Queer Girl Film Club

Queer Girl Film Club springing into action to bring you the latest in queer girl cinema releases? Kind of. We would have had this out last week, but alas, G has become the second member of the pod to get concussion in the last six months! But the CT scans are done and the results are in: QGFC have the brainpower to talk about Drive Away Dolls (2024), an utterly silly, low brainpower crime romp about two lesbians accidentally driving off with a car laden with incriminating items. And there’s a women’s football team! Join us as the gang as we discuss necessity and objectification in sex scenes, why having a lesbian wife screenwriter can really improve a man’s queer girl film-making, and whether you should make out with your friends. It’s quite the trip as we also talk rescuing cats, how fake boobs can lead to cinematic discovery, and unexpectedly spoil a minor part of Dune 2. CN: spoilers (for Drive Away Dolls and Dune 2, weirdly), swearing, discussion of a sexual nature, discussion of non-bloody head injuries.

This week we’re doing one of, if not the, most requested films - Disobedience (2017). We did say it was a Rachel Weiss kind of season, didn’t we? We’ve got a special guest, Naomi, to give us some helpful insights into Jewish traditions and life for queer Jewish people, although she also eloquently explains how there are many different ways to be Jewish, and Jewish and queer. Honestly, this might be our most insightful episode yet, so thank you Naomi! There’s also time to have a little lust over Rachel W, to give Rachel A and Alessandro N some love for their great performances, and to talk about some of the differences between the film and the book (everyone’s read the book… except Holly, as usual). Join us as we discuss one of Alice’s favourite film tropes, THAT sex scene (THAT bit, you know the bit, is discussed at around 58:00 minutes if you’re not into it) and we get to the true meaning of this film. CN: swearing, discussion of a sexual nature, spoilers (film and book).

Tell your friends, there’s a new episode of Queer Girl Film Club! We are talking friendship a lot in this week’s episode as we discuss the Netflix 2020 release, The Half Of It. Only the second film from director/writer Alice Wu (something Holly in particular is outraged by, more Alice Wu films now!), this queer smalltown America take on Cyrano de Bergerac charms the crew. Listen as we talk about good friendships between queer women and straight men, how religion and friendships affect queer kids in small communities, and (surprisingly) a lot about Ancient Greek writers. Yeah, there’s a lot more Aristophanes in this episode than we expected. Listen as we discuss how to make films from epistolary (letter writing) books, whether the QGFC crew want to be perceived or not, and G oscillates between declaring her word to be gospel and ignorable. CN: Swearing, spoilers and discussion of a sexual nature (pretty much none of the latter is about the film, sorry, we are chaotic!).

It’s a fractious episode for Queer Girl Film Club this week, be prepared for disagreements, personal attacks and shouting over Fucking Åmål/Show Me Love (1998), a big hit in Sweden which isn’t such a big hit for some of the pod. Listen as the gang talk telephone etiquette, kissing girls as a dare and whether naturalistic film-making is good or not. We take this gritty lo-fi depiction of slightly shitty teens struggling in a small town apart, and find that Holly is a much more forgiving person than Alice and G. Is it a happy ending or a depressing ending (and are we talking about the film or the episode here?!)? CN: Discussion of self harm (42:50-47:50), swearing, spoilers.

Merry Christmas listeners, and why not listen to some festive film chat from Queer Girl Film Club! There might be a little disagreement as to whether Rent (2005) is a Christmas film or not, but there’s certainly some snow and singing to be had, and the QGFC gang are keeping up our Christmas traditions, like bringing up those Netflix Vanessa Hudgens films again. We spend a bit less than 525,600 minutes talking about this big screen adaptation of one of the most successful musicals, especially the film’s queer girls, chaotic bisexual and biphobia lightning rod Maureen, and her on-again off-again power suit lesbian lawyer girlfriend Joanne. We also have some time for the rest of the cast from the good (Collins and Angel, who might be a queer girl or a genderqueer icon, we don’t want to label them) to the baaaaaaaad (poor old Mark and Roger are in for a battering). We also cover how this film is too earnest to be camp, why the tango is the best song in any musical, and G tries to derail as much as possible to avoid talking about the actual film cos she’s not the biggest fan. Here’s a link to Lindsay Ellis’s Rent video which gets a mention - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0qfFbtIj5w

It’s time for Holly’s eighteenth century history podcast! Oh wait, no, this is a Queer Girl Film Club episode about Oscar winning* slice of genius The Favourite (2018). But it does contain quite a bit of Holly talking about the actual history, so we hope that’s to your liking. There’s also plenty of space for rhapsodising Olivia Colman’s incredible performance, Emma Stone’s complex portrayal, and Rachel Weisz in THAT SHOOTING OUTFIT. There’s even some self-censoring from G, who doesn’t tell us exactly what she thinks about Rachel Weisz but you get the picture. Along the way Alice tells us about her favourite seventeenth century poet, Holly debunks a duck race, and we talk costumes, screen time and the joy of watching a queer film where the emphasis isn’t on queer peril. *This film did not win enough Oscars. CN: VERY STRONG LANGUAGE (from Chaucer to Rachel Weisz), child and pregnancy loss (45:35-46:42 and 56:05-57:45), discussion of a sexual nature and spoilers.

We are back for season 4 of Queer Girl Film Club! And why not start with something classic: the British romcom! Journey with us to a simpler time (2005) while we talk about Imagine Me And You. Everyone’s posh, everyone’s cringe and there’s only eight people in the whole of London, but Alice, G and Holly are happy to take a trip to this much-rewatched film. Along the way we ask if we believe in love at first sight, why did the florist make friends with the ten year old when no one was watching, and what is the impact of compulsory heterosexuality? We also note the surprisingly high number of things the film got right about lesbians, while also getting everything wrong about London geography. Oh well, can’t win them all. Here’s a link to the book the gang are talking about at the start: https://www.queerlit.co.uk/products/the-queer-film-guide CN: swearing, discussion of a sexual nature, spoilers.

Halloween films aren’t for the faint hearted, and we’re definitely recommending listeners take a look at what might be our longest list of content warnings below before they jump into The Perfection (2018). However, if you are willing to brave all of that, this is an interesting, if unsuccessful at times, film which gives the QGFC crew much to love and hate. Although they all agree that cellos are sexy instruments, which is convenient as there’s a lot of cello action in this nuts film. Along the way the gang grapple with how to enjoy a film which is both a bonkers horror with unexpected cleavers during the world’s worst bus ride, AND a clumsy attempt to be arthouse and tackle themes like sexual abuse. We are serious when we say check if this film contains stuff you can stomach before jumping into either the film or this pod episode. CN: Discussion of sexual abuse and coercive behaviour, discussion of maggots and other insects, vomit, mental health treatment and ECT, graphic description of knife wound, swearing, spoilers, discussion of consensual sexual encounters.

It’s a special episode where we decided to try and different medium and invite some friends over! Nearly film length, but not a film, San Junipero is the iconic queer girl episode of Black Mirror, and to help us unpick this TV classic we invited Amber and Joyce from Gay Actually podcast to talk about it. From the symbolism of the ocean to the on-the-nose perfection of the soundtrack to an extremely deep analysis of whether any of us would actually go to San Junipero post mortem, there’s a lot to cover for this relatively short story. Along the way everyone gets distracted by a hamster, ableism in society gets called out, and we touch on the beauty of the story just like Kelly touches on (up) Yorkie’s leg in that scene in the rain, yeah you know the one. Thank so much to Gay Actually for joining us and you can check their great pod out here: https://open.spotify.com/show/502kAoBziLBlR0gQJVv9Xd?si=126ea748f82b4ae2 CN: Swearing, spoilers, sexual references, discussion of death and mortality, discussion of assisted dying, discussion of ableism

Hello all! It’s been a while and now we are back with an episode a Queer BAIT Film Club where we watch a film which isn’t gay enough and try to work out why a perfectly good (or bad) lesbian film didn’t happen. This episode we are travelling back to the 1990s to see one of Angelina Jolie’s earliest big screen ventures as she plays… wait for it… you are NOT ready for this… a swaggering butch lesbian in a leather jacket who upends the lives of four teen girls at a generic US school. There’s sexual tension, homoerotic tattooing, and man-bashing (some literal) and yet it’s not official queer. What gives?! The Queer Girl Film Club gang are here to try and find out. How can a film with so many crimes not ‘be gay’? Who doesn’t want a rundown house in the woods full of candles as a base (Georgia and Alice have done a lot of fire safety training and remember none of it)? Does a film need a queer kiss to be queer enough not to be bait? Along the way the crew try to work out if Georgia is concussed from doing “too much sport” (® Alice, 2023), Holly asks if this is one of the greatest soundtracks of any film ever, and Alice calls Dmitri Mendeleev a pussy. Yes, the periodic table guy. PLUS, if that wasn’t enough, find out what films we will be covering in season 4, coming SOON! CN: Discussion of the dissection of animals in schools 17:39-21:00, discussion of a predatory teacher, swearing and spoilers.

Cinema trip! This weekend just gone the Queer Girl Film Club crew went to an actual real life cinema (complete with fellow audience members, including Guy Checking The Football Scores On His Phone As The Film Was Starting) to see Cate Blanchett going hell-for-leather for Oscar #3 in Tár (2022). The gang found that on top of Cate’s exquisite performance, it’s a film about bad people, uncomfortable topics and major ambiguity. Join Holly, Alice and Georgia as we discuss how to enjoy this film despite knowing shit-all about classical music, whether it’s really a horror film in denial, and why nervous breakdowns are better with accordions. This episode goes deep on power dynamics and how queer women are capable of being abusive and awful, and why it matters that we talk about this. CN: Swearing, spoilers, non-graphic discussion of sexual abuse and other abusive relationships, mention of suicide, discussion of sex work.

What’s more festive than a big family argument? Quite a lot of things, actually, but for our QGFC Christmas special there’s a lot of arguing going on as Alice and Georgia are taking sides against Holly is a massive (yet still analytical and funny) row about our festive queer girl film, Happiest Season (2020). Join us as Georgia outlines what it is that’s so magical about Christmas romcoms, Alice lists her many favourites of the genre, and Holly admits she hasn’t actually seen any apart from Happiest Season itself… It’s a festive old episode, where the gang debate if the ending is insufficiently cheesy, talk about coming out and how queer shame, and everyone swoons over Aubrey Plaza and Dan Levy, for slightly different reasons. Happy Christmas to all listeners, and if you need an extra stocking filler, there’s always Alice’s poetry book: https://www.bentkeypublishing.co.uk/product-page/alice-godliman-the-book-of-seeing-past-the-shadows CN: Swearing, spoilers, death of parents.

The gang are heading to the coast of France, to an island with no men and only the intense staring and beautiful cinematography of one of the best films ever: Portrait Of A Lady On Fire (2019), Holly’s favourite film of all time, and a true masterpiece. QGFC are here to share the many many reasons they love this film, touching on light, consent, armpit drugs and the importance of looking after your straight mates when they get into scrapes. When a film can be two hours long, French and contain loads of staring, and still be something Alice loves, how can it not be a classique? Whether its musing on the impermanence of joy or lusting after Adèle Haenel, Holly, Alice and Georgia are ending season 3 on a massive high. Perhaps it’s the overwhelming beauty of the visuals and story, or perhaps it’s because both Georgia and Holly have the flu, but the crew are in a poetic and reflective mood this episode, not that this doesn’t prevent diversions into grave robbing and eating your pets.

Problematic romance! Mary Sues or Manic Pixies Dream Teens! What was school really like for both students and teachers? Queer Girl Film Club are here to unpick the acres of oh-dear that is Loving Annabelle (2006), a romantic drama about a teacher falling for her… 17 year old student?! Oh 2006, what were you thinking??? Along the way the gang discuss all the ways the film gets teaching wrong (incredibly, it’s not just the safeguarding nightmare of the central relationship which Alice finds fault with), relive their school disco days, and grill Holly a bit more about what it’s like to go to a Catholic school. There’s also tips on how to lesson plan, how porcupines signal quirkiness, and Holly accidentally makes a new jingle. CN: swearing, spoilers, discussion of a sexual nature, discussion of age-inappropriate relationships.

Don’t watch films with lots of delicious food on an empty stomach, and don’t record a podcast about foodie films on an empty stomach either! This week, Alice, Holly and Georgia are full of Indian food and ready to talk about Nina’s Heavenly Delights (2006) and its low low LOW budget charms. Set in the “small provincial town” of Glasgow, Nina’s crams in enough plot to confuse the QGFC crew (or perhaps they were in food comas). Whether it’s Alice dunking on Holly’s cooking skills, a discussion of what not to do when you’ve chopped chillis recently, or the importance of chemistry tests and intimacy coordinators in film, the gang are here to pinpoint why every viewer review of Nina’s seems to be “This film is bad, I loved it”. CN: Swearing, spoilers, some discussion of a sexual nature, discussion of homophobia.

The Virgos are back on their astrology bullshit again, and Holly uses the phrase “I went to Catholic school” more than once! It must be Queer Girl Film Club, back to talk about If These Walls Could Talk 2 (2000), a perfectly fine film which somehow elicited some utter madness from the QGFC posse. Did the team discuss the three stories told in the anthology film? Yes. Did they also veer wildly off piste into Final Destination 2, why dolphins can’t be trusted, and some extremely strange jewellery making techniques? Yes, oh very much yes. Come listen to the insanity where we try to keep it together long enough to praise Vanessa Redgrave’s acting, sigh over Chloë Sevigny’s swagger, and piece together the trajectory of Ellen Degeneres’s career. CN: Discussion of homophobia, menstrual blood, swearing, sexual content, spoilers.

Happy Halloween special from Queer Girl Film Club! We’re delving into the demonic and gory world of… high school girls and their strange, familiar, terrifying queer crushes. Oh yeah, and there’s a demon on the loose. That’s right, Alice, Georgia and Holly are here to give misunderstood 2009 horror classic Jennifer’s Body a reappraisal and a liberation from its own marketing campaign. The gang delve deep into the trauma of being a confused teenager, the horrendous ethics and sexual politics of mid-2000s emo bands, and the importance of licking a lighter (do NOT do this at home). CN: Swearing, discussion of a sexual nature, discussion of sexual assault as a topic, spoilers.

Queer Girl Film Club or Queer Bait Film Club? This week the team welcome a very special guest, Melissa John-Charles, to discuss whether 90s classic Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) is hiding its queer light or whether it’s an outright lesbian love story. Holly certainly is convinced that there is no heterosexual explanation for this film. Join the gang as they discuss apiculture (keeping bee hives), books about cannibalism (classic Alice), and fashion (we are not sponsored by Lucy & Yak but we would certainly like to be). There’s also a heated debate as to whether the Kathy Bates bits of the film are the best or worst bits. CN: Discussion of cannibalism, domestic abuse, racism, swearing, discussion of a sexual nature and spoilers.

An unexpected return! We promised you we had six episodes of varied queer girl cinema this season and it turns out we actually have SEVEN! Here’s your unexpected bonus episode, kicking off the season with Netflix’s pastel explosion, the high school revenge comedy-drama Do Revenge (2022). Join us to talk about Alice’s specialist subject, the mean girl film: indeed, this episode has Alice laying out a timeline of the classics of mean girl cinema which you won’t want to miss. The team get to chew over a wide range of topics from how nice it is to see lesbians do bad things on screen to what an absolute banger the soundtrack is to school uniforms and fashion choices. CN: Swearing (pretty strong but we are quoting the film itself!), discussion of a sexual nature, discussion of homophobia, spoilers galore.

You’ve been sending in your requests for films for us to cover, and amazingly one of the most popular doesn’t have a visible queer woman in it! But it does have FOOTBALL, unconvincing heterosexuality crowbarred into the plot, and so many sports bras. It could only be all-time classic, Bend It Like Beckham (2002)! Feeling fresh and delighted after England won Euro 2022, Queer Girl Film Club are here with a special Queer BAIT Film Club to discuss how Bend It Like Beckham could and should have been queerer. Listen as Alice tries to stop Holly and Georgia talking about actual football too much, as the team discuss lack of chemistry between the stars, the cultural significance of this film and whether it even could have been queer, and manage to make reference to all five Spice Girls (but mostly our lady and queen, Mel C). And stay until the end to find out what films are coming up in season 3 of Queer Girl Film Club! CN: Swearing, spoilers, mild sexual content.