Films have formulas and rules, but how well do films follow those formulas? What about Lesbian Romance films, do they follows a strict formula and a set of rules?
Lost & Delirious is about a girl new to a boarding school and the lesbian relationship of her room mates.
The following analysis may contain spoilers for
LOST & DELIRIOUS (2001)
"I wasn't really sure what I'd just seen. I know this sounds, like, naive, but at first, I mean, I thought they were, like, practising for boys." ~Mouse.
RULE #1 - A Coming Out Story
Mouse is the main character, but isn't part of the relationship. So that kills this rule right there. Let's try to salvage it, though, and apply this to one of the girls in the relationship.
RULE #2 - There May Be T&A
Boobs and lesbian sex scenes. Both actresses, Jessica Paré (Tori) and Piper Perabo (Paulie) all four boobs. No butts or anything, but breasts are good. It's certainly about the usually level in these films.
RULE #3 - Unsatisfied
RULE #4 - Enter the Lesbian
Paulie is fits this category more than Tori, so let's go with it. Sure she rejects the label, stating she's not in love with a girl, she's "Paulie in love with Tori" but hey, I'm in a labelling mode. Boyish name, slightly more masculine facial features, the more flat-chested of the two, smokes, angry, outsider. She isn't out until they are together. Once out she does decide she wants a hair cut, but never goes through with it.
RULE #5 - Just Good Friends
RULE #6 - Rejection By Friends and Family
RULE #7 - Will They, Won't They/On Again, Off Again
RULE #8 - Redemption/Acceptance
Not applicable.
RULE #9 - Happily Ever After?
Paulie is hurt and becomes obsessive when Tori breaks up with her. It begins as just bad break-up thing, but becomes a complete breakdown: advancing to ranting to animals, breaking mirrors and forcing others be become blood sisters and then yelling and screaming in public. Stabbing Jake with a sword probably puts her in the crazy category. The suicide soon after conforms to the lesbian-crazy-death cliché. So it follows the ends-badly rule rather than happily-ever-after. Then again, there's the implied turned-into-a-bird interpretation of the ending, but let's not go there.
Results
- Rules that are followed in this film: 2, 4, 10.
- Rules that are partially followed, or not clear, in this film: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7.
- Rule not applied to this film: 8, 9.
~ DUG.
Remember to do the survey to determine the fourth genre to be tested.
Check out the schedule for upcoming Film Rules films to be reviewed.
Also a question for the comments... Do people prefer the alternating between 2 sets of rules or would they like to see one set finished before the next starts?
Check out the schedule for upcoming Film Rules films to be reviewed.
Also a question for the comments... Do people prefer the alternating between 2 sets of rules or would they like to see one set finished before the next starts?
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