AROUND THE BLOCK (2013) - Lesbian Interest Movie

Dino and Kate

The Australian lesbian interest movie Around the Block (2013) (IMDb 5.9) features a lesbian storyline between Dino and Kate. The movie is set in Sydney and stars Christina Ricci as Dino, an American English teacher who goes to work in the underprivileged prodominantly aboriginal neighbourhood of Redfern. Dino immediately sets about engaging the kids by encouraging the class to perform Hamlet to the local community.

Dino: We do not choose to be born
but can we choose to be free?

By chance Dino meets an old friend who tells her that her ex-girfriend Kate (Andrea Demetriades) works near to the school and would like to see her. Dino begins to regularly drive past the deli where Kate works but can't quite bring herself to go in.

Dino is in a deadend relationship with Simon. She is unhappy with their normative lifestyle but hasn't been able to make the break. When the couple are out to lunch with Simon's boss she ends the relationship when Simon fails to stand up for her and allows racist comments to go by without challenge.

Still unable to muster the courage to talk to Kate, Dino goes to a gay bar. There she picks up Hannah (Ruby Rose) and has a one night stand with her. The love scene with Hannah while mostly kissing is well choreographed and occurs at around 56:45 in the movie.

Dino and Hannah Kiss 

The next day Dino goes to see Kate and invites her to the play. They talk for the first time in years. Dino tells Kate that she knows now that what they shared was real and that she still thinks about her a lot. Kate tells Dino that after five years she can't expect her to be ready to jump back into her arms.

Dino and Kate Talk About Reconciliation

Kate: Are you still making those crazy videos?
Dino: Kinda. I'm teaching drama at Redfern High
Dino: I think the students have taught me more than I've taught them
Dino: We have a performance tomorrow night. You should come
Kate: What are you doing?
Dino: What?
Dino: Simon and I broke up
Kate: What do you want me to do? Launch into your arms? What congratulate you?
Dino: I just want you to know that I never stopped thinking about you
Kate: Doesn't matter. It was such a long time ago
Kate: You don't seriously think ...
Kate: Ah Dino we can't go back
Dino: I don't know what I thought
Dino: I'm just sick of pretending to be something I'm not
Dino: What we had was real. I know that now.
Kate: What we had was five years ago.
Dino: Just tell me you don't feel it anymore and I'll walk away.
Kate: I chose to stop feeling it.

At the play Kate arrives late and sneaks in the back but not without Dino noticing her. The students receive a standing ovation for their performances especially Liam who plays Hamlet. Afterwards as people are milling around talking Kate and Dino lock eyes and smile at each other and we know that their love story is about to reignite.

Around the Block is a modern day To Sir With Love and is an engaging drama that competently highlights racial tensions and inequality in the Sydney suburb of Redfern. As a lesbian interest movie it falls a little short. The encounter between Hannah and Dino is almost superfluous to the story especially because the development of the relationship between Dino and Kate is a little too sparse.

The understated ending for Dino and Kate disappoints and would have been made more powerful with the addition of a kiss or even a conversation between Dino and Kate to cement their rekindled love. Overall though Around the Block is worth the watch and has enough happening for the main characters to hold most viewers interest. The aboriginal theme also helps to raise the status of the film Around the Block to one of social commentary.

Read more about Around the Block (2013) at IMDb

Christina Ricci as Dino

Andrea Demetriades as Kate

Ruby Rose as Hannah

Country of Origin: Australia

Genre: Drama

Language: English

Subtitles: English, Spanish and Portuguese

Runtime: 11.19 minute clip

Initial Release: 2014

Director: Sarah Spillane

Screenplay: Sarah Spillane


Other Links
Around the Block (2013) Film on Wikipedia
Other Lesbian Interest Movies

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WE WILL (2016) - Lesbian Interest Short Film Australia

Claire and Rachel

We Will (2016) is a lesbian interest short film set in Sydney, Australia which was made to promote awareness of gay marriage. It has received acclaim online and has been played at many marriage equality rallies.

Claire and Rachel in love in We Will (2016)

The short film concerns two young women Claire (Bianca Bradey from Starting Now) and Rachel (Madeleine Withington) who meet on a blind date and decide to pursue a relationship.

Claire and Rachel We Will (2016) Before you I never understood love

"Before you I never really understood love.
All those songs. All those films.
But then again, before you, I didn't understand how full my heart could feel."

We Will follows Claire and Rachel as a couple on variety of dates. We witness their intimacy build from their first tentative kiss to their wedding day when they have the opportunity to publically declare their love to friends and loved ones.

"Love seemed like madness
I honestly couldn't understand why anyone would put themselves through so much suffering
But then I met you
And I knew I would put up with endless misery
If it meant I could have you.
I'd climb mountains. I'd cross oceans.
You were my world."

This a sweet yet intense short film that is able to say so much in a few short minutes. It is told using a voice over alongside the beautiful melody of Stones by Bec Sandridge. This romantic short movie shines despite it's shoestring budget and is in the words of director Laura Nagy "a love letter to love itself."


Bianca Bradey - as Claire

Madeleine Withington - as Rachel

Country of Origin: Australia

Genre: Drama / Romance

Language: English

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Italian

Runtime: 3.17 minutes full short movie

Release Date: 2016

Director: Laura Nagy

Written By: Samuel Leighton-Dore and Nirrimi Firebrace


Other Links
Star Observer Article About We Will (2016) Short Film as Champion for Gay Marriage
Director Laura Nagy We Will (2016) Short Film Insights
Other Short Films of Lesbian Interest

ELISE and ERYKA - The Tunnel S2 - Lesbian Interest UK TV Series

Elise and Eryka

The UK TV crime series The Tunnel has a lesbian interest storyline between Elise and Eryka that spans the entire 8 episodes of Season 2. Elise, a commander with the French police begins working with Karl from the English police to investigate a missing persons incident in the Eurotunnel. Their investigations lead them to Eryka, a research assistant for a high profile human rights activist who is killed in a plane crash.

Elise who is socially challenged being on the autism spectrum finds it hard to form relationships with people. She has a photographic memory and a penchant for the truth. She is also driven to find those responsible for the two cases she is working on and will leave no stone unturned to get there.

Clémence Poésy as Elise Wassermann

Eryka is much more of a closed book having grown up in a cult based settlement in Chile. Of German extraction she is cultured, can speak most European languages and reads novels in Russian. She also has a connection with Elise in that she too has lost a twin at an early age.

Eryka: I just feel that there is some kind of connection maybe because we both ...
Elise: No I felt that too.

Laura de Boer as Eryka Klein

In the course of the investigation Elise and Eryka discover that their unresolved grief relating to the death of their twin is eased by talking about it with each other. They form a deep connection despite Elise's conflict about her feelings for Eryka and that Eryka is under suspicion for terrorist activities.

Erkya: I never had the chance to talk about my brother. And I think it is the same with you and your sister. But I don't want to cause you any problems so if you change your mind your mind about our friendship call me.

 

If you change your mind about our friendship give me a call

Elise grapples with her emotions as she has not experienced being in love before and its destabilizing effects. 

Elise: I have never been in love before.
Eryka: You should try it. It's nice.
Elise: No I hate it. It's like a virus.

Elise tells Eryka that her feelings are not particularly physical but Eryka challenges her with "are you quite sure about that?" They share their first kiss at this point in episode

Elise and Eryka Share Their First Kiss

Elise's colleague and close friend Karl remains suspicious of Eryka. He quickly recognizes that the pair are sleeping together and challenges Elise on her ability to remain impartial in the investigation. Her response is to increase her efforts doublefold to reassure him that her ability to do her job has not been compromised.

Pablo Neruda Poem (Everday You Play) Excerpt as Quoted in the Last Episode
A long time I have loved the sunned mother-of-pearl of your body.
Until I even believe that you own the universe.
I will bring you happy flowers from the mountains, bluebells,
dark hazels, and rustic baskets of kisses.
I want to do with you what spring does with the cherry trees.

When Elise discovers that Eryka is involved she still pursues the relationship with Eryka leading her to say to Karl "I don't know who I am anymore". Karl normalizes her feelings by telling her that she is in love and that love has us do crazy things.

The Elise and Eryka love story is intense. Both actresses give convincing performances and the overall quality of the series makes for an enjoyable watch.

To find out more about the The Tunnel (2013-2018) TV series on IMDb

Starring: Clémence Poésy as Elise Wassermann and Laura de Boer as Eryka Klein

TV Series: The Tunnel, Season 2

Country of Origin: UK

Genre: TV Show / Drama

Language: English and French

Subtitles: English and Spanish

Runtime: 30:00 minute clips

Where to Watch the Series: Amazon Prime

Related Links
The Tunnel TV series on Wikipedia
Other Featured TV series of Lesbian Interest

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