London-based film festival BFI Flare just conducted a survey of the best lesbian films ever made. From haunting new dramas like Todd Hayne’s Carol to boundary-pushing films that date as far back as the 1930s, this list features the films that have helped redefine the relationships we see onscreen. Check out the top 33 films that made the list, and pencil in a movie marathon night!
‘Carol’
Carol features a young phtographer (Rooney Mara) and her relationship with an older woman (Cate Blanchett).
‘Weekend’
Weekend tells the tale of a drunken one-night stand that takes an unexpected romantic turn.
‘Happy Together’
In Happy Together, a gay couple with a tumultuous relationship takes a trip to Argentina.
‘Brokeback Mountain’
Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal star in a groundbreaking Western tale of forbidden love in Brokeback Mountain.
‘Paris Is Burning’
This powerful documentary captures Harlem's underground "Vogueing" scene in the late '80s.
‘Tropical Malady’
Tropical Malady weaves a hypnotic romance between a soldier and local in a remote Thai village.
‘My Beautiful Laundrette’
My Beautiful Laundrette revolves around a Thatcher-era gay romance during a period of racial tension.
All About My Mother
Gender and sexuality are fluid concepts in Pedro Almodóvar's playful film All About My Mother.
‘Un Chant d’Amour’
Jean Genet's racy film about homosexual love, Un Chant d'Amour, was banned when it first came out in 1950.
‘My Own Private Idaho’
In this film, a gay hustler (River Phoenix) and confused rich boy (Keanu Reeves) embark on a journey of self-discovery.
‘Tangerine’
Shot on an iPhone, Tangerine tells the story of a transgender sex worker who discovers her boyfriend is cheating.
‘The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant’
This German film provides an exploration into how devastating love can be.
‘Blue Is the Warmest Colour’
Blue Is the Warmest Colour is a coming-of-age tale about a lesbian romance.
‘Girls in Uniform’
Girls in Uniform is a German cult classic from the '30s featuring an all-female cast.
‘Show Me Love’
Show Me Love is a lesbian/high school drama about growing up and falling in love.
‘Orlando’
In this 1992 film, Tilda Swinton plays Orlando, an androgenous young nobleman.
‘Victim’
In this 1961 film, a barrister who seems to have it all gets blackmailed when a gay affair is discovered.
‘Je, Tu, Il, Elle’
This '70s Belgian minimalist film lets you be a fly on the wall in a young woman's sex life.
‘Looking for Langston’
This 1989 film tells the story of gay socialites during the Harlem Renaissance.
‘Beau Travail’
Beau Travail paints a poignant picture of repressed gay desires in the military.
‘Beautiful Thing’
A coming-of-age film about two teenagers discovering their sexual identity together.
‘Stranger by the Lake’
Directed by Alain Guiraudie, this thriller takes place at a gay cruising spot by a lake.
‘Theorem’
Theorem features a mysterious stranger who seduces every member of a bourgeoisie family.
‘The Watermelon Woman’
This '90s film features Cheryl Dunye and her attempts to make a film about a '30s actress, the Watermelon Woman.
‘Pariah’
This short film features a young African-American woman's journey to embrace her lesbian identity.
‘Mulholland Drive’
In David Lynch's surreal film, a hopeful actress and an amnesiac are united under strange circumstances.
‘Portrait of Jason’
Portrait of Jason paints a powerful portrait of the life of gay black hustler Jason Holliday.
‘Dog Day Afternoon’
Dog Day Afternoon tells the story of a gay bank robber trying to steal cash for his lover's sex change.
‘Death in Venice’
Death in Venice is an art house film about a man who develops a troubling fixation with a teen boy on vacation.
‘Pink Narcissus’
This 1971 film is a visual poem about the fantasies of a young man.
‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’
The 1971 film Sunday Bloody Sunday features a woman and man who share the same lover.
‘Tomboy’
Tomboy tells the story of a 10-year-old transgender child who attempts to live as a boy.
‘Funeral Parade of Roses’
Toshio Matsumoto's psychedelic 1969 filmfocuses on the lives of transvestites living in Japan.
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