Of course the LGBT community had kept getting more prominent (and adding more letters) in recent years, but back in 2002 I’d almost had no exposure in media (or in real life that I knew of) to lesbians. The first exposure was the lesbian recurring characters on Friends, and I agree with everyone else who was ever a fan of the show that those women were bitches. They soured me on the whole demographic, and made it harder for me to appreciate my second exposure – the smoking hot lesbians in Mulholland Dr.
Ultimately I couldn’t help but love their sex scene though.
The third exposure was a pen pal I had named Sandy who – actually I’m not going to elaborate on that, hee hee.
Then came this movie. Some might question whether it even counts as a lesbian movie, even though it’s about a romantic and sexual relationship between two women. In a class at Berkeley, not long after watching this film, I learned how people don’t fall into the three neat categories of gay, straight, and bisexual society had taught. I was taught that there are seven categories: you’re attracted to other sex only, other sex mostly, other sex somewhat more, both sexes equally, etc. Of course, that doesn’t really answer where you fall if you’re, say, attracted to the other sex 60% of the time. It’s more accurate to say sexuality is a (using a word I learned at my NEXT graduate program, at USC) continuum.
The two lead characters in this film, Jessica and Helen, are both on the continuum at points other than the extremes. Helen is somewhere around the middle, perhaps leaning slightly to one side, and decides to pursue women for the first time. One of her gay male friends is angry, thinking Helen is perpetuating harmful stereotypes by choosing to be gay. He needs to realize that’s not what’s happening though – Helen is in the middle of the continuum and choosing which direction to face now.
Of course you can’t even pick what spot you’re at on the continuum. Jessica’s distance from the “Other Sex Only” extreme practically seems infinitesimally small, like an epsilon. However, it is nonzero (ha, I threw in three more words I used a lot at ‘SC). She decides to face the same sex side, because Helen really seems like she could be Jessica’s soulmate.
Is she though? While Jessica’s had bad experiences with most men, her boss/ex-boyfriend Josh (Scott Cohen) has something to say about all of this.
You can leave aside the same-sex aspect of this film and just think of it as a romantic comedy. I’ve heard comparisons to Annie Hall; certainly star Jennifer Westfeldt’s resemblance to young Diane Keaton in some ways helps. It’s a wonderful story where Westfeldt shines as the eponymous Jessica, a 28-year-old New Yorker feeling the pressure from her Jewish family (just like I have from my Indian family!) about getting married but finds her own insecurities getting in her way. Helen, as much of a free spirit as she is, helps Jessica loosen up. In Good Will Hunting Sean said a soulmate is someone who opens things up for you and by that criteria Helen definitely seems like Jessica’s. There’s also the adage about how you should marry your best friend. Helen sure seems like that for Jessica, but what will Jessica’s sweet yet overbearing mother (a scene-stealing Tovah Feldshuh) and others say about it?
And is others’ reaction really Jessica’s problem, or is it her own neuroses? Or is it that she’s just not as gay as she wants to be/should be/will be? The movie is beautifully done, with such sharp writing, terrific performances and an amazing soundtrack highlighted by this gem:
Let’s take back the part where we left aside the same-sex aspect. For any straight men watching this, there’s no nudity but there are plenty of makeout scenes between Jessica and Helen and they’re very hot. Jessica is uptight about it in the beginning since her girl-cherry, if you will, is being popped, but her awkwardness is cute.
The movie, based on a stage play by Westfeldt and Heather Juergensen (who plays Helen) made about seven times its tiny budget at the US box office and has deservedly gained a cult following among the LGBT community in the years since. It can appeal to anyone though – and I highly recommend it!
Bottom Line: So sweet and charming!
Questions? Comments? Feel free to write below.
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