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Forbidden Love: The Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives

Play trailer Poster for Forbidden Love: The Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives 1993 1h 24m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
This documentary about lesbians in Canada alternates between fiction and non-fiction. Along with interviews of real women who discuss coming to terms with their sexuality during the '40s, '50s and '60s, there are dramatized scenes based on the "Beebo Brinker Chronicles," a series of hard-boiled lesbian pulp novels by Ann Bannon published during the '50s. Meanwhile, the interviewed women talk about Vancouver and Toronto's gay scenes of the time, which were their own pulp-worthy underworlds.

Critics Reviews

View All (5) Critics Reviews
Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle Their oral recollections are informative, absorbing, funny and insightful and open the curtain for a closer look at hidden aspects of lesbian cultural history. Rated: 3.5/5 May 21, 2020 Full Review Rita Kempley Washington Post Unfortunately, these talking heads haven't anything especially interesting to say. May 28, 2003 Full Review Janet Maslin New York Times [A] colorful, anecdotal film... May 28, 2003 Full Review Maida Tilchen Sojourner This is a fast-paced and entertaining film. Aug 14, 2019 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Jul 9, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (3) audience reviews
Audience Member Nice documentary which was probably more shocking in its time. Nonetheless, it remains valuable today as a chronicle of what it mean to be a lesbian at an unaccepting time. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member So far this is my favourite lesbian movie. So important to see Herstory that has been invisible and marginalized for centuries. Entertaining and educating, good for baby dykes to appreciate the freedom they have today. I would like to see one that goes on to cover the 70's 80's and 90's when my wife and I came-out. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Quite interesting - a good way to give a marginalized group a voice. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Forbidden Love: The Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives

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Movie Info

Synopsis This documentary about lesbians in Canada alternates between fiction and non-fiction. Along with interviews of real women who discuss coming to terms with their sexuality during the '40s, '50s and '60s, there are dramatized scenes based on the "Beebo Brinker Chronicles," a series of hard-boiled lesbian pulp novels by Ann Bannon published during the '50s. Meanwhile, the interviewed women talk about Vancouver and Toronto's gay scenes of the time, which were their own pulp-worthy underworlds.
Director
Aerlyn Weissman, Lynne Fernie
Producer
Margaret Pettigrew, Ginny Stikeman
Screenwriter
Lynne Fernie, Aerlyn Weissman
Production Co
National Film Board of Canada (NFB), Studio D
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 4, 2019
Runtime
1h 24m