Forbidden Love: The Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives

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Forbidden Love: The Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives

1993

1h 24m

Documentary

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80%

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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.

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

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Rita Kempley

Washington Post

Unfortunately, these talking heads haven't anything especially interesting to say.

May 28, 2003

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Janet Maslin

New York Times

[A] colorful, anecdotal film...

May 28, 2003

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Maida Tilchen

Sojourner

This is a fast-paced and entertaining film.

Aug 14, 2019

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jul 9, 2005

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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

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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

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Audience Member

Quite interesting - a good way to give a marginalized group a voice.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

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Aerlyn Weissman

Director

Lynne Fernie

Director

Stephanie Morgenstern

Actor

Lynne Adams

Actor

Margaret Pettigrew

Producer

Ginny Stikeman

Producer

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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
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 4, 2019
Runtime: 1h 24m