LGBT Film Picks from the Expert

We recently tracked down Kathy Wolfe, founder and CEO of Wolfe (the oldest and largest exclusive distributor of gay and lesbian movies). Kathy is celebrating 25 years of releasing LGBT films this year, so what better time than now to ask her to tell us about ten of the most significant gay and lesbian movies released by the company since they’ve been in business?  Here are her picks… so make some room on that shelf for a terrific collection of gay and lesbian classics.

1. Desert Hearts (1985)

What can we say about Desert Hearts — everyone’s classic lesbian holy grail of a movie? It was the first seriously great lesbian movie I ever saw. It has a fully developed story, the acting was great, it really had a budget to work with and it has all that authentic Western music! I would really like to direct people to get the DVD and watch the extra featurette, we added, so you can see these actors twenty years later and learn more about what it was like to make this kind of film in 1986. Also be sure to look at the “Anatomy of a Love Scene” featurette on the DVD which includes wonderful out-takes and gives an in-depth portrait of one of the greatest lesbian love scenes ever shot. We released this as a special 2-Disc set because we really wanted to put the film in context. There’s also a wonderful director’s commentary by Donna Deitch.

2. Claire of the Moon (1992)

This film is such a great example of how in our early years we discovered the true depth and breadth of our lesbian audience. This was such a significant movie — there has been no other film that has been so polarizing. People either loved it or hated it —some would say they just despised it, while others said it was their favorite movie of all time. I think it was important to see that difference of perspective in our community, and it was helpful for us as a film distributor to understand that there is a great a span of taste in movies.

3. When Night is Falling (1995)

We were really proud to be the distributor who finally released the original director’s version of this film (uncut for the first time) to US audiences. It’s a wonderfully romantic movie that lesbian audiences just absolutely love.

4. Lilies (1996)

This film is so artful, so incredibly original and deep. It was one of the first gay movies I saw that was so complex in its tale of young gay love, structured as a play within a play. I am feeling inspired to watch it again right now just talking about it! It is just a masterpiece, really.

5. It’s in the Water (1998)

This is such an entertaining movie, and one of the first gay and lesbian romantic comedies that addressed both men and women (and also the AIDS crisis of the time) with its plot about the water supply in a small town turning everyone gay. Even today you almost never find a movie that has something for both gays and lesbians. I really remember this as being such a landmark film during a time when we were all very serious as a culture — and we had this wonderful comedy.

6. Big Eden (2001)

Big Eden is very important. It’s one of the only gay and lesbian G-rated films. You could show it to your grandmother! It really truly spans all audiences and is a film that everyone enjoys for its simple tale of a gay man returning to his hometown. I can’t recommend it enough. You’ll find it heartwarming, romantic and inspiring — whoever you are.

7. Brother to Brother (2004)

Now, this is a film that spans history, it takes our gay history — which has always been so unseen — and visualizes it. I really admire director Rodney Evans for bringing to life the gay Harlem Renaissance. The film is very important and was very well recognized in the mainstream. It earned three Independent Spirit Award nominations, a GLAAD Media Award nomination and it won the Sundance Grand Jury Award.

8. Loving Annabelle (2006)

We tapped into a whole new audience with this film — young lesbians who really loved this teen lesbian character being so out and strong. The wonderful story of Loving Annabelle is played out in a high school — which is often a very difficult time for youth. To show gays and lesbians in a high school setting who are empowered is really important, and viewers responded to that.