5 Lesbian Films You Probably Haven't Seen

A jaunt around the globe

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If you’re anything like me, you’re constantly on the hunt for new lesbian movies to watch. Every time I think I’ve seen every lesbian film ever made, I discover new ones hidden on Amazon Prime or the lesbian ally known as Tubi. Many of these films never had a theatrical release and never found a large viewership, but are available to stream online. What follows is a list of five films (from five different countries, including the US) that you’ve likely never heard of but are worth checking out. 

Love, Spells, and All That (2019, dir. Ümit Ünal)

Love, Spells, and All That is a Turkish film and my favorite on the list. The movie follows Eren (Ece Dizdar) and Reyhan (Selen Uçer), two women who were in love as teenagers but were pulled apart by circumstance. 20 years later, Eren returns to the island where they grew up looking to revive their romance, but Reyhan isn’t so sure. They embark on a journey to reverse a love spell Reyhan cast many years ago, but the adventure only brings them closer. It’s a small, intimate film that is nonetheless brimming with passion. The lead actresses have incredible chemistry, and there is a moment between them on a mountaintop that is the most romantic scene I’ve watched in ages. 

Where to watch: Tubi, Vudu, for rent on Amazon Prime and Apple TV 

Holy Camp! (2017, dir. Javier Ambrossi, Javier Calvo)

Perhaps some of my Spanish readers are already aware of Holy Camp! (or La Llamada, as it was originally titled), but I had the distinct pleasure of discovering it for the first time recently. Based on a musical, the film follows two 17-year-old girls, María (Macarena García) and Susana (Anna Castillo), at a Catholic summer camp. María and Susana are both uninterested in religion and would rather sneak out and go to Electro Latino concerts. 

Things change when María starts having visions of a flamboyant man who sings Whitney Houston songs – a man she comes to believe is God speaking to her. Meanwhile, Susana is having an identity crisis of her own. I don’t want to spoil too much, but there may be some lesbian goings-on involving a nun. The film is absurd in the best way. It’s totally blasphemous and outrageous and you’ve probably never seen anything quite like it. Actress Anna Castillo is queer IRL, which I know y’all love to see. 

Where to watch: On Amazon Prime with a FlixLatino subscription (or a free trial), for rent on YouTube, Apple TV

Moonlit Winter (2019, dir. Lim Dae-hyung)

Moonlight Winter is a very understated film, so if you’re looking for fiery lesbian drama, look elsewhere. But if you’re in the mood for something cozy and tender, hit play ASAP. Yoon-hee (Kim Hee-ae) lives in Korea with her teenage daughter, Sae-bom (Kim So-hye). In Otaru, Japan, Jun (Yūko Nakamura) lives with her aunt and works as a vet. When Sae-bom discovers a letter Jun sent Yoon-hee alluding to their romantic past, she suggests a vacation to snowy Otaru.

There are no gimmicks or convoluted plot devices in Moonlit Winter. This is real life, not a fairytale – yet there is still room for the occasional miracle. It’s the perfect movie to watch in the wintertime, and it might even warm your cold, cold, heart. 

Where to watch: Tubi, Amazon Prime

Sweetheart (2021, dir. Marley Morrison)

This one’s for all the grumpy lesbians out there. Sweetheart is a British film that follows seventeen-year-old AJ (Nell Barlow) on a family trip to a holiday park she used to frequent as a child. AJ isn’t much for socializing and would rather drone on about climate change, annoying her family to no end. AJ – clad exclusively in a bucket hat and sunglasses – eventually meets Isla (Ella-Rae Smith), a beautiful lifeguard. As romance blooms with Isla, AJ struggles to connect with her family and communicate what it is she’s really feeling. Despite her surly attitude, we’re inclined to root for AJ as she works out how to exist in the world. 

Where to watch: Rent on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Apple TV, etc. 

Walk With Me (2021, dir. Isabel del Rosal) 

Most lesbian movies are of the low-budget variety, and plenty of them fail to make an impact. To be clear, Walk With Me is not an outstanding film, but it is pleasant enough to earn a spot on the favorable side of the lesbian movie spectrum. Amber (Devin Dunne Cannon) is a 30-year-old mom who has recently left her husband. She meets Logan (Bridget Barkan), a musician who works as a real estate agent. Logan and Amber strike up a friendship that eventually turns into more, and Amber struggles to reckon with the many changes in her life. 

There’s nothing particularly groundbreaking about the story, but the small budget is put to good use and the lead actors have winning chemistry. A little bit Hallmark, a little bit rambling indie, but you can’t deny it’s got heart.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime, Tubi