What is up YouTube, it's your girl Evelyn and today I am bringing you
my top five lesbian documentaries. So
sit back, enjoy the video and there will be light spoilers so proceed with caution.
"Allegations were made that four young women had gang raped these two little girls."
"My attorney said that I would lose. Nobody wants to go against a child."
"The whole scenario sounds like a porn movie.
A man's version of what women do in their spare time."
Southwest of Salem: The story of the San Antonio 4 is a riveting and absolutely
heartbreaking documentary about four young Latina women who were wrongfully convicted
of raping two little girls in the 90s. The film, in real time, documents their attempt to prove
their innocence and regain their freedom after spending almost 20 years behind bars.
Prior to watching this film I had never heard of this case but I was floored by the blatant
bigotry these women faced in the 90s. It is crystal clear that they were convicted
solely because they were low-income lesbians of color without anyone to fight for them.
If you're a fan of true crime shows like 'Serial' or 'Making a Murderer' this is a doc you should
definitely check out. The filmmaker pulls you into the investigation and you're literally on the edge
of your seat until the final ruling. You can catch Southwest of Salem on TubiTV and Amazon Prime
"This is our standard one bedroom and it has a balcony. We have not had any same-sex couples,
but we do have family members that are."
"If they would, would they be accepted? Because we are a couple."
It's no secret that Ryan Murphy loves his lesbians.
So much so that he brought us one of the most adorable true life lesbian love stories to date.
'A Secret Love' is about Pat and Terry, two women who hid their 65-year-long relationship
from their families even though they were living together the whole time.
The documentary is part history lesson, part family drama, and part romance,
but what I found most captivating was its depiction of the reality of growing old
alongside your partner, and the difficult decisions that come with that reality.
'A Secret Love' is a bittersweet documentary that charms its way
into your heart and you might even find yourself shedding a tear or two.
If that sounds like your cup of tea you can catch it streaming on Netflix.
"You're too pretty to be stud, or you're just pretending."
"Anything that's out of the heterosexual state of mind, that's an issue."
"A lot of people don't accept bisexuality in the gay community. They don't understand it."
"If you want some dick - just be that."
"If you're doing this thing, own it."
"You said it like I committed a crime, like I murdered somebody because I slept with a guy."
The same difference is a documentary that holds a magnifying glass up to
the discrimination within the lesbian community.
It's extremely provocative and not always politically correct as it
dives into polarizing issues like stud-on-stud relationships, biphobia, internalized homophobia,
and the differences between the white lesbian community and the
black lesbian community in regards to gender roles and gender norms.
It is honestly impressive how much discourse this documentary manages to stuff into its
hour and eighteen minute long run time and when it ended, I just wanted more.
'The Same Difference' is structured in a fun and easy to watch way
and it's a film I would recommend to anyone.
It's currently available to stream on Kanopy, you just need a library card.
"When i was very young, I don't think I ever saw any lesbians
in film or popular culture. Only in books."
"It was around the same time that I wanted to become a filmmaker - that I was discovering
this alternate sexuality which brings me to this documentary and being an old gay."
'Dykes, Camera, Action' is a must-watch film for anyone who loves queer lady cinema.
The documentary is essentially a history lesson of lesbians in film, starting with classics like
'The Children's Hour' and 'The Killing of Sister George' and ending with The L Word.
We also get some interesting stories from filmmakers like Cheryl Dunye
and Rose Troche about the difficulties they faced in creating - or trying to
create - queer stories for the big screen. 'Dykes, Camera, Action' is definitely a doc
aimed at movie buffs interested in how and why the queer lady cinema landscape looks the way it looks
today, and what it might look like going forward. 'Dykes, Camera, Action' is an enjoyable,
informative doc and it's currently available to rent or purchase on iTunes.
"I remember turning around on stage and like,
I almost started crying when that guy just yelled out for me to not stop.
They gave me a standing ovation but I had zero sense that that show was gonna change my life."
Out of all the documentaries I've watched, I 100% did not expect this one to be my favorite.
'Tig' is an intimate and surprisingly moving documentary about the life of comedian Tig Notaro.
We follow along as Tig battles major health complications while coping with grief,
heartbreak and career insecurity, while still somehow maintaining her sense of humor.
And the documentary takes us so many places. One second we're in the middle of a rom-com,
the next we're on the verge of tears after receiving devastating news, and the next we're
cracking up in the middle of one of Tig's sets. When I tell you this documentary is
an absolute joy to watch, I mean it. And for those of you who are L Word: Gen Q fans,
you might recognize Tig's love interest. If you're looking for an inspiring doc
that will make you laugh as hard as it'll make you cry, you can catch Tig on Netflix.
'Out In The Night' is another true crime documentary,
this one about 'The New Jersey 4' a group of queer women who defended themselves against
a violent man and were subsequently tried and convicted as a gang of lesbian killers.
That's it for the list. If you want more recs for the week, make sure to
check out my reviews of The Feels, The Neon Demon, Game Girls and The Aggressives over on Patreon.
And a special shout out to my newest patron - "Emoji that girl"
Thank you guys so much for watching. Don't forget to drop your
favorite lesbian documentary in the comments, and i'll see you next week