similar movies?

I'ves seen RIPARO (SHELTER) a few weeks ago. While it was a nice film, I do not think it can be compared to MSOL. While Pawlikowski's style of directing feels like the one of a seasoned veteran in film making, RIPARO has more of a immature feeling about it. It is certainly a good film and I liked it, but it is not on the same level as MSOL, both technically and plotwise.

As for the other all too obvious similarity: While RIPARO definitely is a film about Leabianism (at least this is one of the many topics the film is overloaded with). This is not true about MSOL however. I repeat this again and again and numerous interviews by Pawlikowski and the cast of MSOL state the same thin: Mona and Tamsin are NOT Lesbians. Lesbianism is not the topic of the movie. The only thing that is there is a homoereotic relationship. But this happens between two teenagers that are most likely heterosexual. The film is purely focused on the relationship of the two and the brother. This could also work between two boys or a boy and a girl. The fact that it is a homosexual relationship just emphasizes the degree of control Tamsin has over Mona. She makes her cross all the lines...

In RIPARO we see a couple living together in a lesbian relationship for quite some time. They are a couple and had their coming out. We see the difficulties they experience within their families and with other people like Anis, who makes the oh so popular mistake so many men make: He thinks being a Lesbian is "just an episode" and he wants to change her. Had the film only dealt with this theme and kept the focus on it it would have been much better. But all the other topics like immigration and employment conditions just rob the film of it's potential power. The director tries to put too much into it.

Some films I find very similar to MSOL are:

AZULOSCURO
LITTLE FISH
IN MY FATHER'S DEN
LA TURNEUSE DE PAGES

But again not because it's about leasbians but of the style and tone of the films.

One more thing: If have quite recently run accross a soft-core Erotic sexploitation movie from the seventies here on the IMDB and it is amazing how serous the discussion on men wanting to change Leasbians "for good" is in this movie. If one keeps in mind that erotic movies are usually taking fire from feminist groups that they are sexistic this is quite striking. This one really pleads the womens' (leabians') case. I think the director of Riparo must have seen that one.

If you are interested:

The Love Garden (1971)

by Mark Haggard

(It's only softcore with basically two sex scenes, so one can watch it even if he /she strongly objects erotic movies.)


"All in all the house is very creepy - so you gotta stay with me! Come on!"

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Lost and Delirious (2001)

Maybe "Sister My Sister", very disturbing but beautiful.

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As someone already commented, "Heavenly Creatures."