Adapted from Sarah Waters’ novel Fingersmith, the film begins with Sook-Hee (Kim Tae-ri) agreeing to con a Japanese heiress, Lady Hideko (Kim Min-hee), into marrying Count Fujiwara (Ha Jung-woo) so that they can take all of her money and commit her to a madhouse. The Handmaiden was the first Park Chan-wook film I ever saw, and I was not disappointed when - having picked it up after hearing it was a romance between two women - it turned out to be one of the most compelling and complex stories between two women that I’d ever seen. While there are some popular choices below, be sure to pay special attention to lesser-known films, as you just may introduce yourself to some beloved, hidden gems! The Handmaiden (2016) - Amazon Prime Amazon Studios With that in mind, the Film Daze team is here to highlight a wonderful collection of LGBT films that are currently available across a host of US streaming services - curated from Amazon Prime, Netflix, Shudder, Hulu, The Criterion Channel, and Kanopy. What’s more, the proliferation of streaming services has ensured that access to the LGBT canon remains open to wider audiences - many of whom aren’t yet aware of just how many fantastic films are mere clicks away. Our stories making it into mainstream cinema has helped massively to normalize and comfort those struggling with their sexuality or gender.
LGBT representation in cinema has come a long way over the past decade.