I was delighted to see more than one quality full-length film not only include LGBTQ, but also women of color prominently featured. While both dealt with dramatic love scenarios, they also delve into aspects of love that are rarely discussed with blatant honesty. I’ll level with you, it’s a rough time to watch relationship films as a single person stuck at home during a pandemic, but really the heart of both of these features lay in being honest about who you are and what you want. That’s a universal concept we all can appreciate; and while watching romantic moments might twinge a bit, the films were well worth it.
Ma Belle, My Beauty ( 2021 | USA | 93 minutes | Marion Hill)
Ma Belle, My Beauty opens on a lush countryside in France. One of those places you can only imagine living in and the dreamy cinematography didn’t hurt either. Sparkling sun peeking through grapevines as it sinks into the horizon sets the mood. The very epitome of a frenchman, Fred (Lucien Guignard) spots Lane (Hanna Pepper) sitting on a bench at the train station in town and smiling they take off in his car. As they chat on the way to their destination, it becomes obvious that they know each other quite well and Lane’s arrival is a surprise to Bertie (Idella Johnson), another friend they are on their way to see. It unfolds that Lane was part of a triad with Bertie and Fred, but in her absence the latter two were married. The story is slow to reveal the exact nature of the relationship between the three protagonists but it was clear they all spent time together in some mix of love, romanticism and sex.
A threesome is difficult to fathom for me, but that doesn’t mean it’s an impossible task. On the contrary, if everyone respects each other, prioritizes honesty both with themselves and everyone involved, and work to avoid jealousy it can be a successful and fulfilling part of any life. But what is a good film without drama, so of course the true nature of each coupling is revealed in time, and the difficulty of three people in a relationship with one dominating the choices amongst them plays a large role in why they just couldn’t make it work between them. A lovely story with nary a hint of judgement on the characters’ choices and their alternative lifestyles; an intimate look into the complexities of the human heart.
See You Then ( 2021 | USA | 74 minutes | Mari Walker)
You could cut the tension with a knife. The opening scene of See You Then reveals nothing about the clandestine meeting between two people in a parking or the relationship they share. As they sit for a drink nearby, you discover a romantic past filled with both love and heartache. As you continue to follow them through their evening, all dirty laundry is aired and emotions range from loud laughter, to sexual tension, to near rage.
You find out one of the two is transgender adding complexity to their history and their present for both the viewers and the protagonists. While LGBTQ and trans-related subjects come up and play a large role in the storyline, they don’t dominate the crux of the film. One person left another person heartbroken and this is their attempt at reconciliation. Whether it is successful or not, you’ll have to judge for yourself, but the pain on both sides of the table is palpable. While the pace takes place in real-time, you don’t feel caught up in the minutia of a relationship but drawn in by the emotions they feel; because once again, we can all relate to those moments. There were tense and uncomfortable moments that put you in their shoes and while I cringe at scenes like that both in film and tv, it made this story much more authentic. You wanted them to resolve this age old battle, but at the same time you understand the reasons for their stubborn anger and unforgiving nature.