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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MIA and DANNI - Love and Other Catastrophes (1996) Australian Film

Mia and Danni - Lesbian Interest Storyline

The Australian lesbian interest movie Love and Other Catastrophes (1996) (IMDb 6.3) features a lesbian storyline between Mia and Danni. This is a low budget indie film that was made when the director Emma-Kate Croghan was still studying film at Melbourne University. While occasionally a little uneven this is a charming little romantic comedy with enough humour to delight most viewers.

The whole story takes place in the course of one day and is set at Melbourne University and later at the housewarming party. The plot of Love and Other Catastrophes revolves around Mia (Frances O'Connor) and her housemate Alice (Alice Garner) who desperately need another housemate for the spare room. Mia's girlfriend Danni (Radha Mitchell) would like to move in but commitment phobic Mia is keeping her at arms length by concealing from her that the room is actually vacant.

Mia and Danni Meet Up on Campus

Mia is struggling with university administration while Alice is trying hard to avoid her supervisor for fear that her thesis on Doris Day as a Feminist Warrior is not up to scratch. Meanwhile Danni accompanied by Savita (her silent companion long before Silent Bob I might add) is trying to figure out whether Mia still actually cares about her.

Radha Mitchell as Danni

Alice who hasn't had a relationship in three years is crushing hard on campus heart-throb Ari, a magnet to women but nevertheless disillusioned with them. Mia introduces Alice to Ari but warns Alice that Ari is not for her and she is better off with a more down-to-earth guy. Alice persists despite Ari not meeting her rather narrow criteria: left-handed, truthful and likes the same movies as her.

Frances O'Connor as Mia. Seen here pleading "have a heart"

Meanwhile Mia who leaves everything to the last minute gets caught out when she tries to change courses. She discovers she has a massive unpaid library fine that must be paid and no amount of pleading or charm is going to budge student administration. Just when Mia has given up hope of finding the money, lovestuck Danni tells her about the cash she has to buy a cello. Mia sweet talks Danni out the money and the next minute Mia is at the desk of student administration getting the paperwork she needs.

Mia Sweettalks Danni into Giving Her the Money

But nothing runs smoothly for Mia as her cantankerous professor of film creates a road block to her leaving his department by sending Mia back and forth between departments in a bureaucratic nightmare. Eventually Mia has to enlist Alice and Ari who help her get the signature she needs through clandestine means.

One of the standout features of the movie Love and Other Catastrophes is the original soundtrack. Frances O'Connor as Mia gives a short but memorable rendition of Shivers which is a movie highlight. Equally memorable is the look that Radha Mitchell as Danni gives her when she comes across her chilling out on the grass.

Switch to the housewarming party where Mia and Danni are trying to figure out how to break up civilly even though neither wants to break up. Eventually Danni throws Mia a lifeline and they share some poignant moments discussing their breakup.

Who Dumped Who?

Danni to Mia: So it's like that huh?
Mia: Yeah and to top it all off my girlfriend dumped me.
Danni: That's really funny because I heard that you dumped her.
Mia: No she did it to me but I deserved it.
Danni: Have you tried talking to her?
Mia: I was insensitive. I dunno if she would speak to me again.
Danni: Well I'd give a try. You know if you apologized. Grovelled. Sent her flowers. You know that sort of thing.
Mia: I think she's seeing someone else.
Danni: Well I'd give it a try anyway. You never know. Maybe they're just friends.
Mia: So you think this apologizing thing might be worth a go?
Danni: I think the grovelling is very important.
Mia: What about Savita?
Danni: She's gone home.

Having cleared the air our lovers kiss and canoodle and before we know it they are back together. Mia takes a massive leap forward by inviting Danni to move in with her. Danni accepts.

Sunday Morning in Bed after Reconciling as a Couple

Mia and Danni are a cute couple and their own screen chemistry is undeniable. In 1996 the film was groundbreaking in some ways by showing a young lesbian couple who are happy together and their friends totally accepting of their relationship. This is one movie from that era where no one dies, nor is there angst about coming out or second guessing women loving women.


Country of Origin: Australia

Genre: Drama / Romantic Comedy

Language: English

Subtitles: None

Runtime: 2 minute Trailer, 20 minute clips.

Read more about Love and Other Catastrophes (1996) at IMDb

Initial Release: 1996

Director: Emma-Kate Croghan

Screenplay: Emma-Kate Croghan and Yael Bergman

Favourite Quotes:

Mia to Ari: Don't ask because I'll be forced to bore you to death with the details of my tortured existence.

Alice to her Therapist: Now that I realize I've just been suffering from a simple psychotic depression, I feel strangely empowered.

Danni to Mia: I thought you wanted me to be more independent.
Mia: I do. I just wish you'd tell me when you're planning to be more independent.

Mia to Ari: The thing about monogonomous relationships is that they are very complicated you know. There's a lot of hassle. A lot of game playing. It's really not for me.
Ari: There are advantages.
Mia: Like what?
Ari: You're not alone.



Other Links
Love and Other Catastrophes (1996) Film on Wikipedia
Other Lesbian Interest Movies

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All About E (2015) - Lesbian Interest Movie (Australia)

E and Trish

All About E (2015), is a lesbian film, set in Sydney, Australia and the outback of NSW and tells the story of Elmira and Trish who despite their love for each other are divided by values, loyalties and maturity.

E and Trish initially happy together in their relationship

E short for Elmira is a talented musician with a Lebanese ethnic background who surprises her partner Trish when she forsakes the clarinet to become a DJ in a nightclub. Elmira then lies to her mother about the nature of her relationship with Trish leaving Trish reeling. When Trish calls her out on her lack of courage to come out to her family they argue and separate

E and Trish argue about E's unwillingness to come out

Several days later Trish calls into their flat to find Elmira in bed with someone else. Trish handles this scene with dignity leaving with the parting shot that "it's only been three days" and their relationship "must have been really special."

Trish catches E cheating. The relationship "must have been really special"

Fast forward a year in the future Elmira is still working as a DJ in the nightclub overseen by the bigoted and unforgiving Johnny. She has a lot of meaningless liaisons with women but nothing can erase the memory of Trish from her mind.

E as DJ dressed as a matador 

When Elmira and gay pal Matt inadvertently find a stash of cash belonging to Johnny they end up on the run and arrive unannounced at Trish's sheep station in the hope that Trish will put them up. Trish takes them in for a few days but demands after that they move on with their "damn money."

E and gay pal Matt take a road trip and end up at Trish's place 

Mandahla Rose as E mending fences  

Julia Billington as Trish can handle herself including driving the tractor 

As the days pass Elmira and Trish reconnect and even spend a night together making love. In the morning though their differences reemerge and it looks like the distance between them is too great.

E and Trish's intimate reconnection 

Then Johnny shows up unexpectedly and the group hide out in an old farm building thinking they will be safe from him there. However Johnny tracks them down and he and E have a show down where Elmira holds a gun to his head when he threatens Trish with a knife.

E says "hurt Trish and I'll blow your brains out"

Elmira threatens to kill Johnny if he hurts Trish and Johnny backs down thus providing the opportunity for them to make a run for it. Fortunately Trish has arranged for her friend Bev to fly Elmira and Matt to safety and she shows up just in the knick of time.

E and Trish get their happy ending, "I only want to be with you."

Throughout the film Matt makes reference to Elmira's selfishness. At the end, however, we see her rescue Trish's dog and give the money back to Johnny thus proving that through this experience she has changed. She tells Trish she doesn't want the money after all and all she has ever wanted is to be with her.

E and Trish who are in love cuddle in the All About E (2015) movie

All About E has some plot twists that don't stand up to too much scrutiny. The acting is at times forced however Mandahla Rose who plays Elmira is endearing. Julie Billington (Starting from Now) as Trish with her steady pragmatic approach to life provides a rudder for the movie. Matt also gives a winning performance as Elmira's gay friend and confidente even if his Irish accent is not always true.

Matt says "It seems to me you're in with a chance if you don't blow it."

As a lesbian movie All About E is a watchable film with some very relevant lesbian interest themes and a happy ending even if it does get a bit bogged down here and there in the telling. It has some magical moments and strong scenes between Trish and Elmira. The lengthy love scene is particularly well choreographed and not to be missed.

E and Trish share the love of music in this intimate moment

Read more about All About E (2015) movie on IMDb

Mandahla Rose as Elmira (aka E)

Julia Billington as Trish

Country of Origin: Australia

Genre: Drama / Romance

Language: English

Subtitles: English and Spanish

Runtime: 1.56 minute Official Trailer. Full feature 96 mins

Year of Release: 2015

Director: Louise Wadley

Screenplay: Louise Wadley

Favorite Quote
Be radical try thinking about someone else except yourself for once.


#lesbianfilms

Related Links

All About E movie on Rotten Tomatoes
Other Lesbian Interest Films

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