STORYLINE: Coley, 17, from rural Oregon, navigates intimacy after her mother’s passing. Meeting Sonya sparks new feelings, but self-doubt hinders their connection. Sonya, unfamiliar with dating girls, is uncertain. They learn to embrace emotions.  (IMDb)

    Love is a tale as old as time.  Many beautiful love stories, are also incredible stories of self discovery, or coming of age stories. LGBTQ Cinema, with titles such as the Oscar winning Moonlight (2016, my personal favorite LGBTQ film in addition to being an breath taking film), Pride (2014), But I’m a Cheerleader (1999), and My Own Private Idaho (1999), has produced many incredible titles that are coming of age love stories. Girls Like Girls is the latest LGBTQ coming of age, love story.  

     Romance movies come in all shapes, and sizes. The stereotype for coming of age movies is for them to be about  teenagers. This makes sense, because the majority of the movies are about that age demographic.  I will argue that Good Will Hunting (1997) and Brokeback Mountain (2005) are coming of age films that go against that stereotype.  Girls Like Girls, however, is a teenage coming of age romance.

   Girls Like Girls explores a variety of topics between opening title card, and closing credits.  Grief, self worth, peer pressure, love, navigating that love, and discovering yourself are all covered in the 95 minute runtime. The film dives deep into the confusion of the teenage years, and sets the first LGBTQ love film, in small town USA.  This only adds to the complications of the budding romance.

    It a beautiful feature film. Girls Like Girls is simultaneously heartbreaking, and uplifting.  

   There are many great LGBTQ films to watch, that make a great point, with an atmosphere of fun.1996’s The Birdcage, which is a great film, did this well. In the end I prefer a motion picture, such as Girls Like Girls, thay have a bit more serious tone to them

   Girls Like Girls is a LGBTQ film with a coming of age story about first love.

    Until next time, I will see you at the movies!