Cultured Sapphic

Summerland (2020)

“Given my penchant for lesbian period pieces, Summerland captured my interest early on in its production. A World War II period drama boasting the talent of Gemma Arterton with a lesbian storyline is my quintessential trifecta. Devastatingly romantic, heart-wrenchingly sweet and deliciously escapist, Summerland is the next film in lesbian cinema you need to devour.”

“As a lesbian viewer, and like so many others in the community, I could see parts of myself in Santana’s story.  When she beautifully serenaded her secret crush to Landslide, I thought back to the many SoundCloud tracks I had stayed up all night recording to send to my high-school girlfriend. When she confessed her love for Brittany, I felt that telltale confusion, freedom and excitement. When Santana came out to her grandmother, I passionately empathized and remembered my own fears coming out to my Mexican family. Glee came on air before marriage equality was even legalized in the United States, so when Santana and Brittany escaped to Indiana to get married, my dreams of marrying my girlfriend burned all the brighter.“