Sienna Bell

From Benedetta to Novitiate, explore four stunning lesbian nun films that transform belief, repression, and love into powerful stories of devotion and desire.

In Thelma (2017), Norwegian director Joachim Trier transforms a queer coming-of-age story into a haunting supernatural thriller. When a shy college girl from a strict Christian family falls for her classmate Anja, she discovers that desire awakens terrifying powers within her. Starring Eili Harboe and Kaya Wilkins, this visually stunning and emotionally resonant film explores faith, repression, and the courage to embrace one’s true self.

Desiree Akhavan’s The Miseducation of Cameron Post adapts only part of Emily M. Danforth’s novel, shifting focus from Cameron’s early years to her time in a conversion camp. The film simplifies the story but deepens its emotional core, emphasizing quiet resistance, friendship, and the courage to walk away. Discover how the book’s coming-of-age tale became a minimalist, powerful film about self-acceptance.

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The Watermelon Woman (1996) is a bold and witty mockumentary directed by Cheryl Dunye — the first Black lesbian filmmaker to make a feature-length film. Blending fiction and reality, it follows a young woman’s search for a forgotten 1930s Black actress known only as “The Watermelon Woman.” As Cheryl reconstructs history through interviews, love, and creative frustration, the film becomes a self-aware reflection on race, sexuality, and authorship. Both funny and revolutionary, Dunye’s debut remains a cornerstone of queer cinema and a declaration that if history refuses to remember you, you must write it yourself.

A poetic Australian lesbian film about two teenage girls discovering love and freedom in an endless summer. Directed by Katie Found, starring Markella Kavenagh and Maiah Stewardson.

A touching French coming-of-age drama by Céline Sciamma. A 10-year-old girl explores her gender identity and young love during one transformative summer.

Katherine Heigl and Alexis Bledel star in this heartfelt lesbian family drama about love, marriage, and acceptance in the modern world.

A touching Chinese-American lesbian romantic comedy by Alice Wu, starring Michelle Krusiec and Joan Chen. Love, family, and identity collide in New York.