Lesbian Movie Reviews: Died / Recanted / Unhappy/ Came out - Bar Girls

[hrj]

I’m re-posting (sometimes in expanded form) a series of reviews of lesbian-themed movies that I originally drew up in answer to a request for recommendations of "good movies involving lesbian romances that don't end up with the protagonists deeply unhappy, dead, or both." To this set of criteria I’ve added the question, “Is the story primarily about coming out?” This set of index questions will necessarily involve some spoilers, but since I'm not reviewing any current releases, I think the statute of limitations has expired.

Many of these items are not currently in print. I'll link each to their imdb.com entry for reference. But for those currently available, Wolfe Video is the go-to distributor for lgbt movies.

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Bar Girls (1994)

Life in the LA lesbian bar scene in the '90s. The film feels like a bit of an "L Word" precursor of sorts, in the way is focuses on the lives of a group of implausibly glamorous (largely femme) urban women, centering around their shifting relationship dramas. It's much more of a slice-of-life film than one with a clear story arc, although there is one main romance being followed. I confess that even though I've watched it several times, I never come out of it feeling that I knew what the movie was "about". Heck, I generally have a hard time staying awake through it. The ending isn't unhappy, by any means, but if you aren't a "bar scene" sort of person, the overall feel is a bit dreary. Nobody dies. The characters are all long past coming out. No recanting that I can recall.

Comments

[rosefox]

Did you cover Imagine Me and You? One of the protagonists is bisexual, but if by "lesbian romance" you mean "romance between two women" then I think it meets your criteria. There is some coming-out angst but it's not the primary theme of the film, at least to my eyes.

[hrj.livejournal.com]

It's on my to-watch list. I confess that I'm still working my way through an old set of reviews that I'm reprising. I keep a back stock of items for "review Friday" for if I haven't consumed something new that week! I'd been holding out on watching "Imagine Me and You" until someone was willing to spoil me on certain key elements. It's the ones that promise so much that I can't stand to be disappointed by!

[rosefox]

I'm happy to spoil you if you want. :) What do you want to know?

[hrj.livejournal.com]

Someone else already satisfied my concerns, but thanks!

By the way, one of these times that I'm out in NYC, I'd love for a chance to have coffee or something. My Thanksgiving trip is always a bad time of year for other people's schedules, I know, but sometimes I'm there at other times of the year.

[rosefox]

Thanksgiving is iffy for me only because I'm having minor surgery next week and don't know how long my recovery will take, but let me know when you're around anyway and hopefully we can hang out!

[hrj.livejournal.com]

I'll drop you a tweet when I'm out there and have a better idea of my schedule. I've learned it's far better to say, "Hey, if it works out, cool; if not, maybe next time" than to try for too firm a schedule on these trips! After all, there's the girlfriend to see, and shows to attend, and T'day with friends, and then Chessiecon...