Tuesday Top Ten… lesbian onscreen kisses

by Sticky Toffee Pudding

Well whaddaya know it’s Christmas again; a time of mince pies, mulled wine, and as anyone in Covent Garden yesterday evening would have spotted, lots and lots of mistletoe. Yep Christmas is a traditional time for kissing; from a quick peck on the cheek to a full blown ‘Frenchie’ and you’ve simply gotta love it. Mistletoe presents us with an elaborate excuse to pucker up and orchestrate a snog; whether it be with our leading lady or the mysterious office beauty we’ve been crushing on for the past six months. And so in honour of this timely tradition I have compiled a top ten of my favourite lesbian onscreen kisses. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do although I must warn you that some of these clips are explicit… and remember ladies – a little bit of chapstick goes a long way!

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1. Shane and Carmen – The L Word (Katherine Moennig and Sarah Shahi)

Oh where to begin! Besides being the fittest couple ever to hit the L Word and long before the woeful horror that was Shenny, Shane and Carmen were rocking our screens with their too hot to handle love affair. The onscreen chemistry between the two was sizzling, and enough to make me blush when watched within the company of anyone other than myself. There are so many sexy scenes between the two of them right from the start, like the very first time they hook up in that music booth or that time that they are silhouetted behind a glass door as The Organ make a guest appearance in the series. However, my all time favourite would have to be from episode three, season two when they play the game ‘too hot’. For those of you who are uncertain of the reference, please observe the link below.

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2. Naomi and Emily – Skins (Lily Loveless and Katherine Prescott)

Series three of Skins suddenly became a lot more interesting this year when they added a touch of lesbian drama to the hedonistic teenage mix. Cue the understated and shy Emily (Katherine Prescott) and her long time crush on outspoken, idealistic and sexually confused Naomi (Lily Loveless). There were many a ‘will they or won’t they’ moments between the two of them, before Emily finally got her girl in a tender and honest love scene set in the woods. Still adolescents themselves, you’ve got to hand it to the girls for their excellent acting skills. They manage to capture that awkward inner angst of those teenage years during which you finally start to admit to yourself just what you really want.

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3.Betty and Rita – Mulholland Drive (Naomi Watts and Laura Elena Harring)

Who cares if no one knows what this film is actually about? It is still awesome regardless! David Lynch is at his best in this peculiar thriller subgenre wotsit and with the amazing Naomi Watts and Laura Elena Harring (Gabi from Sunset Beach, yep that’s where you know her from!) as the two main protagonists, the complex and confusing script is brought to life and given the justice it deserves. This film is less about narrative and more about feeling, intoxicating us with emotion made all the more powerful from the lack of constraints that a clear narrative would cause.

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4.Luce and Rachel – Imagine Me & You (Lena Headey and Piper Perabo)

A seriously underrated film, Imagine Me and You is quite possibly the sweetest and most hilarious love story I have ever watched. For once we see lesbians onscreen that aren’t dysfunctional mad women, hurray! Luce (Lena Headey, who is clearly a much sexier version of Kiera Knightley – there is an odd resemblance there) and Rachel (Piper Perabo) portray two women falling in love when they quite possibly shouldn’t (notably because one is already married). My favourite thing about this film is that it’s quite simply just a love story, the fact that they happen to be two women is beside the point. You’ve got to love it though when Rachel finally gives into her desire launching herself at Luce for a steamy first kiss.

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5. Kathryn and Cecile – Cruel Intentions (Sarah Michelle Gellar and Selma Blair)

I can’t help but love this movie: it is a twisted tale of American teenage elites at their worst. Sarah Michelle Gellar’s portrayal of the wicked and seductive Kathryn was a refreshing break from her perky stint as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, proving that she’s a rather talented lass. Although it was clearly thrown into the script as a bit of titillation for the boys in the audience, I can’t help but enjoy the scene where she teaches Cecile (Selma Blair) how to kiss.

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6. Brandon and Lana – Boys Don’t Cry (Hilary Swank and Chloë Sevigny)

To be honest I’m not really sure if this one can actually be counted as a lesbian onscreen kiss as Hilary Swank is playing a pre-op transsexual. However I simply had to put it in as the love story that develops between the characters is poignantly beautiful, and both Swank and Sevigny pay a true homage to their profession by capturing the emotional depth and complexity within their characters, earning them both awards. There is no distracting from the fact that this is a very sad film, yet the moment when Brandon and Lana finally share that first kiss gives you some ray of hope, if only for a split second, that they might just make it as a couple.

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7. Kelly and Suzie – Wild Things (Denise Richards and Neve Campbell)

Ok so I know this is another gratuitous lesbian love scene, this time complete with creepy male voyeur thrown into an otherwise heterosexual movie. I should really be outraged. However, you can’t deny that the scene is hot and Neve Campbell in her heyday was quite the actress. It’s been a while since I’ve watched Wild Things, so long that I’ve forgotten what it’s about or if it’s actually any good. But then again, it’s not like any of that matters, for as you can see below I clearly take note of the important details.

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8. Violet and Corky – Bound (Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon)

An absolute classic, enough said!

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9. Linda and Amy – If These Walls Could Talk 2 (Michelle Williams and Chloë Sevigny)

I know, I know – yet another one with Chloë Sevigny but it simply can’t be helped, she’s just far too good at this. She stars as Amy in this made for TV movie alongside a rather young looking Michelle Williams (Linda). The two depict a 1972 lesbian America and Linda, a firm feminist, is conflicted by her attraction to the predominantly butch Amy who at first seems like an affront to her and her friend’s beliefs. Their story is only one third of the movie but it’s well worth watching if only for this delicate and heart-thudding kiss.

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10. Maggie and Kim – Better Than Chocolate (Kathryn Dwyer and Christina Cox)

Kathryn Dwyer plays the adorable curly redhead Maggie whilst Christina Cox is the sexy butch Kim in this Canadian romantic comedy. I love the feel good nature of this film which manages to stay upbeat despite tackling some very serious coming out and acceptance issues. Maggie and Kims’ romance is corny yet very credible with a few laughs thrown into the mix. There is also something very sensual about the couple bringing an everyday realism to the story. That scene where Kim slathers Maggie’s body in paint is utterly romantic. And then of course you’ve got to love the ensuing shower scene that follows!

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And just one more because it’s Christmas and all…

Annabelle and Simone – Loving Annabelle (Erin Kelly and Diane Gaidry)

I simply had to squeeze in this heartbreaking story of forbidden love set against the backdrop of a repressive Catholic school. Simone (Diane Gaidry) is the teacher that falls for her dangerously defiant student Annabelle (Erin Kelly) – and with her gentle and impassioned demeanour who wouldn’t love her back.  Poor Simone tries to do the right thing but of course there is only so long that she can resist the seductive Annabelle’s charms. All that pent up tension simply had to explode resulting in one of the most sexually charged scenes I’ve ever seen!