The Future of Love and Lesbian Film

In this article I want to present different aspects of making lesbian films. I classify these aspects according to gender and sexual orientation. I also argue that men make different films than women and homosexuals different than heterosexuals. When we compare lesbian films of different authors it becomes evident that homosexual directors of both genders focus on the re-presentation of their own experiences (origin of lesbian desire, conflict between personal desire and social expectations, trauma of coming out in front of parents and friends etc.), thus focusing more on the message of the film. Consequently, the quality of the film language is neglected (i.e. directing, production, casting of great actors etc.). On the other hand heterosexual directors of both genders are not questioning the origins of the lesbian desire and traumas etc., but are interested in good stories, which is finally reflected in excellent films. I conclude this article with the suggestion that in the future lesbian films should be focused above all on the representation of universal (confluent) love in the form of top-notch narratives, which transcends the boundaries of gender and sexual orientation and thus address everybody. Last but not least, only in this way will the lesbian film archive social and cinematographic progress and success respectively.

The integral version of this article can be found in the printed KINO!