival’s opener. Other galas include Roma, Green Book and Capernaum while special screenings include Wildlife, Her Smell and Birds Of Passage. The official competition, galas and special screenings are listed below.
The festival will also feature tributes to Robert DeNiro, Robin Wright,...
A total of 80 films will unspool at the festival, with Julian Schnabel’s Van Gogh biopic At Eternity’s Gate among gala screenings and also the festival’s opener. Other galas include Roma, Green Book and Capernaum while special screenings include Wildlife, Her Smell and Birds Of Passage. The official competition, galas and special screenings are listed below.
The festival will also feature tributes to Robert DeNiro, Robin Wright,...
- 11/19/2018
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Kenya’s High Court has temporarily lifted the ban of Wanuri Kahiu’s celebrated film Rafiki for a period of seven days, beginning Sunday, September 23rd. The film explores Lgbtq issues in a country where such activity is illegal.
In her ruling, High Court Judge Wilfrida Okwany said, ‘’I am not convinced that Kenya is such a weak society that its moral foundation will be shaken by seeing such a film.’’
Earlier this year, Rafiki was banned in Kenya a few days before its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where it made history as the first Kenyan film selected for the festival.
The High Court granted the temporary lift on the ban to allow Rafiki to have a seven-day Oscar qualifying run in Kenyan cinemas. After that period, the film will be banned again. Writer/Director Wanuri Kahiu will continue to challenge the banning through the courts.
Rafiki...
In her ruling, High Court Judge Wilfrida Okwany said, ‘’I am not convinced that Kenya is such a weak society that its moral foundation will be shaken by seeing such a film.’’
Earlier this year, Rafiki was banned in Kenya a few days before its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where it made history as the first Kenyan film selected for the festival.
The High Court granted the temporary lift on the ban to allow Rafiki to have a seven-day Oscar qualifying run in Kenyan cinemas. After that period, the film will be banned again. Writer/Director Wanuri Kahiu will continue to challenge the banning through the courts.
Rafiki...
- 9/22/2018
- by Bruce Haring and Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
At a time when Greg Berlanti’s “Love, Simon” is belatedly bringing the subject of adolescent homosexual desire to the mall-movie crowd, along comes “Rafiki” to remind us that Lgbt narratives in the mainstream are not to be taken for granted. Many international viewers would identify nothing especially subversive in Kenyan writer-director Wanuri Kahiu’s pure-hearted, candy-colored tale of first love blooming between two teenage girls in the rough streets of Nairobi. Yet at home, where homosexuality remains a criminal offense, “Rafiki” has been slapped with a ban for its positive representation — a state of affairs that makes this lively, brightly performed film impossible not to celebrate, even as its decidedly conventional script skimps on richer dramatic opportunities.
Even without the sympathetic controversy engendered by the ban, this Cannes Un Certain Regard entry would be a shoo-in for the Lgbt festival circuit and distribution market, in which African queer films...
Even without the sympathetic controversy engendered by the ban, this Cannes Un Certain Regard entry would be a shoo-in for the Lgbt festival circuit and distribution market, in which African queer films...
- 5/10/2018
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
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