From sun-drenched teen romances to poetic queer resistance stories, 2023 offered us a varied, passionate, and sometimes radical selection of sapphic films worldwide. From South Korea to Finland, China to North Macedonia, this list shows the most interesting lesbian and girl love (GL) films made in 2023—from happy first loves, political undercurrents, to queer stories grounded in regional identity. Put them on your watchlist and honor another year of LGBTQ+ film that dares to feel profoundly and love freely.
🎬 2023 Lesbian Movie List
Green Night (2023)
🇭🇰 Hong Kong / 🇰🇷 South Korea | 🎭 Crime / Romance | 📅 2023
In Green Night, a Chinese woman searching for her long-lost mother in Korea meets a mysterious green-haired girl at a customs checkpoint. Drawn into a dangerous underworld of drug trafficking, the two women form a bond that sparks both rebellion and desire as they set out on a daring journey to reclaim their lives.
Valoa valoa valoa (2023)
🇫🇮 Finland | 🎭 Coming-of-Age / Historical Romance | 📅 2023
Valoa valoa valoa captures the radioactive glow of first love as a mysterious girl named Mimi arrives in a Finnish village after the Chernobyl disaster. For 15-year-old Maria, that one summer becomes a life-altering memory of passion and transformation.
A Song Sung Blue (2023)
🇨🇳 China | 🎭 Youth / Lesbian Romance | 📅 2023
In A Song Sung Blue, lonely teenager Liu Xian’s life changes when she meets Mingmei, a bold Korean-Chinese classmate who brings color and chaos to her world. A summer of yearning and awakening leaves Liu Xian forever changed.
Gondola (2023)
🇬🇪 Georgia | 🎭 Silent Romance / Revenge | 📅 2023
Gondola is a wordless yet emotionally rich romance between two female cable car operators in the Caucasus Mountains. As their flirtation deepens, they team up to resist workplace threats, crafting a tale of poetic revenge and growing love in silence.
Concerning My Daughter (2023)
🇰🇷 South Korea | 🎭 Drama / Family | 📅 2023
Based on a bestselling novel, Concerning My Daughter explores the tension between a queer woman and her conservative mother, who now share a home. As they care for a dying patient, generational prejudice and love collide in this emotionally charged family drama.
Eileen (2023)
🇺🇸 USA | 🎭 Psychological Thriller / Period Romance | 📅 2023
Eileen follows a repressed young secretary working at a 1960s prison who becomes infatuated with a glamorous new counselor. Their relationship spirals into desire, secrets, and deadly consequences in this haunting sapphic noir.
The Summer (2023)
🇰🇷 South Korea | 🎭 Youth / Romance | 📅 2023
The Summer captures the evolving love between bright, sporty Soo-yi and quiet Yi-gyeong. From high school romance to adult distance, their story is a tender look at growing up, growing apart, and the warmth of a first love that lingers.
Polarized (2023)
🇬🇧 UK | 🎭 Interfaith Romance / Drama | 📅 2023
In Polarized, a Muslim woman and a Christian farmworker fall in love in a deeply divided town. Torn between faith, family, and desire, they risk everything to be true to themselves in this raw, socially resonant romance.
Între revoluții (2023)
🇷🇴 Romania / 🇮🇷 Iran | 🎭 Historical / Epistolary Romance | 📅 2023
Între revoluții tells the story of two women separated by distance but united in resistance. Through letters, a Romanian and an Iranian woman navigate decades of revolution, repression, and love across continents and ideologies.
Silver Haze (2023)
🇬🇧 UK | 🎭 Queer Drama / Psychological | 📅 2023
Silver Haze explores a nurse's spiral into obsession after she falls for a self-harming patient. Haunted by trauma and loss, their love burns brightly before turning to ash in this unflinching portrait of queer pain and longing.
La bella estate (2023)
🇮🇹 Italy | 🎭 Period / Coming-of-Age | 📅 2023
Set in 1938 Turin, La bella estate follows young Ginia as she’s drawn into the bohemian world of artists and into the arms of free-spirited model Amelia. A sun-drenched exploration of freedom, art, and first queer love.
Domakinstvo za Pocetnici (2023)
🇲🇰 North Macedonia | 🎭 Queer Family / Social Drama | 📅 2023
Housekeeping for Beginners paints a vibrant picture of queer domestic chaos. When Tita’s partner falls ill, she must shield their patchwork family—including queer teens and chosen kin—in a society that refuses to understand them.
No Heaven, But Love. (2023)
🇰🇷 South Korea | 🎭 Queer Youth / Sports Drama | 📅 2023
No Heaven, But Love. is a powerful tale of survival and forbidden love. In 1999, taekwondo athlete Joo-young finds emotional refuge in Yi-ji, a foster girl. Their relationship grows quietly amid violence, injustice, and silent resistance.
Ice Cream Fever (2023)
🇯🇵 Japan | 🎭 Ensemble Romance / Slice of Life | 📅 2023
Set in a quirky ice cream shop, Ice Cream Fever follows several women whose lives gently intertwine. Through small encounters and shared loneliness, this dreamy, sunlit story explores sapphic desire and emotional rebirth.
Rookie (2023)
🇵🇭 Philippines | 🎭 Teen Romance / Sports | 📅 2023
Rookie is a sweet high school romance about a tall, awkward girl who unexpectedly joins a volleyball team and falls for the confident captain. As they grow from rivals to lovers, their bond is built on trust, teamwork, and first love.
La vie devant toi (2023)
🇫🇷 France | 🎭 Coming-of-Age / Queer Drama | 📅 2023
La vie devant toi tells the story of Violette, a young swimmer who lives her sexuality openly and falls for the more reserved Lisa. Their first love is joyful, fragile, and brutally tested by the world’s intolerance.
🎥 Watch 2023 GL Movie Trailers
Green Night (2023) Trailer
Valoa valoa valoa (2023) Trailer
A Song Sung Blue (2023) Trailer
Gondola (2023) Trailer
Concerning My Daughter (2023) Trailer
Eileen (2023) Trailer
The Summer (2023) Trailer
Polarized (2023) Trailer
Între revoluții (2023) Trailer
Silver Haze (2023) Trailer
La bella estate (2023) Trailer
Domakinstvo za Pocetnici (2023)Trailer
No Heaven, But Love. (2023) Trailer
Ice Cream Fever (2023) Trailer
Rookie (2023) Trailer
La vie devant toi (2023) Trailer
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What are the must-watch lesbian movies released in 2023?
Some standout titles from 2023 include La vie devant toi (France), No Heaven, But Love. (South Korea), Gondola (Georgia), and A Song Sung Blue (China). These films explore sapphic love across different cultures and age groups, offering a diverse range of stories from first love to political resistance.
Are these 2023 GL movies available on Netflix or other streaming platforms?
Availability depends on the film and region. Some movies have been picked up by platforms like Netflix, Mubi, or local festival-based streaming services, while others are still touring the festival circuit or awaiting wider distribution. It’s recommended to check each film’s IMDb or official page for updates.
What themes are commonly explored in 2023’s lesbian and girl love films?
These films touch on a wide variety of themes including queer identity, family rejection, intergenerational conflict, mental health, social discrimination, first love, and resistance. Many combine intimate emotional journeys with broader cultural or political contexts.
Are there any coming-of-age sapphic films in the 2023 lineup?
Yes, several films portray queer adolescence and first love, such as The Summer (South Korea), Valoa valoa valoa (Finland), Rookie (USA), and La bella estate (Italy). These stories highlight the tenderness and turbulence of queer youth.
Which 2023 GL films are based on novels or real events?
Concerning My Daughter is adapted from a novel by Kim Hye-jin, while Eileen is based on the psychological thriller novel by Ottessa Moshfegh. Între revoluții draws inspiration from actual political events and historical letters exchanged between women during periods of upheaval in Iran and Romania.
🌐 Explore More Sapphic Content
Explore more sapphic stories — from live-action dramas to anime and beyond. Find your next favorite now.
💡 Know a 2023 lesbian movie we missed? Let us know and we’ll update the list!